Vision+Mission+Values+Beliefs

toc This work is based on // Data Analysis for Continuous School Improvement // by Victoria Bernhardt. The steps shared are connected to Appendix J of this resource. The context for this work was the review/revision process of the ESU Staff Development Affiliate Mission and Vision Statements.

=June 2015= =August 2015= Rhonda Jindra and I have been asked to facilitate a group activity at the September SDA Business Meeting that focuses on values, mission, and vision. In order to prepare for September 17, we ask that you complete the following activities by ** Friday, September 11 **. **PRE-WORK—**This will take 5-8 minutes! Please read the following paragraph regarding **core values ** to set the stage. **1. What are Core Values ?**  The core values of an organization are those values we hold which form the foundation on which we perform our work and conduct ourselves. We have an entire universe of values, but some of them are so primary, so important to us that through out the changes in society, government, politics, and technology they are STILL the core values we will abide by. In an ever-changing world, core values are constant. Core values are not descriptions of the work we do or the strategies we employ to accomplish our mission. The values underlie our work, how we interact with each other, and which strategies we employ to fulfill our mission. The core values are the basic elements of how we go about our work. They are the practices we use (or should be using) every day in everything we do. 2. Nebraska-based Examples ◄click to view 5 non-PK12 examples 3. //When you consider the description in paragraph 1▲ and the Nebraska examples in 2▲, what values do you feel best reflect SDA ?//  Google form ◄Click to vote. || =September 2015= media type="custom" key="28203339" =October 2015= (Ad hoc committee correspondence)
 * The SDA strategists (leadership team) contacted two members (Rhonda Jindra and Jeff McQuistan) to coordinate the review/revision of the Mission and Vision Statements with the affiliate.
 * In initial preparation, it was determined that the conversation with the affiliate should first begin with the adoption of values and belief statements as recommended in Appendix J. The strategists were consulted, and approval was granted.
 * A list of values was generated (approximately 30)
 * An email message was sent to the membership introducing the process. In this message, members were provided some pre-reading material, some non-educational examples of organizational values, and were then asked to respond to a perception survey regarding SDA Values.
 * ** SDA Members-- **
 * 1) Review 5 slides that reflect Nebraska-based examples of values, mission, and/or vision of several non-PK12 entities (for a broader context).
 * 2) Complete the Google form to submit your input, giving us a baseline for identifying SDA values.
 * Resources:
 * **Nebraska-based Examples **
 * **SDA Values Google Form**
 * The following presentation was facilitated at the fall organizational business meeting. The goal of the meeting was to identify an initial list of values and to draft preliminary belief statements.
 * Table Group Activities
 * View agenda and norms
 * Matching Activity: Terms, Definitions, Symbols (Values, Beliefs, Mission, Vision, Standards, Goals)
 * View current Mission, Vision, Values
 * //"Why are values, beliefs, and mission essential to organizational effectiveness?//
 * Definition of core values
 * Review Example Values from August email ►//"Which [of the examples] do you see as an exemplar for SDA? Why?"//
 * Look at examples from other states ►//"What do you agree with? What do you want to aspire to?"//
 * Reminder: Learning Forward Standards
 * Review **Creating a Shared Vision** protocol
 * View **Wordle** that was created to summarize SDA member input on the August Values survey; then blackout: ►//"What values stood out to you? Do these values reflect the essence of our work?"//
 * Propose to the large group that of the 30 values represented, there seemed to be a logical 'break' following the top 5 and that these may be the values that move forward at this time; membership consented.
 * Table groups were assigned one value from which to create a belief statement that: 1) included the value word and 2) provided/established context for the value.
 * Table groups then met with other table groups having the same value and reconciled their belief statements
 * Gallery walk: provide additional insights for each belief statement
 * Revise and submit final belief statement drafts
 * Created an Ad hoc committee to continue the work (volunteer sign-up): finalize belief statements, draft mission and vision statements for consideration at January SDA Business Meeting
 * Email #1
 * **Dear Ad hoc Committee Members--**

Thank you for volunteering to participate in the SDA Ad hoc committee work that will focus on finalizing our belief statements, reviewing our mission statement, and creating a vision statement.

Because there is a high level of interest, Rhonda and I felt that forming two groups would streamline the process: one group will finalize the belief statement process and the other group will review the current mission statement and create the vision statement. Each group will serve as peer reviewers for the other group's work. Mickey Carlson Dallas Lewandowski Cheryl Roche Joni Runge Debbie Schraeder Rhonda and Jeff
 * __Group A__**

Kelly Clapp Jill Johnson Marci Ostmeyer Kathy VanDamme Suzanne Whisler Rhonda and Jeff
 * __Group B__**

 On November 11 we are planning to meet in the Sarpy-Washington room at ESU #3 from 3-5pm following Day 1 of the Assessment Literacy training. **Please plan to attend this meeting.**

Between now and November 11, we will be asking you to complete some individual reflection and virtual collaboration activities. An SDA Mission Vision Ad hoc Committee folder has been created to capture our work.

