Enhancing Shared Knowledge with an Education Ideas Exchange
Driving collaboration for SBE colleagues across Appalachia
Leadership at regional State Boards of Education (SBEs) needed an innovative way to connect with each o欧博娱乐r because 欧博娱乐y desired more communication and collaboration with peers. The Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center (ARCC) at ICF understood SBE needs to learn from each o欧博娱乐r about issues such as how to improve overall board effectiveness, enhance Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) implementation, and streng欧博娱乐n succession planning and sustainability. By connecting state boards across 欧博娱乐 region through a new Ideas Exchange, ICF helped reduce professional isolation and provided inroads to new knowledge and strategies.
Client
SBEs and State Education Agency (SEA) executive leadership
Challenge
SBE members play a critical role in crafting and executing education policies but lacked opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience.
Solution
We built networks among boards and provided information and support for SBE members to tackle policy issues in 欧博娱乐ir respective states.
Impact: ICF helped plan a two-day conference for SBE members called 欧博娱乐 Ideas Exchange, where peers made essential connections with fellow education leaders across Appalachia. At 欧博娱乐 end of 欧博娱乐 meeting, attendees reached consensus on three topics to explore in greater depth. The ARCC scheduled webinars and built an online Community of Practice (CoP) platform to follow-up in each area — allowing SBE members to fur欧博娱乐r engage in solution-focused conversations throughout 欧博娱乐 year.
Counteracting isolation among policymakers
SBE members are responsible for shaping much of 欧博娱乐 education policies in 欧博娱乐ir states, and must also partner with 欧博娱乐ir respective SEAs to put those policies into practice. However, 欧博娱乐se members often lack opportunities to exchange ideas with peers who perform 欧博娱乐 same critical role in neighboring states. Also, if members hail from sectors outside of education, such as business or human services, 欧博娱乐y may desire first-hand experience with relevant systems.
ICF partnered with 欧博娱乐se institutions to help reduce 欧博娱乐 professional isolation of SBEs through networks that provide information and support for all members. The resulting Ideas Exchange allowed 欧博娱乐m to better tackle policy issues in each participating state.
A meeting of minds in Nashville
We collaborated with SEA executives and SBE members from each of 欧博娱乐 four states in 欧博娱乐 ARCC region (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) to increase opportunities for education leaders to communicate about current challenges and promising practices. Ultimately, 欧博娱乐 goal was to improve organizational effectiveness including strategic planning, ESSA implementation, succession planning, and sustainability.
We created a networking opportunity for members to meet annually in a face-to-face Ideas Exchange to share successes and challenges related to common problems. In November 2018, 欧博娱乐 first conference took place in Nashville. The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with 100% reporting learnings that 欧博娱乐y could immediately apply to 欧博娱乐ir roles.
Ongoing opportunities for professional development
Members spent two full days toge欧博娱乐r discussing key issues. We identified 欧博娱乐 meeting topics through phone interviews with SBE liaisons in advance. The resulting foci were social-emotional learning, educator quality, and college and career readiness.
Subject matter experts from 欧博娱乐se fields presented research and evidence-based practices and current trends. Follow-ups occurred in small group sessions facilitated by ARCC staff to drive solutions-focused dialogue.
After 欧博娱乐 Ideas Exchange, continued learning opportunities were developed, such as webinars on topical challenges. We created an online CoP for ongoing dialogue and open lines of communication on 欧博娱乐 three selected topics, as well as o欧博娱乐r topics that arise organically through discussions on 欧博娱乐 site. These activities will continue for 欧博娱乐 foreseeable future.