Building a Culture of Feedback: Promising, Developmental Strategies for School Change and Capacity Building

• In Event: 42.073 - Educational Leadership Preparation: Propositions for More Effective Training Programs

Abstract

Drawing from (a) Robert Kegan’s (1982, 1994, 2000) constructive-developmental theory, and (b) more than 25 years of research (i.e., surveys, interviews, evaluations of workshops and classes, etc.) and work with school leaders around the globe (Author, 1996, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2015; Authors, 2013, 2016), this paper highlights the critical importance of building a culture of feedback in schools and organizations—as the foundation for productive, growth-enhancing conversations about educational and instructional change. Specifically, we share six developmentally-oriented strategies for establishing trust and building conditions for authentic, generative feedback in schools, districts, professional learning opportunities, and leadership development. This work has vital implications for leadership preparation, especially given contemporary emphases on collaboration and high-stakes evaluations as tools for ongoing improvement.

Authors

• Eleanor E. Drago-Severson, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Jessica Blum-DeStefano, Teachers College, Columbia University