Sharing Problems of Practice Takes Courage

LEARNING FROM THE EQUITY LEADER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

We are excited to share learning and resources from our innovative USDOE SEED grant-funded program, Equity Leader Accelerator Program (ELAP), currently underway in Massachusetts.

CLEE is supporting early career principals to enact MA DESE’s Anti-racist Leadership Competencies while concurrently supporting experienced leaders to serve as mentors in our 12 partner districts.

How protocols create brave space for equity leaders to share problems of practice

ELAP’s Peer-to-Peer Sessions provide a network for leaders to connect and support each other while examining equitable practices. Our latest session was an opportunity for leaders to share current problems of practice, or dilemmas. Sharing dilemmas can feel unsafe unless structures are in place to allow leaders to be vulnerable together. Using protocols creates an environment for reflection and openness. When peers engage with each other using collaborative protocols, such as Peeling The Onion and The Consultancy, they create an environment that encourages diverse perspectives, deep reflection, and insights into challenging problems of practice. These dilemmas are often common challenges, so participants can take away as much learning as the presenter.

Peeling The Onion Protocol provides a structured way to explore root causes to gain an appreciation for a complex dilemma or problem of practice. The purpose is to understand more deeply the nuances while avoiding the inclination to solve the problem before it has been fully defined.

The Consultancy Protocol is helpful when a dilemma is more fully understood with possible considerations for action. The use of probing questions generates an expansive view of the problem and elicits more ideas for possible next steps.

Reflection from participants on using these protocols to discuss their dilemmas with colleagues:

• “[This feels like] examining my leadership competencies and determining the leading edge”.

• “Surfacing deep equity issues that you’re grappling with and not succeeding in overcoming, is vulnerable..”

• “Having this time to process with an experienced coach is helpful, in that the session becomes a sounding board for my reflection.

• “The breakout groups allowed me to present dilemmas I have, which was risky for me”