S.T.A.R.S. - School Teams Achieving Results for Students

STARS is an innovative program focused on building the capacity of school leadership teams to increase instructional capacity and improve student results through leadership strengthening. The program was launched in 150 Chicago Public Schools, a district serving over 430,000 in a complex urban setting. The comprehensive strategy includes 750 teachers and Principals, 30 trainers and 24 superintendents. The sustained, multiyear effort includes week-long institutes and sustained follow-up of 5 days annually. The transfer of skills to classrooms and schools is enhanced by cycles of application and regular examination of student results in follow-up sessions. The fostering of deep professional learning communities and lateral networking are leading to significant changes which are evaluated through documented longitudinal changes.

STARS will be launched in the Guildford County District, North Carolina in early 2004.

“STARS has given us the opportunity to provide research-based professional development. We’ve followed up with a sharing of student artifacts. This has ensured that the instructional strategies are used and understood. It has been an exciting shift in our educational program with the learners becoming the focus.”
   Sandra Carlson, William P. Gray Elementary School, Chicago

“ STARS has had a domino affect on our faculty and staff. We were able to share with our faculty the material we learned and practiced at STARS workshops. They, in turn, shared with team members. Collaboration is starting to become the norm rather than the exception at our school. As principal, I can see visible changes in the classrooms, students are more engaged, new strategies are being used, and both teachers and students are benefiting.”
   Suzanne Velasquez-Sheehy, Clisshold Elementary