School District Coherence: Connecting the Strategic Plan to Teachers

Abstract

School districts have adopted strategic planning as a means to develop a vision and promote agency for the vision. Committees for strategic planning often include superintendents, principals, administrators, community members and teachers, but they often don’t consider the nuances of being a teacher while developing the strategic plan. Concepts such as personalized learning or college and career readiness are often focal points for strategic plans; however, teachers are already incorporating these methods into their classrooms because it is part of being a teacher. The moral imperative of being a teacher often involves these behaviors without direction or motivation. This creates a disconnection between what district level administration desires in their schools, and the actual teaching that is taking place.