Leadership Agendas that Drive Change – Using Observational Data Effectively
Introduction:
School leadership meetings should be focused, strategic, and driven by real classroom insights. Instead of discussing administrative tasks, leadership teams must use observational and performance data to set clear action plans for instructional improvement.
1️⃣ Structure Leadership Meetings Around Instructional Priorities
📌 Example: If recent walkthroughs show teachers struggling with differentiated instruction, the leadership agenda should focus on targeted coaching strategies for differentiation.
✅ Action Step: Use a data-driven agenda template that highlights schoolwide trends from observations.
2️⃣ Use Data to Prioritize Teacher Support & Interventions
📌 Example: If lesson pacing is a common issue, leadership discussions should focus on mentoring, coaching, and PD solutions that directly address it.
✅ Action Step: Allocate time for instructional coaching discussions and identify who needs extra support based on walkthrough data.
3️⃣ Foster Collaboration Between Leadership & PLCs
📌 Example: Administrators should attend PLCs to ensure that teacher-driven discussions align with school improvement goals. If feedback cycles are weak, leadership can support teachers in constructive feedback delivery.
✅ Action Step: Schedule monthly cross-team meetings where leadership reviews PLC findings and discusses next steps.
4️⃣ Establish a Culture of Accountability & Follow-Through
📌 Example: Instead of simply reviewing observations, leadership should ensure next steps are clearly defined. For example, if walkthroughs show weak student engagement, the next agenda should include teacher action plans for interactive lesson strategies.
✅ Action Step: Assign accountability partners within leadership teams to track progress on instructional goals.
Conclusion:
An effective leadership agenda connects classroom insights with actionable change. School leaders must ensure that observational data drives coaching, PD, and strategic planning—because strong instructional leadership starts with intentional, data-driven meetings.
Herman R. Bister - Executive Coach
#CoachEmUp #DataDrivesDecisions