A Note from Chad: We’ve made our way through half of the Ten Elements of what a school leader needs to know in order to build a collaborative environment to improve our practice and results for students. Having had an incredible learning opportunity at Solution Tree the last weekend of March, I thought I would pause and share some highlights from the experience. I hope you enjoy!
An Opportunity Like No Other
April 8, 2021
On Friday, February 26th at 2:38 pm, the email came through. The Subject line said “Invitation: Solution Tree PD Training & Prospective Associate Orientation.” Prospective Associate Orientation!
The application process was the most rigorous I’ve ever been through: the traditional resumé and application were the easy part. Also included was:
- An online interview,
- Titles and descriptions of current professional development sessions (3-5)
- Video footage of myself presenting (15 – 20 min)
- Example powerpoint presentations I’ve created
- Handouts and tools I’ve developed
- Evaluation results of my work
- Articles and other print materials I have authored
- Personal web addresses and social media profiles
Never, in a million years, did I ever think that I might even be considered as an associate for Solution Tree (@SolutionTree), let alone be invited to an orientation for prospective associates. Needless to say, I was pumped.
If you’re not familiar with Solution Tree, they are THE premiere “Professional Learning Community” (PLC) organization in the country and even world. While the concept of PLCs has been around for over half a century, the work to actually make it happen through practical approaches has almost entirely been through Solution Tree.
Rick DuFour and Bob Eaker, the grandfathers of making PLCs work, were/are through Solution Tree. Current greats like Mike Mattos (@mikemattos65), Luiz Cruz (@lcruzconsulting), Anthony Muhammad (@newfrontier21) and Cassie Erkens (@cerkens) are all associates of Solution Tree. Even Bob Marzano (@robertjmarzano)–quite possibly the most influential educational researcher of our time–is connected with Solution Tree.
Depth? Or Flash?
Even with the invitation and my excitement, I had an ever-so-slight bit of curiosity in my heart. Almost all of my exposure to Solution Tree was through their institutes. These are pretty great conferences with keynotes and fast-paced breakouts–but in 60 or 90 minute sessions you don’t get very “deep” in content. So my curiosity was this: How flashy will this be? How much depth can I expect?
From the get-go on Saturday morning, this was dispelled. Jeanne Spiller (@jeeneemarie) and Tim Brown (@ctimbrown) walked us through in-depth learning around the @LearningForward Standards for Professional Learning. They challenged us with skills associated with coaching (and you can find a previous blog focused on these skills here). They shared tips and best practices, and guided the 24 of us with practical ideas and down-to-earth approaches.
We learned about in-depth work in schools, districts, and even state-wide in Arkansas–not just flashy trainings, but meaty skill-building coupled with on-site (or virtual) coaching. Multi-day work. In many cases, multi-year work.
My worries were for naught.
People First
On Monday morning, prior to our presentations to each other (!), the CEO, Jeff Jones (@STreeJeffJones) made a few comments. Of course, many aspects of the weekend were impressive, yet one thing that he said stood out among the rest: the priorities of the organization.
People First. Product Second. Profit Third.
Always in that order.
Now, my experience is that many leaders say these types of words. Talk is cheap, and action doesn’t always align.
Having experienced more than two days of hospitality, though, and having observed the staff of Solution Tree interact with us and each other over the previous 48 hours, and having been to the headquarters just down the street from our training site in Bloomington, Indiana, his comments were far from hollow aspirations.
He meant it. And they mean it.
No wonder Solution Tree has been so successful in advancing the work. They have their priorities straight, and they live those priorities.
Next Steps
Each of us presented on Monday morning–15 – 20 minutes, include a beginning, middle, and end, engage participants, use the Standards of Professional Learning and Presentation Standards from Solution Tree–you can imagine the pressure. The nerves were high, yet the support was also palpable.
Twenty-four of us went into the weekend as prospective associates. In the next couple of weeks we will find out if we become actual associates. Either way, my respect and admiration for Solution Tree and their work has never been higher.
Stay tuned…
Questions for Reflection
- What are the priorities for you and your organization?
- In what ways do you bring these priorities to life in day-to-day action?
Do you have a story you’d like to share?
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Congratulations; awesome opportunity!! Solution Tree has been a staple “go-to” for me even when they were National Educational Service (NES) prior to the name change. Love their people and products!! They would be lucky to have you!
Thank you, my friend! Yes, they are really incredible. I love how they “put their money where their mouth is.”
Congratulations!! I went through the fall training and was so excited for the opportunity. It’s been great to connect with other passionate leaders.
Thank you! I look forward to learning from you.