Running Head: ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 1

Analysis of Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools Im$lemenaion of PLTs using #e %olman and &eal
Four Frame Model
'risin (e!er
Oa)land *ni+ersiy
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS ,
Abstract
T#e $ur$ose of #is $a$er is o analy-e #e im$lemenaion of Professional Learning
Teams .PLT/ in Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools using %olman and &eal0s .,112/ 3Reframing
Organi-aions: Arisry4 5#oi"e4 and Leaders#i$67 In order o analy-e #is im$lemenaion and
#e "#allenges or o$$oruniies #a #is iniiai+e may !ring o #e disri"4 #e disri" 8ill !e
+ie8ed #roug# #e four frames suggesed !y Lee %olman and Terran"e &eal .,112/7
T#ese frames are #e Sru"ural Frame4 Human Resour"e Frame4 Polii"al Frame4 and Sym!oli"
Frame7 Afer analy-ing #e im$lemenaion of PLTs using ea"# of #e four frames4
re"ommendaions are gi+en o im$ro+e #e im$lemenaion of #e iniiai+e7
Introduction
Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools is lo"aed in sou#easern Mi"#igan in a su!ur!an area7 T#e
s"#ool disri" ser+i"es a$$ro9imaely 114111 sudens ages !ir# #roug# ,: years of age7 T#e
s"#ool disri" #as ,1 !uildings4 in"luding 8o early "#ild#ood "eners4 8o s$e"ial edu"aion
s"#ools4 nine elemenary s"#ools grades ';<4 8o =;: !uildings4 8o middle s"#ools and four
#ig# s"#ools7 Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools .FPS/ #as "onsisenly ou$erformed #e sae a+erage
for MEAP>MME e+ery year7 Ho8e+er4 #e suden $o$ulaion in Farmingon #as "#anged in #e
$as 11 years4 and as su"# #as "aused mos of #e s"#ools in #e disri" o !e la!eled as Fo"us
S"#ools !y #e Sae of Mi"#igan for #e $as 8o years7 &uring #e ,11,;,11? s"#ool year4 #e
disri" sared o im$lemen Professional Learning Teams .PLTs/ o #el$ $romoe ea"#er
"olla!oraion around suden a"#ie+emen7
Structural Frame Analysis
%olman and &eal .,112/ say #e 3"ore $remise of #e sru"ural lens: "lear4 8ell;
undersood goals4 roles4 and relaions#i$s and ade@uae "oordinaion are essenial o organi-ed
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS ?
$erforman"e6 .$7 <:/7 Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools .FPS/ #as "learly defined goals in #e &isri"
Im$ro+emen Plan in ma#4 reading and 8riing for suden a"#ie+emen7 T#ese goals are #en
ranslaed ino #e s"#ool im$ro+emen $lans for ea"# s"#ool !uilding in #e disri"7 FPS also
#as "learly defined roles for ea"# mem!er of #e organi-aion7 Many of #ese roles are found in
#e disri" adminisraion organi-aional "#ar7 A #e !oom of #is "#ar are #e !uilding
$rin"i$als4 8#o are #en res$onsi!le for o+erseeing ea"# !uilding in #e disri"7 Ea"# of #ese
!uildings #as is o8n organi-aional sru"ure #a in"ludes ea"#ers4 $ara;$rofessionals4
se"rearies4 food ser+i"e4 "usodians4 and sudens7 In order o "oordinae all of #ese roles in #e
disri"4 #ere are se+eral +eri"al and #ori-onal meeing sru"ures in $la"e o "ommuni"ae
informaion7 T#e +eri"al sru"ure meeings in"lude #e leaders#i$ eam meeings for 5enral
Offi"e and !uilding $rin"i$als4 and #e E9$anded Insru"ional Leaders meeings #a in"lude
re$resenai+es from ea"# !uilding in #e disri" #a mee on"e a mon# o dis"uss disri"
iniiai+es7 T#e #ori-onal sru"ure meeings in"lude !uilding saff meeings and Professional
Learning Team .PLT/ meeings4 as 8ell as #e Insru"ional Leaders meeings for 5enral Offi"e
saff7 T#e disri" assisan su$erinenden also sends ou an email o all saff in #e disri" e+ery
o#er Monday o "ommuni"ae im$oran informaion o e+eryone a #e same ime7
%olman and &eal .,112/ say organi-aional sru"ure 3mus address 8o )ey @uesions:
Ho8 do 8e allo"ae res$onsi!iliies a"ross differen unis and rolesA And4 on"e 8e0+e done #a4
#o8 do 8e inegrae di+erse effors in $ursui of "ommon goalsA6 .$7 <B/7 In FPS4
res$onsi!iliies #a+e !een allo"aed o differen le+els of #e organi-aion7 A #e adminisraion
