Too Much of a Good Thing? Consultants' Contribution to Initiative Overload in Ferguson, Missouri

• In Event: Structures, Systems, and Practices of Districts

Abstract

This paper describes the challenges faced when a school district embarks on an ambitious reform project in response to accountability pressures, an influx of resources, and a renewed commitment to social justice. As university researchers providing support to the Ferguson-Florissant School District, we witnessed a wide array of activities initiated subsequent to the events of 2014. These initiatives were typically coordinated by district personnel, but conceptualized, guided, and facilitated by external consultants. The proliferation of ambitious, urgent initiatives led to concerns across the district regarding “initiative overload.” And while most of the initiatives were framed from an equity perspective, they tended to be technical in nature, such as specific discipline interventions or math programs.

Authors

• John J. Hall, Temple University

• Courtney Lemon-Tate, Temple University