home  
 
NWESD 189

The NWESD 189 mission is . . . Together We Can . . . provide leadership and cooperative services to our educational communities in support of their efforts to increase the number of students meeting state and local standards. It is indeed challenging to walk the tightrope of maintaining a positive perspective without signaling that the reductions do not have an impact on students and their learning. While recognizing the economic challenges and reductions, as leaders we strive to help educators in the region remain focused on what we can do rather than what we can’t. It is important we continue to recognize and celebrate hard work and accomplishments.

A mentor once said, “Never let a budget crisis pass without getting rid of something that has little impact on what matters.” He was referring to the many traditions in place in schools and districts that in a more stable economy would be considered sacred.

I recently had the opportunity to read Mike Schmoker’s “Focus” and think it provides a useful construct for educational leaders as we strive to maintain a positive perspective while implementing significant reductions. He presents a concise decades of research summary on the elements of effective lessons and systems; concluding we know what to do— but, resistance to the prerequisite changes has impeded systemic implementation. We are, then, helping member districts (and ourselves) ponder whether the current serious financial challenges/reductions might provide the opportunity for greater priority focus, and permit letting go of some traditions that are less linked to learning?

There are several opportunities and supports available as school districts (and the NWESD) prioritize and focus in work. These include:
• Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot (TPEP)— With the wonderful facilitation of ESD 101’s Helene Paroff, we support member districts successfully transcend into this new focused world of evaluation.
• Common Core Standards— We help member districts focus on these common core standards to minimize repetition, gaps, and disruptions for students and their learning.
• District/Systems Leadership: We are excited to continue our seven year journey supporting district leadership learning. This leadership development focuses upon the often times more difficult level of the work; moving from a shared vision of effective teaching and learning to shared practices.
• Strategic Planning— Impactful strategic plans are data driven and guide coherence across the school district, schools, and departments/programs. In today’s world there are many more needs than resources can provide. Effective school systems are able to be intentional and thoughtful about the messy business of allocating (or reallocating) limited resources—when using a focused strategic as a guiding lens.

~Dr. Jerry Jenkins, Superintendent
NWESD 189