le+el4 #e 5enral Offi"e mem!ers are in "#arge of all su$er+isors4 $rin"i$als4 and "urri"ulum7
T#e !uilding $rin"i$als are in "#arge of ea"# of #eir res$e"i+e !uildings7 Lasly4 ea"#ers are in
"#arge of #e "lassrooms in 8#i"# #ey ea"#7 T#e se"ond )ey @uesion from %olman and &eal
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS <
.,112/ #as no ye !een addressed in FPS7 T#ere is an effor o ge $eo$le o 8or) oge#er
o8ard some "ommon goals in $rofessional learning eams4 !u #ere are sill many ea"#ers and
adminisraors 8#o #a+e #eir o8n agenda and 8is# o $ursue #ings ouside of #e disri"
iniiai+es7
%olman and &eal .,112/ also say #a 3a signifi"an amoun of ime and aenion mus !e
de+oed o so"ial ar"#ie"ure C designing sru"ure #a allo8s $eo$le o do #eir !es6 .$7 =1/7
T#e PLT sru"ure is designed o #a+e ea"#ers 8#o ea"# #e same #ings 8or) oge#er o
im$ro+e #eir $ra"i"e7 In realiy4 #o8e+er4 #is is no #e "ase7 A #e #ig# s"#ools4 #e
rimeser s"#eduling sysem does no allo8 for ea"#ers o )ee$ #e same $re$ #roug#ou #e
year4 so #ere are imes 8#en a PLT may mee and one or more of #e mem!ers may no !e
ea"#ing #e $ari"ular "onen area #a #e PLT is fo"used on7 Ano#er $ro!lem 8i# #e PLT
sru"ure is #a #ere #asn0 !een any raining gi+en o #e ea"#ers in FPS on how o 8or) in a
PLT7 For #e mos $ar4 PLTs #a+e !een lef o #eir o8n de+i"es o 8or) ou a sru"ure for
"ondu"ing meeings and 8or)ing #roug# $rofessional gro8# goals7 T#ere are many PLTs 8#o
#a+e sruggled #roug# #is and sill 8onder 8#a o do during a PLT meeing ime7 %olman and
&eal .,112/ say #e 3di+ision of la!or C or allo"aing as)s C is #e )eysone of sru"ure6 .$7 =,/7
*nil #is ges addressed #e sru"ure of PLTs is a ris)7 5urrenly4 PLTs are e9$e"ed o mee
for one #our ea"# 8ee) ouside of "onra" #ours for no e9ra $ay7 Many saff mem!ers #a+e no
!oug# ino #e +alue of PLTs and are #us no meeing #a re@uiremen 8i# fideliy ye7 3A
"rii"al sru"ural "#allenge is #o8 o #old an organi-aion oge#er 8i#ou #olding i !a")7 If
sru"ure is oo loose4 $eo$le go #eir o8n 8ay or ge los4 8i# lile sense of 8#a o#ers are
doing7 Sru"ures #a are oo ig# sifle fle9i!iliy and "ause $eo$le o s$end mu"# of #eir ime
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS =
rying o !ea #e sysem6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 B=/7 Rig# no8 i seems #a #e sru"ure
is oo loose in FPS for PLTs o fun"ion "orre"ly sysem;8ide7
In order o #el$ "om!a #e loose sru"ure #a PLTs 8ere im$lemened 8i# las year4 a
seering "ommiee 8as de+elo$ed o "reae #e e9$e"aions for PLT 8or) for #e ne9 ?;= years7
Mem!ers of #is "ommiee s$an all le+els of #e organi-aion o gain in$u from all sa)e#olders7
3Tas) for"es assem!le 8#en ne8 $ro!lems or o$$oruniies re@uire "olla!oraion of di+erse
s$e"ialies or fun"ions6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 =B/7 T#is eam used saff sur+ey daa o
8or) ou #e deails of #e e9$e"aions for #e ,11?;,11< s"#ool year for PLTs7 T#is year ea"#
PLT 8ould !e gi+en self;guiding $rofessional de+elo$men maerials fo"used on #e
de+elo$men of formai+e assessmens for #eir "lassrooms7 (i# #is fo"us4 #e #o$e is #a
PLTs 8ill #a+e "ommon ground o 8or) from and 8ill de+elo$ #e "o#esi+e relaions#i$s
needed o $ursue #e oug# "on+ersaions a!ou suden a"#ie+emen #a need o a)e $la"e for
FPS o see real suden a"#ie+emen gains7
Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools is a Professional %ureau"ra"y .Min-!erg4 1DBD4 $7 ?==/7
T#is #as "aused #e im$lemenaion of PLTs o !e a "#allenge in some $la"es !e"ause ea"#ers
li)e #eir auonomy and #a+ing o 8or) 8i# "olleagues o im$ro+e #eir $ra"i"e "an feel
un"omfora!le o some7 3In $rofessional !ureau"ra"ies4 sruggles !e8een #e sraegi" a$e9
."enral offi"e saff/ and #e o$eraing "ore .ea"#ers/ are ofen 8on !y #e $rofessionals
.ea"#ers/4 8#o are more ig#ly !onded o #eir field #an o any s$e"ifi" insiuion6 .%olman
and &eal4 ,1124 $7 2?/7 T#e #o$e is #o8e+er4 #a #is is no #e "ase 8i# PLTs7 T#e disri"