To kick things off, we have 3 stage-setting tasks for you to accomplish.

> **Next** read the following two articles. > ||
 * First ** Watch **TED Talk with Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action** (**first 5:40** of the video) and answer the following questions.
 * Simon Sinek describes the graphic as “The Golden Circle”. Why might that be? What does the “Golden Circle” mean to you?
 * Simon shares that very few organizations know “why they do what they do”. Thinking further, does SDA know why it exists? And if yes, why does SDA exist?
 * What do these quotes mean for SDA?
 * “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”
 * “The goal is not to do business with everyone that needs what you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe.”
 * Educational Leadership: Lincoln's Mission
 * Proclaiming Your Dream: Creating Vision and Mission Statements
 * Finally ** reflect on the following questions within the context of the articles that you read.
 * Email #2
 * **Dear Ad hoc Committee Members-- **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">**//In this message. . .//** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">* Continued online collaboration
 * Details about the Nov 11 meeting
 * What if I can't attend on Nov 11?

In last week's Email message, links to the following articles were provided. Please review these articles and respond to the questions in this week's ** discussion forum **. ► Educational Leadership: Lincoln's Mission ► Proclaiming Your Dream: Creating Vision and Mission Statements
 * Continued online collaboration **

We will meet in the Sarpy-Washington Room, beginning 15 minutes after the end of the Assessment Literacy Day 1 training session. Following a grounding conversation, we will divide into two subgroups to address belief statements and mission/vision statements. We will then regroup and report out, concluding by 5pm.
 * Details about the Nov 11 meeting **

A number of you have indicated that you have other commitments for November 11 and will not be able to attend the Ad hoc committee meeting. Our plan is to engage you following this meeting to review, scrutinize, and refine the work that was completed on the belief, mission, and vision statements. We would like this review to be finalized by December 1 so that the strategists will have time to process our work prior to the SDA Business Meeting on January 19, 2016. We will be in contact with you shortly after November 11 with specific instructions.
 * What if I can't attend on Nov 11? **

Thank you, Rhonda and Jeff || = November 2015 = Nov 11 Ad hoc Committee Meeting
 * Reviewed and discussed the 5 Values and Belief Statements
 * Eliminated "Service" and "Effectiveness" as values ("Service" is our work ~important, but not perceived as a value; "Effectiveness" seemed difficult to parallel with "Professionalism", "Collaboration", and "Leadership" as it seemed to be more of a descriptor of them as opposed to a stand-alone)
 * Finalized draft Belief Statements for the three remaining values
 * Finalized the Mission Statement by including the Values in the Mission
 * Discussed the Vision Statement at length: //"What do we see as the future focus of our work? To what end do we want to aspire?"// Response: **Empowering educators, Enhancing learning, Enriching the future**

Email Correspondence following the Nov 11 Ad hoc Committee Meeting
 * Ad hoc Committee Members who were unable to attend the Nov 11 meeting were asked to review and respond to the work that was completed.
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Dear Ad hoc Committee Members– **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I want to echo Rhonda's sentiment in extending my appreciation for the next level of work that was accomplished today following an already intensive workout. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Linked is the **Mission/Vision Summary** document. For those of you who were unable to participate in the 11/11 process, we're set for the next phase: **review and feedback** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">** What was accomplished ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"># It was decided to move forward with 3 values (collaboration, leadership, and professionalism) rather than five for several reasons: they were the top 3 values identified; 3 values will be easier to remember and will have greater impact; "service" is our work and "effectiveness" permeates everything we do.
 * 1) Each value was then defined through a contextualized belief statement, articulating the culture to which SDA aspires and was modeled after the NU Athletic Department example.
 * 2) The existing mission statement was tweaked to connect these values to our work.
 * 3) The new vision statement reflects our dream (in fewer than 10 words) and was modeled after the Iowa AEA example.
 * 4) Discussion ensued on the implications of this work. The anticipation is that it will impact the future direction and culture of our organization, including the identification of specific SDA goals. It could also serve as an exemplar for the other affiliates and for PDO.


