Design and Coaching

Small Learning Communities

We work with teachers and school leadership teams to design and implement small learning communities and academy programs. Key topics addressed in training and facilitation sessions include:

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Small Schools

We work with large high schools who wish to redesign into a "small schools" approach as well as with educators interested in starting new small schools from scratch. Key topics addressed in training and facilitation sessions include:

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Strategic Planning

Schools and districts interested in developing comprehensive redesign plans can use our "Blueprint Process" to guide the process. Key steps in the Blueprint Process include:

Needs Assessment

In this step, we work with your organization to uncover strengths, needs, resources, and leverage points. The Needs Assessment involves collecting data from many different sources, carefully analyzing the data, and providing you with useful reporting tools that help you to communicate the findings and align intervention strategies. Our facilitated "Asset Mapping" process has been used successfully by numerous schools and districts to align their programs, course offerings, and funding with overall priorities and goals.

Program Design

After needs are identified, we partner with key leaders and develop a strategic plan for change. The Program Design often is based on a broad-based vision for a preferred future. If no such vision exists, we can facilitate a process to ensure that all of your key stakeholders reach such an agreement. This enables us to develop a targeted training and evaluation plan that fits with the desires and needs of your entire organization.

Training

Next, our team delivers an engaging Training program, scaled and sequenced to meet your organization's needs. Our training targets four key areas:

Communication and Assessment

As part of a continuous improvement cycle, training sessions and other change strategies are strategically communicated throughout the organization and are assessed regularly to ensure program effectiveness. Student performance data, along with other measures, will be evaluated on an ongoing basis, providing critical feedback to help realign and refocus reform efforts, and ultimately to produce organizational learning and lasting change.

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Curriculum Design

We regularly bring our deep experience in classroom instruction to curriculum design projects. To date we have developed projects and lessons for a range of clients - from individual teachers to online professional development forums to national organizations - as well as for a range of academic subjects. Sample

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School Redesign

Swanson & Cosgrave Consulting works with large initiatives as well as individual schools on change strategies to create high achieving and equatable schools that meet the needs of all learners. Drawing from over a decade of experience in school redesign, our approach focuses on building an inclusive process where all stakeholders collaborate to create a culture conducive to change and continuous improvement.

Other features of our school redesign work include:

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Arts Education

School Presentation

Arts education is an area of deep experience for Swanson & Cosgrave Consulting. Michelle has worked professionally in theatre arts and began developing award-winning arts programming at the secondary level in 1975. We've seen firsthand how the arts can powerfully engage students in serious intellectual work and provide an authentic platform for demonstrating learning to a real audience. Some of the arts-related services offered by Swanson & Cosgrave Consulting include:

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Leadership and School Governance

We work with administrators and teacher leaders to create school governance structures that are effective and inclusive. Specifically, we can provide targeted support in the following areas:

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More Topics

We have worked with educators on a number of other topics in addition to those listed above. Contact us directly to find out more about how we can help with:

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