needs #is sysem o 8or) o really mo+e ea"#ing $ra"i"es in #e dire"ion of a more in@uiry;
!ased "lassroom #a 8ill su$$or #e demands of #e ne8 sandards li)e 5ommon 5ore and Ne9
Eeneraion S"ien"e Sandards7 FPS is ma)ing is !es effor of !ridging #e ga$ of )no8ledge
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS :
!e8een edu"aional #eory and $ra"i"e !y im$lemening #e PLTs a"ross #e disri"7 3A a
gi+en momen4 an organi-aion0s sru"ure re$resens is !es effor o align inernal 8or)ings
8i# ouside "on"erns6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 DB/7 T#is sru"ure is essenial in ma)ing
sure #a #e eams esa!lis#ed in FPS 8ill !e $rodu"i+e and #el$ mo+e ea"#ers for8ard in #eir
8or)7 As %olman and &eal .,112/ sae4 3#e $erforman"e of a small grou$ de$ends #ea+ily on
sru"ure6 .$7 111/7
T#e PLT sru"ure in FPS !es models #e All;5#annel Ne8or) .%olman and &eal4
,1124 $7 11B/ !e"ause e+eryone in #e grou$ #as a""ess o e+eryone else in #e grou$4 8i# o$en
lines of "ommuni"aion going in all dire"ions7 %olman and &eal .,112/ sae #a 3i 8or)s !es
8#en eam mem!ers !ring 8ell;de+elo$ed "ommuni"aion s)ills4 enFoy $ari"i$aion4 olerae
am!iguiy4 em!ra"e di+ersiy4 and are a!le o manage "onfli"6 .$7 11:/7 T#is PLT sru"ure is
no @uie a #e o$ $erforman"e le+el4 !u #e #o$e is #a in ?;= years all mem!ers of PLTs 8ill
"ome o #e a!le 8i# #e s)ills menioned !y %olman and &eal .,112/7
'a-en!a"# and Smi# .1DD?/ also #a+e se+eral "#ara"erisi"s of #ig#;$erforming eams
#a "an !e seen in some of #e PLTs #a #a+e !een formed a"ross FPS #us far7 T#ese
"#ara"erisi"s in"lude !eing a!le o "reae s$e"ifi"4 measura!le goals4 )ee$ing eams a a
managea!le si-e .usually ?;= $eo$le/4 and some of #ese eams #old ea"# o#er "olle"i+ely
a""ouna!le for #eir goals .#ey #a+e se PLT goals for #e year/7 T#ere is sill a lo of 8or) o
!e done in "reaing #e "ulure of eaming in FPS4 !u #e disri" is off o a good sar #us far7
In order o !eer mee #e sandards of #e sru"ural frame4 #ere are a fe8
re"ommendaions for Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools o im$lemen7 Firs of all4 #e ne9 ? C = years
of im$lemenaion for PLTs needs o !e "learly defined so #a #e $ro$er sru"ures "an !e
esa!lis#ed a#ead of ime7 Se"ondly4 Farmingon needs o si") 8i# #is iniiai+e4 no a!andon
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS B
i li)e so many o#er iniiai+es !efore i7 T#e sru"ures esa!lis#ed during #e firs 8o years of
im$lemenaion need o remain in $la"e so #a #ey #a+e ime o 8or) as #ey 8ere inended7
Lasly4 PLTs need o !e #eld a""ouna!le for meeing during #e re@uired PLT ime and a")ling
#eir assigned as)s7 T#is 8ill re@uire some $roo"ols !eing esa!lis#ed !y disri" adminisraion
o !e im$lemened in all !uildings7
The Human Resource Frame
T#e #uman resour"e frame #a is suggesed !y %olman and &eal .,112/ #as some "ore
assum$ions asso"iaed 8i# i7 One of #ose assum$ions is #a 3organi-aions e9is o ser+e
#uman needs ra#er #an #e "on+erse6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1,,/7 In fa"4 i is also
suggesed #a 3$eo$le and organi-aions need ea"# o#er6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1,,/7
T#erefore4 organi-aions "anno ignore #e #uman elemen #a e9iss in i7 In Farmingon Pu!li"
S"#ools4 $rofessional learning eams .PLT/ 8ere $arially im$lemened o ser+e #e #uman need
of !eing a!le o "olla!orae 8i# $eers o im$ro+e $ra"i"e in a sru"ured 8ay7 T#e #o$e is #a
in urn4 Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools 8ould see in"reased suden a"#ie+emen 8i# less ier , and
? iner+enions4 e@uaing o a 8in;8in for !o# ea"#ers and sudens7
Some managers4 !o# a #e "enral offi"e and !uilding le+el4 are !eer a fa"iliaing PLT
8or) #an o#ers7 Some #a+e ado$ed #e T#eory Y a$$roa"#4 !u o#ers #a+e follo8ed a more
T#eory G $a#8ay .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1,=;1,:/7 T#e effe"i+eness of PLTs is
