Improvement Leadership Education and Development (iLEAD) Research-Practice Preparation Partnership: Portland State University and Portland Public Schools

• In Event: 64.025 - Problem-Focused and Place-Based Leadership Development: The Improvement Leadership Education and Development (iLEAD) Research-Practice Preparation Partnership

Abstract

While this is a new partnership between Portland State University (PSU) and Portland Public Schools (PPS), PSU has been supporting the district in preparing administrators in using improvement science to tackle longstanding educational inequities. This new partnership will begin with a team from PPS consisting of a Senior Director, Principal, and Intern Principal that lead or support Jason Lee elementary school. Jason Lee is a pilot site for PPS in the use of improvement science as the chief methodology for tackling problems that have plagued the district for years. In this research-practice partnership (RPP), we seek to use improvement science to create a culture of improvement and increase the academic growth and achievement of students of color.

Data

Our RPP begins with providing improvement science professional development for the entire staff at Jason Lee to gain an understanding of the root causes of their problem of practice. We will examine available data from the 2017-18 school year and provide regular support to the staff throughout the year.

Current Accomplishments and Challenges

At Portland State University, we have received commitment to the idea of improvement science and are integrating it in our Initial Administrator Licensure program. We also have district commitment and our partnership includes a well-connected team of administrators with strong relationships. At the partnership level, there is commitment to using improvement science as a signature pedagogy at PSU in the practicum coursework, and to extending it to the work of local practitioners to positively impact students’ success in PPS.

Our biggest challenge to date has been to create a team willing to work with another in learning, implementing, and reflecting on improvement science. This RPP is important as Portland State University is located in the middle of the Portland Public Schools and has the most administrative students of all of the universities in Oregon.

Significance

We hope others will learn from our RPP the importance of creating a strong team of individuals who believe in creating a world class experience for all students; that democratic principles must be present in the school leaders to be able to implement and sustain improvement science in schools. We also seek to ensure that students in PSU who earn their license and are trained in improvement methods are then hired locally in PPS to lead and continue their practice.

Author

• Tania L. McKey, Portland State University