Cross Functional Teams

BACKGROUND

In January 2011, SBISD undertook development of the Spring Branch Plan 2012-2017 (Plan). An eighteen month process began with a visioning task force of more than 80 SBISD staff, students, community members, parents and the Board of Trustees. A series of community and staff feedback loops followed and led to refinement of the district goal and underlying belief statements. Following Board approval, the Plan and its ambitious Spring Branch T-2-4 (T24) goal was launched in July 2012.

Over the next year, district leaders focused on communicating about and building support for T24, a “moonshot” goal, that challenges the entire Spring Branch community to work together to double the number of our graduates who attain a technical certification or military training, or a two- or four-year degree.

At the same time, the district focused on finalizing the critical and secondary measures and drafting an internal accountability plan to assess our progress toward T24 at the campus and district levels.

Five strategic focus areas were identified as critical to achieving T24, and in October 2013, the SBISD Board of Trustees approved a Chartering Document to establish five Cross Functional Teams (CFTs) to study, analyze and action plan in support of each strategic area.  The district senior staff serves as the executive steering committee for the process.

CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAMS

In November, 2013, approximately 100 SBISD leaders from across the system’s academic, campus and operational areas convened to launch the CFTs. The CFTs are charged with using a study team process to design, implement, monitor and evaluate both urgent and foundational activities along the five strategic work streams that will honor the district legacy yet stretch the system to re-imagine and re-invent, where necessary, so that EVERY SBISD student achieves T24.

The five CFT’s are:  

•  Leadership Pipeline  (Facilitator - Patti Pace)
• Teacher Development and Evaluation (Facilitator - Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D.)
• Driving Results (Facilitators – Lance Stallworth, David Sablatura, Ed.D.)
• Spring Branch To and Through (Facilitator – Duncan Klussmann, Ed.D.)
• Culture (Facilitator – Linda Buchman)

Throughout the 2014 spring semester, CFTs have met at least weekly, to (1) Identify the problem(s) to solve, (2) conduct data analysis, (3) identify solutions, (4) prioritize solutions, and (5) develop work plans that highlight use of resources, timing and decision making roles, responsibilities, milestones, communications plans, and expected outcomes. CFTs are expected to focus first on those initiatives that have the highest potential impact, with the greatest ease of implementation. 

 

CFT contributions will inform important decisions to meet the expectations of the Plan over the next four years.

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