drasi"ally differen !e8een #ese y$es of !uildings7 In #e T#eory Y !uildings4 grou$s #a+e
auonomy4 !u are sill effe"i+e in 8or)ing #roug# #e needs of #e !uilding0s sudens7 In #e
T#eory G !uildings4 #ere are many grou$s 8#o !egrudgingly mee4 e+en #oug# #ey do no feel
a sense of $ur$ose !e"ause #e !uilding leader is di"aing 8#a s#ould !e done o in"rease
suden a"#ie+emen insead of leing #e PLTs figure #a ou for #emsel+es7
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 2
T#e !ig @uesion in Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools is #o8 o ge PLTs o really 8or)7
%olman and &eal .,112/ sugges #a i !egins 8i# in+esing in $eo$le7 3Fe8 em$loyers in+es
#e ime and resour"es ne"essary o de+elo$ a "adre of "ommied4 alened em$loyees6 .%olman
and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1?=/7 If FPS 8ans o #a+e $eo$le 8or) oge#er effe"i+ely4 #en #ey need
o #a+e #e raining o do so7 FPS #re8 e+ery ea"#er and saff mem!er ino a PLT 8i#ou
gi+ing any raining in eam !uilding4 seing grou$ norms4 or running effe"i+e meeings7 T#ey
also $u #ese eams oge#er 8i#ou gi+ing #em an e9$li"i $ur$ose7 No84 a year laer4 many
are sill s$inning #eir 8#eels rying o figure ou what #ey s#ould !e doing7 %olman and &eal
.,112/ sugges #a 3many organi-aions are relu"an o in+es in de+elo$ing #uman "a$ial7
T#e "oss of raining are immediae and easy o measureH #e !enefis are elusi+e and long;erm6
.$7 1<2/7 Many s"#ool disri"s are 8ary of in+esing los of money ino a single iniiai+e and
#e raining asso"iaed 8i# i4 due o !udges !eing as ig# as #ey "urrenly are7 Ho8e+er4 i
seems #a !y s)i$$ing #a se$ in #e $ro"ess4 #ese iniiai+es are doomed for failure7 FPS #as
seen #e error in #is and #as sared some formal raining #is year7 T#is fall4 one PLT leader
from ea"# s"#ool4 along 8i# an adminisraor from ea"# s"#ool4 8ill $ara)e in formai+e
assessmen $rofessional de+elo$men raining7 T#ese leaders 8ill #en !e res$onsi!le for leading
#eir res$e"i+e !uilding #roug# a self;guided $rofessional de+elo$men $rogram o "reae and
adminiser formai+e assessmens7 T#is $ro"ess is $roFe"ed o a)e ,;? years o "om$lee7 %y
in+esing in #is raining4 i seems #a PLTs 8ill #a+e a !eer idea of one #ing #a #ey s#ould
!e 8or)ing on as a grou$7
Ano#er 8ay o ge more saff mem!ers in Farmingon o !uy ino iniiai+es is o #a+e an
in"eni+e !uil in7 T#ere needs o !e a reason for $eo$le o 8or) #arder #an #ey already do7
Pfeffer .1DD2/ suggess #a organi-aions s#ould $romoe from 8i#in7 Many imes #is is #e
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS D
"ase in s"#ool disri"s4 !u no al8ays7 I seems #a if #e PLT $ro"ess is su""essful4 #ere may
!e many good leaders idenified 8#o 8ould #a+e o#er8ise gone unnoi"ed7 A 8ay o re8ard
#e emerging leaders from #is iniiai+e 8ould !e o "reae some ea"#er leader si$ends for
leaders of PLTs7 Pfeffer saes #a $romoing from 8i#in 3en"ourages !o# managemen and
em$loyees o in+es ime and resour"es in u$grading s)ills6 .as "ied in %olman and &eal4 ,1124
$7 1<:/7
Ano#er 8ay o ensure #a PLTs 8ill 8or) in FPS is o lisen o #e sa)e#olders
in+ol+ed in #e $ro"ess7 Eeing feed!a") from ea"#ers and o#er saff mem!ers is essenial in
im$ro+ing #e $ro"ess7 %olman and &eal .,112/ say 3sur+ey resear"# $a+ed #e 8ay for sur+ey
feed!a") as an a$$roa"# o organi-aional im$ro+emen6 .$7 1:?/7 %y lisening o 8#a e+eryone
#as o say a!ou #o8 #ings are 8or)ing4 sysemi" "#anges "an !e made o im$ro+e #e sysem
as a 8#ole7
Lasly4 in order o ge PLTs o really 8or) in FPS4 $eo$le need o )no8 how o 8or)
oge#er7 T#ere is al8ays a fear of #a+ing "onfli" or #a+ing someone on a eam #a is #ard o
deal 8i#7 %olman and &eal .,112/ say #a 3if you ell yourself #a i0s oo dangerous o !e
o$en and #a you do no )no8 #o8 o deal 8i# diffi"ul $eo$le4 you 8ill $ro!a!ly !e rig#6 .$7
1B?/7 Again4 #is is 8#ere grou$ norms and eam;!uilding is essenial7 T#ere needs o !e
relaional rus !e8een eam mem!ers o 8or) #roug# "onfli"7
