I’ve gotten into strength training recently. I never thought this would be the path for me, a cardio lover, but after a recent foot injury, I needed to step away from running and try something new. I explored apps and training plans, trying to find the right fit for my schedule and preferences. As a consultant who has helped dozens of districts design and implement strategic plans, I also knew I could apply some of the principles we use when supporting districts to my weightlifting journey. In our work, we’ve found that the successful implementation of a strategic plan comes down to three key areas:
Fidelity - Are we doing what we said we’d do in the plan?
Effectiveness - How well are we doing what we said we’d do?
Impact - Is what we’re doing leading to our desired outcomes?
In my weightlifting journey, here’s how fidelity, effectiveness, and impact come into play:
| Fidelity |
Effectiveness |
Impact |
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Have I found a training plan?
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Do I have the equipment I need or a gym membership?
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Have I identified time in my schedule to lift weights?
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How many times per week am I lifting weights?
|
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Do I enjoy the training plan I found? Does it motivate me?
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Which exercises am I doing? What muscle groups am I targeting?
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How many sets am I doing? How much weight am I using?
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Am I progressively overloading (adding more weight)?
|
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Am I able to lift increasingly heavy weights?
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Are exercises getting easier?
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Do I have more energy?
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Do I see muscle definition?
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Am I running faster?
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Am I more disciplined and motivated to lift weights?
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When we work with school districts to implement their strategic plans, we use these same principles. Let’s say, for instance, a district has a priority in its strategic plan to increase student-centered learning. Here is how we would lead conversations around fidelity, effectiveness, and impact with that district.
| Fidelity |
Effectiveness |
Impact |
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Have we created professional learning opportunities for teachers to learn more about integrating student-centered learning?
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Do teachers have time to collaborate and plan for student-centered learning?
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How many times per week are teachers incorporating student-centered learning practices?
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- Which student-centered learning practices are teachers using?
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How well are teachers using student-centered learning practices? (We could use a guide like this to help!)
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How can we see these practices in action, give feedback, and spread best practices across classrooms?
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Are students more engaged in learning?
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Do students have a sense of agency, voice, and choice?
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Do students know what they are learning and why?
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Do students report an increased sense of belonging?
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In year one of strategic planning implementation, we can divide the year into three quarterly phases or “sprints.” Here’s what a focus on fidelity, effectiveness, and impact can look like through those sprints.
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Sprint 1:
Fidelity
July - October
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Key Activities
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Establish fidelity sprint goals
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Select 2-3 key initiatives to be the focus of year one implementation
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Dive deeply into the work of the plan with school administrators
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Form implementation/initiative teams
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Determine roles and accountabilities
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Determine communications and project planning documents and processes
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Collect baseline data to show future growth (consider administering a survey like the Tripod 7Cs)
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Celebrate the creation and launch of the plan and share the timeline and goals of the three upcoming sprints
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Measure progress towards fidelity sprint goals
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Sprint 2: Effectiveness
November - February
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Key Activities
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Establish effectiveness sprint goals
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Communicate progress made in fidelity sprint with community and key constituents through updates to the district website, newsletter, or board updates
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Review project planning documents and determine pivots to implementation systems and structures
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Conduct learning walks and/or empathy interviews focused on fidelity and effectiveness of practices
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Measure progress towards effectiveness sprint goals
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Sprint 3:
Impact
March - June
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Key Activities
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Establish impact sprint goals
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Conduct learning walks and/or empathy interviews focused on impact
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Collect and communicate stories of impact through community updates, videos, board meetings
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Collect data to measure progress (consider redelivering a survey like the Tripod 7Cs)
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Conduct a retrospective on year one of implementation and determine key priorities and pivots for year two
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We hear from our district partners that working with us feels a lot like working with a personal trainer. We help to develop the training plan, make sure you show up to work out, correct your form, and help measure and celebrate your successes. If a strategic planning personal trainer would help your district, I hope you’ll reach out. Meanwhile, I’ll be signing off to go practice my deadlifts.
