Gathering data with survey information is an integral part of building a foundation of understanding the essential elements of building an improvement plan and making positive changes. However, if you gather too much information, you are “data rich.” It is time-consuming to collect and gather information, but you do not have time to drill all of it down to make a difference positively. One time I can recall walking up the stairs in our administrative offices to see thousands of papers of data. Overwhelming is not even the best word to describe it. We were data-rich and information poor. We did not know where to begin to understand what to do with all of this information.
When you take the time to gather the answers, take the time to go over the data, analyze the data and develop an action plan with steps to make changes to address issues interrupting teaching, learning, and overall growth, the class, has moved to the next grade level. Information has to be given to the team today, processed, analyzed, prioritized, and determine the action steps to take.
“The development of the NASSP Survey of America’s School Leaders and High School Students were assisted by nine current school leaders and NASSP members and nine National Honor Society students from across the United States. Gotham Research Group, an independent research firm, developed and administered the survey. It was conducted online from June 5 through June 23, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 principals and assistant/vice principals in middle and high school and 1,000 8–12th-grade students enrolled in school for the 2021–22 school year. The margin of error for each sample is ±3.1 percentage points.”
I pulled this piece out from the report and have more I would like to discuss, but this indicates that my Two Rule Philosophy is precisely what leaders and students want. Everyone needs to feel good and feel safe—the elements of accomplishing this begin with meeting the basic needs and building trust.
I look forward to bringing more information, resources, and tools to help leaders in all schools.