Contact
October - November
- Prospective partner school completes initial online form establishing school’s primary contact
- Primary contact receives information packet including background information about the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education and a Partner School Summary template
Exploration
October - November
- School leadership reviews information packet and determines interest in a partnership
- Primary school contact submits completed Partner School Summary
- Primary contact arranges Google Hangout with Tarrant Institute leadership, building principal and other key school leaders to discuss the prospect of a partnership
- School leadership recruits key faculty to represent faculty as a whole on a Partnership Leadership Team. Leadership recruits other key staff to team, such as Technology Integration Specialists and others who play a central role in guiding professional development and school improvement. It is common, and often preferred, to build on an existing leadership team if an effective one already exists
- Leadership Team meets to discuss partnership opportunities, understand the commitment involved, and gauge faculty interest
Partnership
March onwards, for up to three years
- The Tarrant Institute and the school leadership team signs an MOU reflecting the agreed-upon professional development strategy
- The Tarrant Institute and the leadership team begins implementing the partnership plan
Reflection and Revision
March onwards, for up to three years
- The leadership team, in consultation with the Tarrant Institute, guides ongoing improvements to the plan and responds promptly to emerging needs and concerns of faculty, leadership and the Tarrant Institute
- In January and February of each implementation year, the leadership team considers modifying the MOU for the next school year
- By March of each implementation year, partnership signs revised MOU or dissolves partnership
Key Dates to Consider
March onwards, for up to three years
- Deadline for reconciling plan with the school’s budget proposal for next fiscal year (November-December)
- Committing contract and other professional development funds to upcoming Middle Grades Institute (December-January)
- MOU signed in time to address the plan’s calendar and scheduling implications (February-March)