Harbors of Hope: The Planning for School and Student Success Process

Hope, schools, professional learning communities,and school improvement planning – what links these words? According to Hulley and Dier (2005), hope is the key to achieving successful and effective schools through reculturing with professional learning communities as the vehicle for change in the school improvement process. Wayne Hulley, president of Canadian Effective Schools Incorporated and senior consultant for the Franklin Covey Company, has 35 years of experience in North America working in the area of school improvement. Co-author Linda Dier has extensive knowledge having worked for 30 years in education systems in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Currently, she is senior consultant with Canadian Effective Schools Inc. and administrator of the Canadian Effective Schools League. Together, Hulley and Dier have written a text for educators and administrators at the district, board, and school levels, combining research theory with the practical knowledge gained in their joint 70+ years’ experience in education to provide a comprehensive planning process for school improvement. This text presents a step-by- step process that notes the highs and lows or « implementation dips » of the school improvement cycle. The authors have utilized the learning community model of professional development as a vehicle to facilitate, guide, direct, and sustain change towards successful and effective schools