Entry Plan for Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh

PURPOSEThe purpose of my entry plan is to build trust and relationships, deeply understand all facets of our District, and collaboratively plan for the future. There are three components to this entry plan:

This introductory phase of the plan will consist of opportunities to interact with stakeholders across the communities within the Monterey Peninsula. I will meet with our families, students, staff, elected officials, and community leaders, to develop a strong understanding of the people, partners, and community that make up and support MPUSD.

Listen Review ShareWorking with staff, we will conduct a comprehensive review of district plans, processes and data, with the objective to synthesize multiple pieces of information about the strengths, challenges and opportunities facing MPUSD.

Through a variety of formal and informal settings, I will share what I learn during the entry process so that together we can create a refined vision for the future of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.

Learning gathered from this process will be used to influence the design of a long-range strategic plan—developed with the MPUSD Board of Education—where all stakeholders are working in collaboration towards the realization of common, unifying District goals.

• Establish a strong governance team with the School Board and Superintendent

• Conduct interviews and feedback sessions

• Review achievement data and departmental reports

• Visit schools and departments

• Hold community outreach meetings

Strategies

Outcome

In order to ensure a smooth transition into leading the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District I will:

• Participate in a series of informal meet and greets with central office staff, school-based staff, and union leaders in order to understand the context of our school system and those who lead and support it.

• Meet individually with board members and my team to start building strong working relationships.

• Collaborate with the special assistant to the Board of education and cabinet members to understand time-sensitive issues that must be addressed.

• Participate in a Board retreat to discuss communication protocols, roles and responsibilities, expectations for the first year, and agenda-setting.

To learn about the strengths, challenges, and opportunities in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District I will:• Meet with each central office department to review departmental plans (priorities, progress to date,

and effectiveness) and to prepare for a strong opening of the 2014-2015 school year. • Participate in the “MPUSD Employee Kick-Off Celebration” for administrators, teachers, and staff.• Continue to conduct individual and small group meetings with parents, students, Board members,

central office staff, principals, teachers, support staff, community leaders (including our business and higher education partners), and media to establish positive working relationships and learn about our community.

• Conduct a comprehensive review including but not limited to: analysis of student achievement data, progress in meeting strategic plan goals, financial documents, operational effectiveness, facilities master plan and communications/community engagement.

• Hold a series of listening tours in the community to learn about community members’ hopes and dreams for MPUSD.

• Visit schools as a commitment to being a visible and accessible leader who deeply understands the needs of our schools. To start a practice of regular visits to schools and classrooms, that I will maintain as the leader of our school system.

To increase communications and transparency, I will publish what I learn during my entry process in a transition report that documents key findings, commendations, and recommendations for the next steps. The report will be widely disseminated as detailed below:

• Share the findings and ideas learned from my entry plan activities with the Board of Education.

• Develop a comprehensive ongoing engagement strategy—for internal and external stakeholders—to share learning from my entry plan and to continue our conversations about working together to improve the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.

• Devise a process for reviewing and enhancing the system’s strategic plan.

• Develop a plan, processes and structures to increase effectiveness and optimize support to schools in advancing student achievement.

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Note from Superintendent Diffenbaugh

My Entry Plan as Superintendent of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is an important time to get to know the Monterey Peninsula community and for the community to get to know me. This plan also serves as an important tool to begin urgently working, so we can assess the current state of our District and plan for our future success. In planning for our future, partnerships must be the central tenet of our ongoing work together: partnerships between the Board of Education and Superintendent; partnerships between central office and schools; partnerships between schools and families; and partnerships between the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and the broader Monterey Peninsula Community. I look forward to working together on behalf of our students! Sincerely, PK Diffenbaugh

Meetings

Ongoing Throughout the

2014-2015 School Year

• School Board and Leadership Team Members

• Superintendent’s Teacher Council

• Superintendent’s Classified Council

• MBTA President

• CSEA President

• Elected Officials - Board of Supervisors, State Delegation, Congressional Delegation

• Business Leaders - Chamber of Commerce, Education Foundation

• Local Superintendents, College and University Officials

• District English Learner Advisory Committee

• Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee

• Community Based Organizations

• School Site Visits

• Community Forums

• School Site Councils/Parent Meetings

Have an idea you want to share? I would love to hear

from you! Please email me at:

askthesuperintendent@ mpusd.k12.ca.us