The Center for Strategic Quality Professional Development, the major outreach program of the Learning Forward Colorado, has helped improve student achievement at 30 Front Range schools over the last eight years. 

“We could not have done this work in this short of time without the support and help from The Center,” stated Paul Talafuse, past Principal of Coal Ridge Middle School in St. Vrain School District.

Coordinated by Sue Johnson, The Center provided ongoing support and facilitation through 15 consultants to help schools build and sustain leadership skills and understand and use data to develop and implement a plan for change.  The Center is working with two schools during the 2010-2011 school year but will close after that.

Sue reflected on her years with The Center:

• In the beginning, the Fall of 2002, our focus was on lower performing schools which sometimes had additional resources but, perhaps need to align them for more effectiveness.
• Our structure was for an external consultant to work with a school leadership team to guide development, planning, and work.  The consultant worked closely with the building principal, who was a member of the team.
• The Rose Community Foundation awarded most of the money for the work, starting with a two-year grant to Learning Forward Colorado, with the goal of the project being self-sustaining over time.  The Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation also awarded money to the Center.

“The Center has helped… incorporate research-based ’best practices’ in discussions and decision making…” Mary Vedra, past Executive Director of Learning Services, Englewood Schools

• Some schools (2) stayed with The Center for four years, some for a fourth (transitional) year (7), some for three years (9), some for two years (9) and some for one year (3).
• The project shifted as school needs changed.  For example, in 2004, The Center refocused its work from resource allocation to growth in student achievement.  In 2006, The Center published Indicators of Sustainability for school leadership teams and schools.  In 2007, schools focused on aligning assessment to Indicators of Sustainability.  In 2008, the Center conducted formal assessment of staff implementation of improvements, and in 2009, it launched self-assessments that principals could do to identify coaching needs.

Major Accomplishments

• Clarity of focus for more continuity in the work through creation of a brochure
• Data workshops 2003-2007
• CD/DVD A Program for Change – released in 2006 and revised in 2008
• Involvement of 9 schools that had formal reviews from the Colorado Department of Education
• Two separate evaluations which show impact of The Center’s work in schools that had participated at least three years in the project.
• Indicators of Sustainability
• Financial support of Learning Forward Colorado -- $53,000 since 2004

Sue reflected on some of the realities that the Center faced as well as on lessons learned:

• The leadership characteristics of the principal, readiness of a school, and support of the staff and district have to be weighed very carefully to “select” new schools.
• Grants are awarded for one year at a time even though The Center asked for three-year commitment.
• The focus of grant funds changed in 2009, so The Center was no longer able to add new schools.
• Unless student achievement on CSAP increases and/or the Colorado Growth Model ratings improve, there is insufficient data to be selected for a competitive grant.

These consultants have been involved in Center work:

These schools have worked with The Center: