Table of Contents

Foreword by Kate Dickson
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Chapter 1: Build Your Team
The Power of Relationships
Tool 1: The Smalley Team-Building Personality Test
Another Team-Building Strategy: Using Objects to Reflect Personalities
High-Functioning Teams
Improvement Means Change, and Change Means Conflict
Understanding How Change Occurs
Team Member Roles and Responsibilities
TIPS Framework for Data Teams
Additional Helpful Hints
Chapter 2: Identify the Problem: Using Data to Transform Our Intentions
Tool 2: Identify the Problem
Using Data to Unpack the Problem of Mobility
Vertical Alignment and Mobility
Using Identify the Problem in a Classroom
Data Reflection Helps Budget Woes
A Happy Ending to Budget Woes
In the Field: Identify the Problem
Putting It All Together
Chapter 3: The Three Guiding Questions: Making Instruction Work
Data and Conversation
Tool 3: Three Guiding Questions
How to Use Three Guiding Questions
Asking the Right Questions
The Power of Thinking
Corbett: A District That Thinks
Conversation Promotes Thinking and Reflection
In the Field: Three Guiding Questions
Putting It All Together
Chapter 4: Analyze Your Students: Let the Data Decide
Teach to the Top
Analyzing Driving Quantitatively
Creating the Standard
Measuring to a Standard
The Kennewick Model
Analyzing Students in Local Districts
Classroom Example
In the Field: A Kindergarten Success
Putting It All Together
Chapter 5: Four Quadrants: Creating Crosshairs With Data
Tool 5: Four Quadrants: Creating Crosshairs With Data
Reeves′s Four Quadrants: Lucky, Leader, Loser, and Learner
Using the Four Quadrants to Gauge RTI Progress
Using the Four Quadrants to Analyze Classroom Data
Classroom Example: Third-Grade Classroom Data in Four Quadrants
Using the Four Quadrants to Analyze Grade-Level, School-Level, and District-Level Data
Teacher and Principal Effectiveness in Four Quadrants
Instructional Leadership Standards for Principals
Building Management Standards for Principals
Teacher Effectiveness in the Four Quadrants
Classroom-Based Instructional Standards
Non-Classroom-Based Standards
In The Field: Analyzing Freshman Failures
Putting It All Together
Chapter 6: Wagon Wheel: Using Multiple Points of Data to Drive Instruction
Tool 6: Wagon Wheel
Mapping Fourth-Grade Writing on the Wagon Wheel
Reflecting on the Data
Using the Wagon Wheel to Measure InTASC Standards
Learner and Learning
Content Knowledge
Instructional Practice
Professional Responsibility
In The Field: Using the Wagon Wheel to Analyze RTI Effectiveness
Putting It All Together
Chapter 7: Five Whys: The Power of Questions
Tool 7: Five Whys
Persistent Achievement Gaps
A Diverse District Beating the Odds
Schools Beating the Odds
The Power of Working Together
Teaching Students to Think
21st Century Skills: The Future is Now
In The Field: Implementing a Core Program
Putting It All Together
Chapter 8: Relations Diagram: Discovering the Key Drivers
Tool 8: Relations Diagram
Tackling Discipline Problems
Motivating Students
In The Field: READ 180 Revisited
Putting It All Together
Chapter 9: The Fishbone: Making a Difference With Data
Leadership Matters
Real Education Reform
Making a Difference in the Classroom
Tool 9: The Fishbone
Improving Tenth-Grade Math Scores
Everyone Writes
In The Field: Green Acres, The Place to Be
Putting It All Together
Chapter 10: School Improvement Mapping: Making Strategic Decisions and Taking Action
Tool 10: School Improvement Mapping
Goal Setting
Using Data to Drive Goals
Clear Strategies
Specific Actions
Improving Writing Districtwide with Goals, Strategies, and Actions
Creating the Building Blocks of Excellence
Hiring the Best
Professional Development
Evaluation for Meaningful Feedback
Improving Instructional Feedback
The Power of Mentoring as an Improvement Tool
Moving to the Next Level: A New Model of Systemic Improvement
Running in Circles
Collaboration = Connectivity
Stepping Up to Collaboration
In The Field: High School Mentoring Project
Putting It All Together
11. Now What? Using the Tools in the Classroom, School, and District
Tool 1: The Smalley Team-Building Personality Test
Tool 2: Identify the Problem
Tool 3: Three Guiding Questions
Tool 4: Analyze Your Students
Tool 5: Four Quadrants
Tool 6: Wagon Wheel
Tool 7: Five Whys
Tool 8: Relations Diagram
Tool 9: The Fishbone
Tool 10: School Improvement Mapping
References
Index

