Oak Wood Associates: School Systems

Oak Wood Associates Ltd.’s founder, Dr. Donna K. Brown , began her career in the schools as a teacher, special education supervisor, principal and administrative assistant of instruction in the public schools.  In addition to leading her successful consulting firm, she also serves as an online instructor in Walden University’s masters in reading and literacy program teaching numerous courses in reading literacy to teachers across the world during any given term.

This has led her back into the educational arena combining her skills as a change agent  in quality improvement and system thinking, to put together unique strategies for improving school systems from a system-wide approach focused on student achievement.

Current research in industry has discovered that quality cannot occur in isolation.  There must be a linkage to a major culture change and Oak Wood knows how to make this happen with thirty years of experience and proven track record.  Dr. Brown combines her experience and strategies with  system-thinking, the psychology of change, Robert Marzano’s research of what works in schools and the adaptive school strategies of Robert Garmston and Bruce Wellman to facilitate you through a successful alignment and transformation.

We need to unbundle the swirling state of chaos within our schools and begin creating a new culture that is in “real time” for the No Child Left Behind Act.  The law was enacted but how do we want to operationalize to be successful within each district?  What will it take?  What do we focus on while the heat is on to raise proficiency scores?

In addition, our central office and administrative teams need to explore their own skill sets and develop those skills that are necessary for the “transformational leader.”  We may be doing things right as an administrator but are we doing the right things?  Are our teams high performing team such as our core building team, our individual team, our administrator team, our central office team, and our Board of Education?  There are so many tools and techniques – are we using them to be effective?

What is our strategic business renewal planning process each year?  How do we accomplish whole-system change at a pace to be effective in impacting on student proficiencies?  How do we “build the plane while flying it?”  In other words, put in place quick fixes to meet the current demands while building long-lasting meaningful change? 

We cannot afford to develop strategic plans that sit on a shelf.  We need to continuously move forward with improvement on a daily basis yet how do we set focus and direction within our schools and entire community so that we move together as one whole system?  Again, what are you using to make this happen?  What are your management processes?

Oak Wood Associates Ltd. can help you design a strategy to help you reach a quality level as a district.  Call us at 419-867-8287 for a free consultation.  Review Dr. Brown’s educational resume.