Four Pillars Building Blocks for Action
“Four Pillars" describes the building blocks for action and decision making, and provides a coherent, durable frame for organizing and focusing our work.
The Pillars must meet at least one of four criteria:
- Address “teaching & learning.”
- Reflect the understanding that “schools can’t do it alone.”
- Express our commitment to “investing in people.”
- Target our approach for “managing the whole.”
Our first Pillar focuses on “teaching & learning.”
All students have equitable access to rigorous, on-standard curriculum and materials, and instruction. Assessments reflect students’ prior knowledge, learning styles, and cultural backgrounds.
Our third Pillar emphasizes “investing in people.”
Continuous learning of educators is differentiated and linked to mastery of the professional standards and to evidence-based continuous improvement of teaching practices, leadership practices, and organizational practices.
Our second Pillar recognizes that “schools can’t do it alone.”
A positive school culture supports the learning and social-emotional needs of students and staff. Trust among students, staff, families and community is nurtured through shared responsibility for student success and meaningful stakeholder “voice."
Our fourth Pillar is about “managing the whole.”
Decisions are data-driven and resources are allocated equitably based on data-supported needs of students, staff, and schools.