About the Author

Rob Hess is a practicing superintendent with 10 years of experience as a secondary teacher. He has been an administrator at the high school, middle school, and K-8 levels and served in the central office as a Student Achievement Leader. In 2003 he founded Breakthrough Schools, a grass roots network of educators dedicated to helping schools and districts achieve breakthrough school improvement results. He earned his doctorate from the University of Oregon and has taught classes at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Willamette University, and Lewis & Clark College on the following subjects: teacher leadership, professional development for administrators, priority leadership, school improvement planning, data analysis for school improvement, and research for education. The Data Toolkit is his fourth book. He frequently presents on the topics of: teacher leadership, professional learning communities, school culture, quality school improvement, and teacher/principal evaluation systems. His webpage can be visited at: www.thedatacoach.net, and he can be reached at: robhess1@mac.com Pam Robbins earned her doctorate in educational administration from the University of California, Berkeley. Currently, she consults with school systems, professional organizations, State Departments of Education, leadership academies, and corporations throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Asia, and South America. Her presentation topics include professional learning communities, effective teaching, how the brain learns, emotional intelligence, leadership, teaching in the block schedule, peer coaching, school culture, and presentation skills. Pam has served as a teacher, high school basketball coach, administrator, director of special projects and research, and director of training for the North Bay California Leadership Academy. She has lectured at several universities, authored and co-authored books, and developed training materials for several principals’ academies.  

Reviews

“An invaluable resource for teachers and school leaders; a sensible, practical, and human approach to understanding and using data; an excellent guide to use a broad range of data meaningfully for the improvement of education.”
*Yong Zhao, Professor, Presidential Chair*

“Finally, a book that treats data as more than a set of percentages!”
*Charre Todd, Science Teacher*

“This book is filled with great strategies to establish and grow a school’s data team, bringing them from ordinary to extraordinary.”
*Brian E. Fernandes, Reading Specialist & Literacy Coach*

“Many districts and schools are approaching school improvement by implementing bits and pieces of data work without understanding how to build a foundation beneath the practices. This book provides practical and effective tools that can strengthen any improvement program through the efficient use of both quantitative and qualitative data.”
*Carrie Carpenter, Instructional Coach*

“We’ve been talking data, producing data, collecting data, analyzing data, and using data to drive instruction for over ten years. But most of us in the field still don′t really know how to do that. This book shows teachers and school leaders how to use data to improve student learning.”
*Scott Hollinger, Instructional Coach for Principals and Teachers*

“I am excited to say that educators finally have a book that provides a practical toolkit to help increase data fluency and begin using it to foster students’ growth. The authors provide precise tools for drilling down into the data and using it in a way that benefits our students.”
*Florie Buono, Assistant Principal for Curriculum & Instruction*

"This book does for educators what a great teacher does for students: it motivates and instructs. Rob and Pam deliver powerful concepts in a very accessible way. They provide a logical framework for educators to work through tough problems while building energy and motivation."
*Sandra Husk, Superintendent*

"This practical toolkit takes an educator from data parlysis to data analysis. Hess and Robbins have assembled a masterful resource of templates, facilitation tips, data analysis instruments and examples of achievement success. There is something of value for every teacher, principal or superintendent who endeavors to improve student performance."
*Betty Flad, Program Director, Educational Administration*

“This practical and insightful guidebook provides tools for principals and teacher leaders to facilitate the cycle of continuous improvement and achieve gains in both student and staff learning. Rob Hess and Pam Robbins have synthesized best practices from both research and the field that are both balanced and comprehensive.”
*Candace Stevens, CLASS Project Coach, Consultant*