leadership capacity.
1.1 The institution commits to a purpose statement that defines beliefs about teaching and learning, including the expectations for learners.
Engagement
The institution provides opportunities for representative internal and external stakeholder groups to build a commitment to the institution’s purpose statement.
The process for review, revision and communication of the school's purpose is documented annually within Board of Directors meeting minutes, Scholar and Faculty Handbooks, faculty meeting agendas. To date, external stakeholders have not been involved in the revision of the school's purpose although feedback is sought via parent conferences. Faculty members continue to stay apprised of the current professional/academic and advocacy trends involving the purpose of gifted and talented education, which is a lively and, at times, polarizing quest.
Artifacts:
Board of Directors Annual Review of Vision and Purpose Meeting Minutes
Scholar Handbook
Faculty Handbook
Lyda Definition of Gifted and Talented
Implementation
The institution implements a systematic process to review, communicate, monitor, and build commitment to its purpose statement.
Our academy engages in a systematic, inclusive and comprehensive process to build a greater understanding of the purpose and vision of the program. This is accomplished through a variety of mechanisms and channels, which may be seen in the Continuous Quality Improvement Workbook and the E.A. Young Academy Communications Plan which includes multiple social media platforms, website content and more. The process for review, revision and communication of the school's purpose is documented within Board meeting minutes, Scholar, Faculty Handbooks and faculty meeting agendas.
Artifacts
CQI Workbook
Communications Plan
Website
Social Media
Results
Purpose statement contains identified and measurable expectations for learners based on shared beliefs about teaching and learning. Data are collected, analyzed and used to monitor measurable expectations for learners contained in the purpose statement.
Our purpose statement is:
We believe the essential purpose of education is to empower gifted and talented learners to fully develop their talents and abilities.
This statement contains clearly identified expectations that may not be quantifiable but better assessed through a qualitative lens. An area for growth will be the development qualitative measurement methods to provide outcome data on this component.
Artifacts
Sustainability
Longitudinal results are analyzed to assess growth and improvement in the measurable learner expectations contained in the purpose statement over time.
As with Results, this statement contains clearly identified expectations that may not be quantifiable but better assessed through a qualitative lens. An area for growth will be the development qualitative measurement methods to provide outcome data on this component.
Embeddedness
Beliefs stated in the purpose statement are demonstrated in behaviors and decision-making.
An example of incorporating our purpose statement as a guiding document occurred when our academy began remote learning in March of 2020. At this time we developed the following two declarations that became tag lines for our emails, components of our stakeholder town halls and referenced in other communication channels. By providing a constant reminder to our stakeholders that we were resolute in our commitment to the fidelity of our purpose, we strove to convey a sense of steadfastness and clarity even in unprecedented times. As the year and pandemic progressed, this evolved into the following:
Our continued commitment:
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The safety of the Firehawk Community is our paramount concern and is being aggressively addressed.
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When it is safe to return to campus, we will. We desperately miss our scholars! We believe strongly in the benefits of on-campus instruction.
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When remote learning occurs, you see the mission and vision of Young Academy carried out with fidelity and innovation.
It is during times of crisis that we look to our core purpose and vision to guide our decision making and problem solving:
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We believe the essential purpose of education is to empower gifted and talented learners to fully develop their abilities. This will continue.
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We work to develop innovative, problem solving, compassionate stewards of our global community. This continues.
1.2 Stakeholders collectively demonstrate actions to ensure the achievement of the institution's purpose and desired outcomes for learning.
Engagement
Actions demonstrated by all representative internal and external stakeholder groups to achieve the purpose
Implementation
Implementation of specific actions and decisions aligned to the institution's purpose
Results
Process to collect, analyze and use data related to the achievement of the purpose
Sustainability
Longitudinal results are analyzed to assess changes in and improvements of the actions implemented to achieve the institution’s purpose
Embeddedness
Intentional alignment of actions to the institution’s purpose evident throughout the institution
1.3 The institution engages in a continuous improvement process that produces evidence, including measurable results of improving student learning and professional practice.
Engagement
Engagement of internal stakeholders in a data-driven and collaborative process for continuous improvement
Implementation
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Development of a continuous improvement plan that contains specific goals, strategies, activities and measures based on identified needs from the review of multiple forms of data, including student achievement, perception, experience, and organizational data
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Defined processes for implementation, monitoring, and revision of the continuous improvement plan based on the analysis and use of data
Results
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Ongoing collection, analysis, and use of data to measure results and outcomes related to the goals
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Results of the continuous improvement process consistently and clearly communicated to all representative internal and external stakeholder groups
Sustainability
Longitudinal results are analyzed to assess results and outcomes of the goals in the continuous improvement plan to show progress over time
Embeddedness
Ongoing commitment to the success of the continuous improvement plan is evident throughout the institution
1.4 The governing authority establishes and ensures adherence to policies that are designed to support institutional effectiveness.