So4 #o8 do PLTs ge im$lemened and su$$ored effe"i+elyA To !egin 8i#4 #ere needs
o !e effe"i+e managemen a !o# #e "enral offi"e and !uilding le+els7 A #e "enral offi"e
le+el4 #ere #as !een a seering "ommiee esa!lis#ed o o+ersee #e im$lemenaion of PLTs7
T#is "ommiee is "om$rised of $eo$le from +arious roles and res$onsi!iliies #roug#ou #e
disri"7 A #e !uilding le+el4 #ere are #e !uilding $rin"i$als and in some !uildings4 a !uilding
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 11
leaders#i$ eam7 T#ese leaders all need o esa!lis# sru"ured eams in #eir !uildings7 3E+ery
8or) grou$ needs a sru"ure of as) roles so mem!ers undersand 8#o is going o do 8#a6
.%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 121/7 Ea"# PLT #as a leader .#is role "ould roae/4 re"ord )ee$er4
moderaor4 e"7 T#ese roles s#ould !e deermined !y a !es;fi a$$roa"#7 %olman and &eal
.,112/ sugges 3mem!ers send im$li"i signals a!ou roles #ey $refer4 usually 8i#ou reali-ing
#ey are doing i6 .$7 121/7 Leaders need o gi+e $eo$le #e roles #a #ey 8an and 8ill #ri+e
in7 Leaders also need o !e "ogni-an of #e fa" #a some eams may #a+e more #an one
mem!er 8#o 8ould li)e #e same role7 T#is "onfli" needs o !e resol+ed early on or i may
!e"ome a $ro!lem as #e grou$ sars i 8or)7
Ano#er as$e" of eams #a needs o !e in $la"e for #em o #ri+e is relaional rus7
Ideally4 all PLTs s#ould go #roug# eam;!uilding raining7 %olman and &eal .,112/ e+en
sugges 3#e a!sen"e of eam !uilding "an !e "aasro$#i"6 .$7 12,/I Team;!uilding doesn0
#a+e o !e e9$ensi+e4 i Fus re@uires ime7 T#is "ould !e done o+er #e summer mon#s o a+oid
"oss of su!siue ea"#ers7 T#e #ours s$en !y ea"#ers during #is ime "ould !e "ouned for
sae re;"erifi"aion #ours as 8ell7
Ano#er as$e" of eams #a mus !e esa!lis#ed is grou$ norms7 3E+ery grou$ de+elo$s
informal rules o li+e !y C norms #a go+ern #o8 #e grou$ fun"ions and #o8 mem!ers "ondu"
#emsel+es6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 12,/7 FPS mus $romoe effe"i+e grou$ norms so #a
eams 8ill !e effe"i+e in rea"#ing #e goal of in"reased suden a"#ie+emen7 T#is may re@uire
!uilding leaders o "#e") u$ on PLTs o ma)e sure #a #ey are indeed meeing 8#en #ey are
su$$osed o4 and #a all mem!ers are a"i+ely engaged in #e 8or)7 If #is isn0 #e "ase in a
$ari"ular PLT4 #e !uilding leader needs o 8or) 8i# #a PLT o !ring i !a") on ra")7 If saff
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 11
mem!ers see #a #ey 8ill !e #el$ a""ouna!le for #e 8or) of #eir PLT4 #en grou$ norms
!e"ome easier o esa!lis#7
O$en "ommuni"aion is ano#er )ey as$e" of effe"i+e grou$s and eams7 3S#ared
undersanding and "ommimen around #e !asi"s are a $o8erful glue o #old #ings oge#er in
#e fa"e of #e ine+ia!le sress of grou$ life6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 12=/7 Ho8e+er4 in
order for "ommuni"aion o !e"ome o$en in a PLT4 relaional rus mus !e esa!lis#ed firs7
(i#ou rus4 "ommuni"aion 8ill ne+er !e "om$leely #ones !e8een eam mem!ers7
T#e las as$e" of effe"i+e grou$s #a needs o !e esa!lis#ed in PLTs in Farmingon is
#a grou$s need dire"ionI T#e leaders#i$ in Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools mus gi+e dire"ion o
PLTs7 %olman and &eal .,112/ sugges 3grou$s ofen ge los6 .$7 12:/7 Leaders#i$ needs o !e
a!le o seer #ose grou$s !a") on "ourse7 3Leaders#i$ #el$s grou$s de+elo$ a s#ared sense of
dire"ion and "ommimen6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 12:/7 %y ma)ing sure lines of
"ommuni"aion are o$en o #ose PLT leaders4 i 8ill )ee$ eams on ra")7
The Political Frame
*sing #e $olii"al frame4 i "an !e seen #a im$lemening any ne8 iniiai+e in a disri"
re@uires "areful $lanning and aenion o #e differen $ers$e"i+es #a $eo$le 8ill !ring o #e
a!le7 T#e firs #ing #a "an !e analy-ed in Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ool0s im$lemenaion of #e
PLT sru"ure is o "om$are i o #e 3fi+e $ro$osiions .#a/ summari-e #e .$olii"al/
$ers$e"i+e6 .%olman J &eal4 ,1124 $7 1D</7 PLT0s 8ere "reaed !ased on re"ommendaions
from as) eams designing #e ea"#er e+aluaion sysem as a 8ay for ea"#ers o "olla!orae and
su$$or ea"# o#er7 T#is fis #e $ro$osiion #a 3organi-aions are "oaliions of assored
indi+iduals and ineres grou$s6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1D</7 Ne9 a seering "ommiee
8as formed o 8or) ou #e im$lemenaion of #e PLT sru"ure7 T#is "ommiee fel #a PLTs
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 1,
8ere already fun"ioning in some "a$a"iy in !uildings around #e disri"4 8#ere #e realiy 8as
#a #ere 8ere PLTs !u #ey 8eren0 o$eraing 8i# fideliy in mos !uildings7 T#is fis #e
$ro$osiion #a 3"oaliion mem!ers #a+e enduring differen"es in +alues4 !eliefs4 informaion4
ineress4 and $er"e$ions of realiy6 .$7 1D</7 Ne94 #ere 8ere no resour"es o allo"ae
dedi"aed ime during #e day o le PLTs mee so during "onra" negoiaions ?1 #ours of PLT
ime ouside of #e s"#ool day 8as in"luded in #e ne8 "onra" for no e9ra $ay7 T#is fis #e
$ro$osiion #a 3mos im$oran de"isions in+ol+e allo"aing s"ar"e resour"es C 8#o ges 8#a6
.%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1D=/7 5enral Offi"e 8as seen as #a+ing #e $o8er in #e
relaions#i$ !e8een #e ea"#ers union and adminisraion !e"ause #ey #ad #e a!iliy o di"ae
8#en eams 8ould mee and for #o8 long7 T#is relaes o #e $ro$osiion #a 3s"ar"e resour"es
and enduring differen"es $u "onfli" a #e "ener of day;o;day dynami"s and ma)e $o8er #e
mos im$oran asse6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1D=/7 Lasly4 during negoiaions4 #e goals of
PLTs 8ere formed4 #a is geing ea"#ers o 8or) oge#er o ad+an"e ea"#er effe"i+eness and
in"rease suden a"#ie+emen7 T#is aligns 8i# #e $ro$osiion #a 3goals and de"isions emerge
from !argaining and negoiaion among "om$eing sa)e#olders Fo")eying for #eir o8n
ineress6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1D=/7
Polii"s really !e"ame a +isi!le frame in Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools o+er #e las B C 2
years 8i# many Sae Aid "us and 8o failed !ond $ro$osals in #e disri"7 3T#e "on"e$ of
s"ar"e resour"es sugges #a $olii"s 8ill !e more salien and inense in diffi"ul imes6 .%olman
and &eal4 ,1124 $7 1D:/7 Rig# no8 #e $u!li" does no rus Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools as #ey
#a+e "losed neig#!or#ood s"#ools in #e $as fe8 years and #en as)ed for o+er K12: million o
refur!is# o#er !uildings7 T#e s"#ool disri" mus !uild rus !a") u$7 Re"enly #ey #a+e
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 1?
released 8rien ari"les for #e lo"al ne8s$a$er #a menion #e ime ea"#ers are s$ending in
PLTs ouside of #e 8or) day o im$ro+e #eir "raf7
PLTs "an !e +ie8ed as allian"es in #e $olii"al frame7 Tea"#ers are saring o see #a
#ere is sreng# in num!ers 8#en i "omes o 8or)ing #roug# "urri"ular issues7 %olman and
&eal .,112/ sae #a 3a e+ery le+el in organi-aions4 allian"es form !e"ause mem!ers #a+e
ineress in "ommon and !elie+e #ey "an do more oge#er #an a$ar6 .$7 ,11/7 T#is is
es$e"ially rue of #e monumenal as) of aligning "urri"ulum o #e 5ommon 5ore Sae
Sandards7 Ho8e+er4 ea"#ers in some !uildings feel #a #ey mus !e doing 8or) in PLTs
8#ereas some !uildings #is is no a $rioriy7 For e9am$le4 a Nor# Farmingon Hig# S"#ool4
PLTs are a $rioriy !e"ause of #e s"#ool leader7 T#is leader "ame o #e disri" #ree years ago
from ano#er disri" ou;of;sae #a em!ra"ed PLTs as a "ore +alue7 As %olman and &eal
.,112/ sae 3o$$oruniies and influen"e flo8 o $eo$le 8i# srong re$uaions6 .$7 ,1?/7
T#ere is ano#er ineresing relaions#i$ #a "an !e +ie8ed from #e $olii"al frame in #e
im$lemenaion of PLTs C #e ea"#ers union and "enral offi"e leaders#i$7 %olman and &eal
.,112/ sae #a 3one of #e mos im$oran as)s of uni managers or union re$resenai+es is o
!e a $ersuasi+e ad+o"ae for #eir grou$ on a $olii"al field 8i# many $layers re$resening
"om$eing ineress6 .$7 ,1B/7 T#e union ad+o"aed for delayed sars on"e a mon# o )ee$
some of #e alloed PLT ime 8i#in #e 8or) day7 5enral offi"e4 on #e o#er #and4 8as a!le o
ge #e ea"#ers union o "ommi #ree #ours a mon# ouside of #e 8or) day o !e dedi"aed
PLT ime #a ea"#ers 8ould !e a""ouna!le for7 %olman and &eal .,112/ say 3negoiaion is
needed 8#ene+er 8o or more $aries 8i# some ineress in "ommon and o#ers in "onfli" need
o rea"# agreemen6 .$7 ,,1/7
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 1<
T#e $olii"al frame s#o8s #a PLTs are a formali-ed sru"ure of inerde$enden"e7
%olman and &eal .,112/ sae 3inerde$enden"e means #a $eo$le "anno ignore one ano#erH
#ey need ea"# o#er0s assisan"e4 su$$or4 and resour"es6 .$7 ,1?/7 (#en a grou$ of ea"#ers
are 8or)ing on a eam4 #ey rely on ea"# o#er for #ings #a #ey "anno do #emsel+es7 T#is
sru"ure "an !e +ery !enefi"ial as long as ea"# mem!er "onri!ues o #e o#ers and doesn0
solely a)e from #e relaions#i$7
T#e $olii"al frame also s#eds a lig# on #e $olii"al leaders#i$ 8i#in Farmingon Pu!li"
S"#ools7 %olman and &eal .,112/ sae 3#e firs se$ in effe"i+e $olii"al leaders#i$ is seing
an agenda6 .$7 ,1</7 T#e assisan su$erinenden in Farmingon #as an agenda o in"rease
suden a"#ie+emen #roug# ea"#er su$$or and gro8#7 T#e ea"#er e+aluaion model #a s#e
#el$ed engineer refle"s #is 8i# is large ea"#er su$$or menu #a ea"#ers "an use o #el$
#em a"#ie+e #eir $rofessional goals ea"# year7 PLTs also offer su$$or o ea"#ers in #a #ey
do #e #ard 8or) of edu"aion C ans8ering #e @uesions of 3(#a do 8e 8an )ids o )no8A6H
3Ho8 8ill 8e )no8 if #ey learned iA6 and 3(#a 8ill 8e do if #ey #a+en0 learned iA67 T#e
assisan su$erinenden also !elie+es in im$lemenaion s"ien"e7 T#is s#o8s in #e fa" #a
e+ery iniiai+e #a s#e inrodu"es #as a ?;= year im$lemenaion $lan7 %olman and &eal .,112/
sae #a 3a +ision 8i#ou a sraegy remains an illusion6 .$7 ,1=/7 T#is is no #e "ase in
Farmingon7 T#e one road!lo") o #is +ision or agenda is #a many "enral offi"e
adminisraors do no a)e #e ime o $ersonali-e #ese $lans 8i# #e indi+idual !uildings in #e
disri"7 For insan"e4 #ey do no go around o #e s"#ools in #e disri" o !uild relaions#i$s
8i# ea"#ers +ery mu"# so i !e"omes easy for $eo$le o no !uy;in o an iniiai+e7 %olman and
&eal .,112/ say 3managers ofen fail o ge #ings done !e"ause #ey rely oo mu"# on reason
and oo lile on relaions#i$s6 .$7 ,12/7 Ho8e+er4 #e assisan su$erinenden undersands #is C
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 1=
s#e #as !uil "redi!iliy o+er #e $as fe8 years !e"ause s#e in+ol+ed ea"#ers in #e
de+elo$men of #e ea"#er e+aluaion model4 and no8 s#e #as many ad+o"aes around #e
disri" 8#o feel s#e su$$ors ea"#ers7 As %olman and &eal .,112/ say 3#ey .$eo$le/ a""e$
dire"ion !eer 8#en #ey $er"ei+e #e $eo$le in au#oriy as "redi!le4 "om$een4 and sensi!le6
.$7 ,1D/7
In order o ge Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools o "oninue o mo+e for8ard 8i# "urren
iniiai+es some of #e "urren disri" leaders#i$ needs o say in $la"e4 es$e"ially #e disri"
leaders#i$ in "#arge of #is iniiai+e7 3Organi-aional "#ange and effe"i+eness de$end on
managers0 $olii"al s)ills6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 ,,2/7 T#ere also needs o !e a "oninued
#eal#y relaions#i$ !e8een #e ea"#ers union and disri" leaders#i$ so #a !o# sides "an
"ome o agreemen on #o8 o !es mo+e for8ard 8i# iniiai+es in #e fuure7 Lasly4 !uilding
leaders#i$ needs o !e #eld a""ouna!le for s#aring #e agenda of disri" leaders#i$ so #a PLTs
are im$lemened "onsisenly and 8i# fideliy around #e disri"7
The Symbolic Frame
%olman and &eal .,112/ sae #a 3#e sym!oli" frame fo"uses on #o8 #umans ma)e
sense of #e "#aoi"4 am!iguous 8orld in 8#i"# #ey li+e6 .$7 ,<2/7 Edu"aors #a+e o "reae
meaning for PLTs on an indi+idual !asis7 *nless #ere is meaning asso"iaed 8i# a as)4 in #is
insan"e PLTs4 $eo$le 8ill no !uy ino i and do i 8i# fideliy7 3Meaning is no gi+en o usH 8e
