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Collective Vision: Igniting District and School Improvement describes a school district's 10-year journey of transformation. It began with the creation of a district-wide shared vision, mission, and values, using an appreciative inquiry process that engaged all stakeholders in the school district, thus establishing shared ownership and responsibility for the outcomes. The book demonstrates how the power of a collective vision and collaborative inquiry across a system helps establish a district-wide culture of collective efficacy, resulting in improved outcomes. In the field of education promising practices are sometimes discarded before improvements can be observed and schools are often charged with the responsibility for improvement without being given enough support or guidance from the district.
This story describes how continuous inquiry and district support for promising practices led to significant improvement and transformation. The book serves as a practical guide that provides useful "lessons learned" and questions for self-reflection throughout. Educators at all levels of the system will be inspired to take action toward district and school improvement.
About the author
Nancy Gordon is a recently retired assistant superintendent from the Delta Schools District. She worked in Delta for forty-two years teaching grades one through ten, specializing in educating students with diverse needs while serving as a Learning Assistant and Resource Room Teacher. She held the roles of Vice-Principal, Elementary Principal, and District Director of Learning Services before becoming the Assistant Superintendent, a role in which she focused on district collaborative inquiry, leadership development, transforming district culture, and achieving equity for all students. Nancy is passionate about professional inquiry at all levels of the system and leveraging research to achieve school and district improvement.
Dianne Turner formally retired in 2018 from her role as Chief Educator for the British Columbia Ministry of Education. Prior to taking on that role she was Superintendent of Schools with the Delta School District for six years. She served as Secondary Principal and Vice Principal, Science Department Head and Science Teacher with the Vancouver School District for thirty years before moving to Delta to serve as Assistant Superintendent. Dianne's passion, interests and engagement in professional learning and leadership development has led her to deepen her knowledge through inquiry and research about ways to support system wide transformation for the benefit of all students and staff.