 * What's next **
 * The 11/11 work now needs a critical independent review from those who were not present. Use the link provided above to complete your analysis. If you have suggestions for consideration, add your name and your comment. Be honest and critical in your assessment–a sticker or a rubber stamp of approval is not what is needed. In order for this proposal to have traction with our membership, it must be clear and have universal interpretation.
 * For those who participated in the 11/11 process, please wait until after 11/23 if you are interested in providing additional input.
 * **This review phase will be completed by 12/1.**
 * Rhonda and I will meet to reconcile the initial proposal with the feedback received and will communicate with you again before the strategists consider the collective proposal at their December meeting. Negotiations on all aspects of this proposal will remain open.
 * A final proposal will be brought to the membership for consideration/approval at the January SDA Business Meeting via a representative of the Ad hoc committee.

Again, thank you for your collaboration, leadership, and professionalism in this process. It matters.

Jeff and Rhonda || =December 2015= Email Correspondence following Ad hoc Committee post-Nov 11 review
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Ad hoc Committee and Strategists-- **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Rhonda and I met this morning to review the committee proposal and to consider the feedback that had been offered (thank you to Kelly C and Kathy V). As a result, we made slight revisions to the belief statements, making them more succinct and narrowing their foci to the membership experience within the SDA affiliate. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">SDA Vision, Mission, Values, Beliefs (DRAFT)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our Vision <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Empowering educators. Enhancing learning. Enriching the future.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our Mission <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">The mission of the Staff Development Affiliate (SDA) is to impact learning through collaboration, leadership, and professionalism.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our Values and Beliefs <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Collaboration – <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Collaboration through partnership instills cohesiveness and a sense of community within the affiliate. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leadership – <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Leadership opportunities within the affiliate helps empower and inspire members to build confidence and capacity. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Professionalism – <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Professionalism, reflected in affiliate words and actions, strengthens integrity and trust.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">**<span style="background-image: url(">Source document ** that includes the November 11 Ad hoc committee meeting notes, reviewer feedback, and the finalized draft (above).

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">**Next Steps**
 * 1) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Strategist review
 * 2) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Membership review and consideration (with an opportunity to edit), with an opportunity to further engage members with these statements (30 minutes at Jan 19 SDA Business Meeting)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">**And Beyond** The next step in the Bernhardt process (Data Analysis for Continuous School Improvement, p. 362) is to identify goals. This would be new to SDA, but might also be a timely consideration as the bucket process is also undergoing review. This could be an opportunity in which to incorporate goals, collaboration, and action plans around the SDA Vision and Mission.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">**Finally** Rhonda and I would like to thank everyone for their contribution to this process, even if you volunteered and time did not materialize for you. Your interest and participation led to the development of a proposal that will provide a common focus for SDA as we move forward. ||

=January 2016= SDA Business Meeting media type="custom" key="28205477"
 * Review Timeline
 * Highlight and explain the work that had been completed since September SDA Business Meeting
 * Table groups: discuss and provide feedback on proposals for Vision, Mission, Values, and Beliefs
 * Immediately following this meeting a revision was prepared based on member input (specifically regarding the Collaboration belief statement, which was shared with the Ad hoc committee for their feedback.
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Ad hoc Committee Members— **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Once again, thank you for your work on the SDA Vision, Mission, Values, and Beliefs. Overall, through the table discussions that ensued yesterday at the SDA Business Meeting, //**most**// of our proposals met with 100% approval! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b45f06; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">__Vision Statement__: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Empowering educators, Enhancing learning, Enriching the future (approved Jan 19 2016)

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b45f06; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">__Mission Statement__: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The mission of the Staff Development Affiliate (SDA) is to impact learning through collaboration, leadership, and professionalism. (approved Jan 19 2016)

__<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Values and Beliefs __ <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Google form feedback from the membership: 1) "partnership" is redundant with "collaboration", 2) "communication" is missing. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">With this in mind, I composed the following draft, which I ran past Rhonda this morning and she asked that I share with you: <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> **Collaboration** – Collaboration promotes meaningful and purposeful communication within the affiliate, instilling cohesiveness and a sense of community.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Collaboration – Collaboration through <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">partnership instills cohesiveness and a sense of community within the affiliate.
 * **<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Leadership – Leadership opportunities within <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">the affiliate help empower and inspire members to build confidence and capacity. (approved Jan 19 2016) **
 * **<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Professionalism – Professionalism, reflected in <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">affiliate words and actions, strengthens integrity and trust. (approved Jan 19 2016) **

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Please **__reply all__** with your insights regarding this proposal statement. Feel free to offer counter-proposals. Once we're ready, we can forward a new belief statement related to "collaboration" to the strategists for future consideration by the membership.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you! ||