Driving Continuous Improvement — Developing and Implementing the Rocky View Schools’ Three-Year Education Plan

Greg Bass¹, John M. Burger, Murray Besenski, Kevin Wttewaall²
(1. Deputy Minister, Alberta Education; 2. Rocky View Schools, Alberta, Canada)

Abstract: This paper describes the strategic planning undertaken by a school jurisdiction in Alberta, Canada, that details how community engagement and transparent accountability processes are being linked to emergent learning theory and 21st Century learning objectives to move the division into excellent and improving accountability outcomes including student achievement results. Educational research and leadership theory have progressed to the point that well informed educational leaders can use dynamic, community-based strategic planning to guide their organization to higher levels of performance and improved student results. This paper helps to clarify how continuous improvement can be achieved through highly engaged and engaging strategic planning, well integrated with emergent educational theory and data-informed decision-making.

Key words: education policy and leadership, education planning, 21st century learning, technology implementation, systems development