{"id":6949,"date":"2016-06-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-06-06T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/blog\/cw_post\/moving-from-theory-to-practice-designing-a-new-competency-based-high-school\/"},"modified":"2020-02-27T14:47:16","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T19:47:16","slug":"moving-from-theory-to-practice-designing-a-new-competency-based-high-school","status":"publish","type":"cw_post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/cw_post\/moving-from-theory-to-practice-designing-a-new-competency-based-high-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving from Theory to Practice: Designing a New Competency-Based High School"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at Springpoint<\/a> on May 31, 2016.\"Screenshot<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Every school leader wants to create their dream school. They want the kind of opportunity that would allow a passionate team and community of learners to cast a shared vision, to side step the bureaucratic elements of schooling, and to create an atmosphere and experiences that educators and students long for. However, when the opportunity of a blank canvas for school design arrives, there are a number of unspoken challenges in moving from theory to practice. In December of 2014 we embarked on this leadership journey with Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design (DSISD). As we look back on our first year, there are many lessons that contributed to the success of our first year and our goals moving forward. Most importantly, our strong foundational systems and goals allowed our leadership to steer\u00a0DSISD\u00a0through the uncertain waters between theory and practice.<\/p>\n

North Star:\u00a0DSISD\u00a0Vision<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our theory from the start was that a competency-based approach would make our school truly student-centered from startup to launch. Moving from theory to practice inherently means that an organization will need to navigate uncertainty and change. Many of the daily structures that ensure confidence and coherence in an established school or organization do not exist in a startup situation. What does exist in a startup situation is enthusiasm and excitement about new possibilities. However, enthusiasm is a finite resource that can be whittled away as challenges, which are sure to come, arise. To navigate uncertainty at\u00a0DSISD, we built a compelling vision to anchor decisions in and test designs against.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0DSISD\u00a0vision is \u201cTo empower\u00a0ALL\u00a0students to\u00a0OWN\u00a0their learning,\u00a0SHAPE\u00a0their dreams, and CREATE\u00a0a better world.\u201d This simple statement paints the picture of what we hope to instill in all of our students. It is also the first test for all of our decisions and school design elements. From identifying staff dispositions, to curricula choices, to student experiences\u2014if the choice doesn\u2019t align to the vision, then we don\u2019t do it. This simple stake in the ground creates unity and confidence among the staff and provides consistency in the midst of uncertainty and change.<\/p>\n

Map and Compass: Year One Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n

But vision alone is not enough\u2014leaders also need to provide concrete criteria to know whether the group is heading in the right direction. Having clear benchmarks and goals helps generate momentum and secure early wins. This positive momentum is critical for counteracting the challenges of change and uncertainty. To secure these wins, the\u00a0DSISD\u00a0leadership team set three core goals for a strong first year:<\/p>\n