#a+e o "reae i6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 ,<2/7 5enral offi"e "an no ell ea"#ers #a
8or)ing "olla!orai+ely 8ill #el$ #emH #ey #a+e o li+e i and see i for #emsel+es7
In order for ea"#ers o really em!ra"e PLTs4 ea"#ers need o feel #a #e $ro"ess is
+alued !y #e disri"7 3T#e +alues #a "oun are #ose an organi-aion li+es4 regardless of 8#a
i ari"ulaes in mission saemens or formal do"umens6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 ,==/7
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 1:
On"e PLTs !e"ome esa!lis#ed4 Farmingon 8ould !e 8ise o rea PLT ime as a riual7 3A
#ome and a 8or)4 riual gi+es sru"ure and meaning o ea"# day6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7
,:1/7 If ea"#ers feel #a PLTs really dri+e #o8 #ings ge done in a !uilding #en PLTs 8ill
#a+e +alue7 %olman and &eal .,112/ sae #a 3riuals also !ond a grou$ oge#er and im!ue #e
ener$rise 8i# radiions and +alues6 .$7 ,:?/7 If ea"#ers +alue ea"# o#er and feel "onne"ed o
#eir eam mem!ers4 mu"# more $rodu"i+e 8or) 8ill !e done o mo+e suden learning for8ard7
O+er ime as PLTs !e"ome a riual4 a ne8 "ulure in Farmingon "an !e !uil7 3&efined
as L#e 8ay 8e do #ings around #ere40 "ulure an"#ors an organi-aion0s ideniy and sense of
iself6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 ,B2/7 Ho8e+er4 for #e "ulure o si")4 i #as o !e reinfor"ed
a all le+els4 in"luding !uilding adminisraion7 Tea"#ers need o see adminisraors 8or)ing in a
PLT as 8ell7 %olman and &eal .,112/ say 3more and more eams and organi-aions no8 reali-e
#a "ulure4 soul4 and s$iri are #e 8ells$ring of #ig# $erforman"e6 .$7 ,D1/7
To ge "ommuniy !uy;in o #e PLT $ro"ess4 Farmingon de"ided o ie #e re@uiremen
of PLT mem!ers#i$ o a "om$onen of #e ea"#er e+aluaion $ro"ess #a deermines #e le+el of
a ea"#er0s effe"i+eness7 3E+aluaion assures s$e"aors #a an organi-aion is res$onsi!le4
serious4 and 8ell;managed7 I s#o8s #a goals are a)en seriously4 $erforman"e re"ei+es
aenion4 and im$ro+emen is a #ig# $rioriy6 .%olman and &eal4 ,1124 $7 ?1</7
In order for Farmingon o "oninue #e im$lemenaion $ro"ess of PLTs in #e sym!oli"
frame4 #e sysems #a #a+e !een $u ino $la"e need o !e )e$ "onsisen from !uilding o
!uilding so #a ea"#ers feel #a #e $ro"ess is !eing done 8i# fideliy7 O+er ime4 PLTs 8ill
!e"ome $ar of #e "ulure of Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools4 and 8ill no longer need o !e 8rien in
as a re@uired num!er of #ours in #e ea"#er "onra"7 On"e ea"#ers feel !onded o #eir eam
and undersand #e !enefis of #e $ro"ess4 #ey 8ill mee +olunarily o "oninue #eir 8or)7
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 1B
Conclusion
O+erall4 Farmingon Pu!li" S"#ools #as done many #ings o ge PLTs off of #e ground
8i# ea"#ers a"ross #e disri"7 Ho8e+er4 in order o "oninue o !uild u$on 8#a #as sared4
more formal raining in #e areas of eam !uilding and grou$ norms needs o a)e $la"e so #a
$eo$le )no8 how o 8or) oge#er7 On"e #is is a""om$lis#ed4 #e disri" "an fo"us more on #e
8or) #a needs o !e done in #ese grou$s7 O+er ime4 #is model of ea"#er "olla!oraion "ould
!ring su!sanial suden gro8# a"ross #e disri"7 For ea"#ers o ruly !uy ino #is $ro"ess4
#ey need o see #e disri" si") 8i# #is iniiai+e and !e"ome #e 8ay #a 8or) is done
#roug#ou #e disri"7
ANALYSIS OF FPS IMPLEMENTATION OF PLTS 12
Referen"es
%olman4 L7E74 J &eal4 T7 E7 .,112/7 Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice and leadership
.<
#
ediion/7 San Fran"is"o4 5A: Mossey;%ass7
'a-en!a"#4 M7R74 J Smi#4 &7'7 .1DD?/7 The wisdom of teams: Creating the high-performance
organization. %oson4 MA: Har+ard %usiness S"#ool Press7
Min-!erg4 H7 .1DBD/7 The structuring of organizations. *$$er Saddle Ri+er4 N7M7: Preni"e Hall7
Pfeffer4 M7 .1DD2/7 The human equation: Building profits y putting people first. %oson4 MA:
Har+ard %usiness S"#ool Press7