Strengthening Collaborative Processes

For most educators, addressing conflict or tension can be uncomfortable and is often avoided at all costs. However, difficult conversations occur on a regular basis and, without the right training and skills, they can quickly deteriorate, cause lasting damage to relationships, and stymie progress.

CEC has developed a pair of training sessions that can help all educators; administrators, union leaders, teachers, support staff, and board members, learn how to navigate difficult conversations and move those challenging discussions to a productive level.

Our training consists of two, four-hour sessions where joint teams build skills and learn strategies to proactively and positively address difficult workplace issues. These sessions can accommodate up to 50 participants but can also be designed for smaller groups. Session One can stand alone but Session Two is only available to those who complete Session One.

The objectives of Session One include:

• Determining when a difficult conversation is needed
• Exploring the difficult conversation process
• Preparing for an upcoming difficult conversation

The objectives of Session Two include:

• Practicing the skills of an interest-based approach to problem solving in a difficult conversation
• Understanding and practicing the skills of dialogue
• Preparing for the problem solving approach in an upcoming difficult conversation

This training is ideal for all workplace employees and session materials are useful for any stakeholder group. As part of the sessions, participants will identify their own challenging workplace situations for which they will prepare in detail.

To learn more please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

Commitment Level: 2 half-days
Budget Range: $2,500
Personnel Involved: All levels of stakeholders

Research from Rutgers and Cornell Universities shows the positive impact of collaborative partnerships on district and school climate, effective leadership, teacher efficacy and student learning. CEC provides training and consultation to refine and align leadership structures and communication processes to ensure stakeholder engagement and collaboration focused on deepening learning for all students.

CEC offers training that develops high-performing teams at district, school and teacher-led levels. Our training focuses on how the team organizes itself around a collaborative, continuous improvement approach. Ongoing coaching can build sustainable teamwork structures at every level.

Training and coaching support include the following areas:

• Effective Team Practices
• Decision-making processes
• Development of shared goals and priorities aligned with a broader mission and vision for districts and schools
• Progress monitoring using data through an effective information system
• Communication and broadcasting strategies to share the learning throughout the system

To learn more please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

District Learning Team (DLT)

CEC provides coaching and training to district level leaders to assist in establishing a district leadership team (DLT) with diverse representation that might include school and district administrators, school board members, teacher and union leaders and classified staff. We work with the team so they can cultivate a culture of collaboration, listening and learning with a continuous improvement framework focused on articulated goals and strategies to engage all stakeholders and to deepen student learning.

The function of the DLT may include:

• Establishing a shared vision among district level leaders to engage stakeholder voice with a continuous improvement approach
• Building system-wide capacity and coherence focused on listening and learning together
• Setting direction to empower students through learning
• Identifying and diagnosing needs and targeted supports
• Tracking and monitoring progress to strengthen continuous improvement effectiveness
• Jointly broadcasting results system-wide about accomplishments, challenges and opportunities for improvement
• Empowering and supporting School Learning Teams (SLTs) to improve effectiveness and alignment
• Communicating and broadcasting to the internal and external communities the learning in the system

School Leadership Team (SLT)

CEC provides coaching and training to school level leaders to assist in establishing a school leadership team that establishes and communicates a shared school vision. This vision results from broad and deep participation by stakeholder groups to carry out, monitor and sustain the school’s vision. The SLT sets the direction and pace for the school; consistent with school and district goals. The SLT tracks and monitors progress toward the goals and communicates this to staff, parents and the school community.

The function of the SLT may include:

• Establishing clear and compelling learning expectations for students
• Aligning curriculum, instruction, assessments and professional learning opportunities to support educators in empowering students through learning
• Collecting, analyzing and using data on learning and assessment
• Establishing and aligning vertical and horizontal structures to listen, learn and share progress, opportunities and challenges with district and grade level/content area teams (PLCs)
• Communicating the learning and challenges with the entire school community
• Identifying the conditions for a school environment focused on student learning
• Implementing strategies that support students, staff and families

Grade Level/Content Area Teacher-Led Teams

CEC provides training and coaching for educators in the Professional Learning Community (PLC) philosophy. We focus on PLC-based strategies, common expectations and commitments, including the formation and function of teacher-based PLC teams. CEC supports this work using an integrated approach to promote coherence, collaboration and shared learning across grade level/content area teams as well as connections with the school leadership team. Our PLC model centers around collaborative uses of data to continually inform and improve instruction, thereby improving student learning. PLC districts, schools and teams take responsibility for the learning improvement of all students and do so in collaborative ways that embed and integrate the PLC philosophy at all levels of a school system.

Commitment Level: Customizable
Budget Range: Starting at $2,500 for up to 8 hours of training or coaching
Personnel Involved: Central Office Administration, Union Leadership, Principals, Leadership Team Members

Any system change requires a collective effort to meet the challenges school systems face. CEC uses proven, interest-based, and effective facilitation skills, in virtual and/or in-person format, to help move your system forward in these unprecedented times. Our collaborative approach can guide your decisions in contract negotiations, impact bargaining, and problem-solving conversations to reflect the current environment and ensure decisions are jointly owned.

CEC has a history of successful experience in facilitating critical issues including working conditions, expectations and evaluation, resources, technology, and safety and security.

To learn more please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

Commitment Level: Customizable
Budget Range: Starting at $2,500 for up to 8 hours of facilitation
Personnel Involved: Joint teams including school, district and union leaders

CEC has developed an engaging 3 day leadership series for school and district level leadership, “Listen to Learn to Lead – Leadership Principles and Practices that Inspire and Support Student Learning”.

This training is designed for district and/or school level teams to:

• Gain an understanding of the theories and practices of Labor Management Collaboration and Partnerships
• Establish or refine current roles and responsibilities of administration and union leaders to foster a culture of mutual accountability and a collaborative approach to decision-making.
• Explore leadership strategies that promote effective partnerships to inspire a shared vision for student engagement and learning
• Assess and refine school and district teams using research based characteristics of highly collaborative teams and the impact of partnerships at the district and school level.
• Consider strategies to increase coherence and integration of district and school initiatives to deepen student engagement and learning
• Listen and learn from the work of school leadership teams and grade level/content area teams focused on deepening student engagement and learning on a school and district-wide level to inform district and school goals and priorities.

To learn more please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

Commitment Level: 3 full days or 6 half day sessions
Budget Range: $7,500
Personnel Involved: District and School Administration and Union Leaders/Representatives