Engagement
Governing authority and institution leadership engage in the ongoing and systematic development, review and revision of policies
Implementation
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Process ensures ongoing and current compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and reflects best practice
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Governing authority holds itself accountable for committing to policies that ensure integrity, effective operations and improved student learning
Results
Process to collect and use evidence to monitor and ensure adherence to policies is implemented by the institution and used to inform revisions to policy or practices
Sustainability
Longitudinal data and evidence show adherence to policy and effectiveness of policy review and revision processes over time
Embeddedness
Governing authority commits to the establishment and adherence to policies that promote the effective operations of the institution in improving student learning
1.5 The governing authority adheres to a code of ethics and functions within defined roles and responsibilities.
Engagement
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All governing authority members operate under a written code of ethics that identifies principles of conduct and ethical standards within the institution.
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All governing authority members participate in ongoing professional learning (beyond statutory required trainings) to stay current and informed regarding applicable laws, regulations, and organizational best practices
Implementation
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Policies clearly identify and actions support the legal and organizational roles and responsibilities of the governing authority
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Policies and practices provide institution leadership the autonomy for day-to-day operations of the institution
Results
Processes to collect and use evidence to evaluate the governing authority’s adherence to the code of ethics and roles and responsibilities
Sustainability
Longitudinal data provide evidence of the governing authority’s ongoing adherence to the code of ethics and roles and responsibilities over time
Embeddedness
Decisions made by the governing authority consistently reflect actions aligned to the code of ethics and legal and organizational roles and responsibilities
1.6 Leaders implement staff supervision and evaluation processes to improve professional practice and organizational effectiveness.
Engagement
All staff members participate in the supervision and evaluation processes
Implementation
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Supervision and evaluation processes for all staff members are documented, include specific criteria for quality performance, and provide ongoing feedback to improve professional practice
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Evaluators have the knowledge, expertise, and training to implement the supervision and evaluation processes with quality and fidelity
Results
Results of supervision and evaluation processes are analyzed and used to inform organizational professional practices and ensure student learning
Sustainability
Analysis of longitudinal results provide evidence of the ongoing implementation and use of data from supervision and evaluation processes, improved professional practice and student learning
Embeddedness
Evaluation and supervision for the improvement of professional practice is a routine and expected practice within the organization
1.7 Leaders implement operational processes and procedures to ensure organizational effectiveness in support of teaching and learning.
Engagement
All staff use documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) and practices related to the policy and general organizational operational processes
Implementation
SOPs are implemented, monitored and adjusted to ensure effective and efficient operations
Results
Data are analyzed and used to evaluate effectiveness and inform the review and revision of SOPs
Sustainability
Longitudinal data and evidence from the analysis of SOPs show growth and improvement in effective and efficient implementation of routine operations
Embeddedness
All staff consistently hold each other accountable to the adherence and application of SOPs to ensure effective and efficient routine operations
1.8 Leaders engage stakeholders to support the achievement of the institution’s purpose and direction.
Engagement
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The institution regularly engages multiple internal and external stakeholder groups, including staff, students, parents, community members, and governmental and educational policy groups to support the achievement of the institution’s purpose
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Engagement of stakeholders includes opportunities that provide two-way communication and active and meaningful participation
Implementation
Engagement strategies result in measurable and active participation of all representative internal and external stakeholder groups
Results
Data are collected, analyzed and used to determine the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement strategies
Sustainability
Longitudinal results of stakeholder engagement strategies indicate improvement and growth in the engagement of stakeholders to support the achievement of the institution’s purpose
Embeddedness
Active engagement of stakeholders is valued, supported and expected throughout the institution
1.9 The institution provides experiences that cultivate and improve leadership effectiveness.
Engagement
Opportunities to lead are provided for multiple stakeholders, including staff, students, and parents or community members
Implementation
Capacity for internal leadership is built through the implementation of formalized opportunities for ongoing modeling, coaching or leadership activities
Results
Data are collected, analyzed and used to monitor the effectiveness of leadership activities
Sustainability
Longitudinal data and results are used to indicate improvements and growth in providing experiences for multiple stakeholder groups to lead
Embeddedness
A collaborative culture that includes opportunities for shared leadership is supported, developed and protected by leaders and other stakeholders
1.10 Leaders collect and analyze a range of feedback data from multiple stakeholder groups to inform decision-making that results in improvement.
Engagement
Feedback is collected consistently and regularly from all representative internal and external stakeholder groups and reflects participation of the institution population and demographics
Implementation
Feedback collection methods ensure validity and reliability of the data and processes are implemented by internal stakeholders to review and analyze the data
Results
Analysis and use of feedback data inform the continuous improvement process, guide actions and decision-making and are used to measure stakeholder perceptions and beliefs
Sustainability
Longitudinal feedback results are analyzed to examine trends in stakeholder perceptions and to indicate growth and improvement in those areas linked to goals and strategies in the continuous improvement process
Embeddedness
Stakeholders expect and respond to the institution’s practices to provide regular and consistent communication