NYKids Presents at School of Education Day
NYKids was featured at the University at Albany’s School of Education Day. The day is intended to celebrate the educational innovations and advancements made by the School of Education’s faculty and students. Director of Research and Development for NYKids, Dr. Kristen Wilcox, presented on the lessons learned about galvanizing improvement teams in research-practice partnerships along with Nancy Andress, Capital Area School Development Association, and Deb Larrabee, Principal at Fort Plain Jr.-Sr. High School.
Improvement Science
Dr. Wilcox began the presentation by discussing the principles of improvement science. These principles guide the professional development work – called COMPASS – done by NYKids with participating schools. The COMPASS Institute is a multi-step process that supports school leadership teams with:
(1) comparing their practices to those of odds-beating schools serving populations in need;
(2) selecting levers for improvement by examining the practices of odds-beating schools through case study analysis; and
(3) developing action steps and plans for evidence-guided decision making.
Personal Leadership Styles
Andress facilitated an activity asking participants to consider and discuss their personal leadership styles. The activity is one often used to work with schools participating in the COMPASS Institute.
COMPASS in Practice
Principal Larrabee shared the experience she and her leadership team from Fort Plain Jr.-Sr. High School had participating in the COMPASS Institute. Through COMPASS, the leadership team enacted several changes that increased their attendance rate and lowered the number of students in need of summer school. Larrabee also described how the leadership team engaged with students to understand their perspectives (i.e. holding a focus group with students who were chronically absent). These perspectives also informed the development of a resource room in the school for students who have experienced challenges or emotional trauma. The room has become a safe and population destination in the school with some students describing it, “being like home.”
