Case Studies - National Urban Alliance Leadership Strategizing and Visioning






				Case Studies National Urban Alliance Leadership Strategizing and Visioning Overview Client National Urban Alliance (NUA) works with school districts providing ongoing professional development activities for teachers and administrators to improve classroom instruction, and improve school communities. The Strategizing and Visioning Session included the organizations four key leadership people. Goals and Objectives The goal was to discuss the NUA mission creating a structure and understand the methods and tools to make the vision happen. Challenges Taking the time to visualize a rapidly changing organization, how others see the organization, and create a growth plan. Action Pedagogical Strategies We went through several exercises to frame a better understanding of the organization. This included: Role Identification Exercises to create a clearer understanding of the organization; a visual map of adjectives to describe the organization, then considering from different frames of reference; brainstorming the different communities of the organization, then looking at different perspectives. This exercise expanded the discussion on interpretation and understanding of roles; and using a visual map to explore the differences and similarities between external / internal strategies & the methods of implementing them. Techniques Everyone was involved in contributions involving all four key leaders in documenting and drawing the visual map. Outcomes Results Using the same tools as presented and encouraged in the field modeled the value of visual representation and expanding on outside perspectives. Continuing Results Exposure to the visually based conceptualizing process led to expanding on the use of these tools with every consultant now becoming a Trainer of Trainer for Thinking Maps. New Ideas The NUA community map provided a more global view of the rapidly growing organization. The visual map above is part of the follow-up outline from the visioning session. Click here or on the map to see the outline. Client Information National Urban Alliance for Effective Education www.nuatc.org Download Case Study Download the National Urban Alliance Leadership Strategizing and Visioning Case Study as an Acrobat PDF file. More Case Studies Case Studies available online, and as a downloadable Acrobat PDF files include: Youth Development Collaborative for staff from over 15 community-based, youth-serving organizations in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia National Urban Alliance leadership visioning session with the key management team Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource School whole school change and common understandings of curriculum in a public arts school serving a large metropolitan area Designs for Thinking Tools exploration DVD to assist understanding and implementation of Thinking Maps Bryant Elementary School, Seattle Public Schools whole school change focused on creating collaboration with a staff built on communication, consistent vision, and commonalities with methods Cal Arts to improve overall in-class experience for teachers and students during presentations and critiques. Development of Case Studies with Thinking Foundation to provide examples of funded participatory research that shares exemplary examples of innovative and successful schools. Go to the Thinking Foundation website Case Studies section. Description of Case Studies format updated 17 February 2006