Central Office Transformation: A Guide to Equitable Teaching and Learning
Self-Study Guide 2.0
Overview
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- Author(s)
- Meredith I. Honig and Lydia R. Rainey
- Publisher(s)
- District Leadership Design Lab, University of Washington
Summary
How we did this
This guide grew out of research from the University of Washington’s District Leadership Design Lab (DL2), which is some of the main empirical scholarship in the field on the relationship between central office work and equitable teaching and learning. The findings are also supported by related research in the learning and organizational sciences.
This self-study guide aims to deepen your understanding of how your school district central office can become a powerful force for equitable teaching and learning. The interactive toolkit is designed for individuals and groups who want to strengthen their positive impact on students in ways that are research-based and forward-thinking. In it, you will find some of the latest research to use in making significant changes that can help reimagine the role of the central office.
What Is a Central Office and Why Does It Matter?
Traditionally, the central office managed compliance, finance, and operations. Today, research shows that district leaders can transform these systems into engines of continuous improvement. This guide supports leaders who want to connect those administrative functions to teaching quality, creating a direct line between central office transformation and equitable learning outcomes. The self-study guide also helps sharpen your vision of your own work and deepen your understanding of changes in other parts of the central office that may have implications for their own operations.
Who should use this guide? Individual central office leaders and staff, superintendent’s cabinets, leaders and staff involved with teaching and learning, human resources professionals, principal supervision staff, and operations staff.
District Leaders’ Success Stories and Key Takeaways
Across the country, district leaders have used these principles to strengthen collaboration, elevate teaching quality, and reimagine their role in student success. The self-study guide can be used as a stand-alone resource or as a companion to the book “From Tinkering to Transformation: How School District Central Offices Drive Equitable Teaching and Learning.” In this guide, you will:
- EXPLORE the research-based ideas individually
- EXTEND your thinking and plans by taking a deeper dive into the research
- ENGAGE with a broader team
- REFLECT on your learning and identify next steps
Visualizations
How to Use This Guide
Take the next step in your central office transformation journey. Explore real district leaders’ success stories and proven strategies for supporting the transformation of learning.
