Being a district leader in 2021 often means needing to guide your community through difficult, and at times uncomfortable, conversations and decisions. Though perhaps the most visible, school reopening and educational equity are not the only challenges districts have had to navigate this year. Many district leaders have struggled to keep discussions constructive and mutually respectful in order to avoid further heightening tensions and deepening divisions in communities that may already be polarized.
As you and your colleagues lead your district and community in similarly difficult circumstances, below are resources to help you foster open—yet safe and respectful—dialogue and build consensus.
Ethics
- Ethics in K-12 Education – This report summarizes the importance of ethics in K-12 education and discusses ethical standards developed specifically to guide teachers, including teachers’ responsibilities related to student learning environments. The research also addresses mechanisms for holding staff accountable for equitable behavior.
- District Civility Policies – This report presents the results of a preliminary scan of civility policies, codes, and regulations adopted by districts nationwide. The report includes initial observations regarding the motivations for and the contents of such policies, and outlines questions district leaders may use to guide discussions with their board regarding the potential need for a similar policy in their system.
Leadership and Decision Making
- Collaborative Decision Making Guide – Districts frequently need to make decisions on complex issues with incomplete or imperfect information. Districts can use structured decision-making processes to improve the quality and outcomes of their decisions across a wide range of potential topics and areas. This brief provides details on each step in the process with accompanying questions on which district leaders can reflect.
- Best Practices for Leading in Adverse Situations – This brief discusses the skills (e.g., resilience, tenacity, flexibility) district leaders need to effectively guide school systems through difficult circumstances and notes attributes district leaders should build to manage financial adversity, in particular. The brief also describes how district leaders can achieve change by creating a vision, communicating it to other stakeholders, and gaining their buy-in. Lastly, the brief shares how district leaders can engage and communicate empathetically with stakeholders throughout the process.