[AUDIO LOGO] CURTIS TAYLOR: Every organization wants to make progress, but real improvement requires focus. Leaders and teams need intentional moments to step back, examine progress, and clear the obstacles that stand in the way. That’s the power of improvement reviews.

Improvement reviews bring attention to the status of key initiatives and support team learning in the process. In these sessions, improvement teams share their work in progress, reflect on data and learning, and surface dilemmas. Using a structured protocol, expert reviewers and peers provide fresh perspectives and practical feedback that help the work moving forward.

About two to three times a year, these reviews ensure that challenges are identified early, successes are celebrated, and next steps are clear. More than a routine, there are a leadership tool, focusing energy on results, accelerating progress, and building a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

LINZI GOLDING: If you’re inspired by consistently wanting to get better at what you do and helping improve student outcomes, in any way, shape, or form, then the improvement review is something that is invaluable.

CURTIS TAYLOR: To get started, an improvement team prepares a team 10 minute slide presentation guided by a set of questions. What’s our aim and why? Or what are we trying to accomplish for whom? What is our current performance?

What have we learned about the problem? What is our current theory of action? Or what are we trying in testing? What are our key learnings?

Are there any bright spots we want to highlight? What are our challenges? And even more specific, what’s our dilemma?

During the improvement review, the team presents their work to colleagues, leaders, and ideally a couple external reviewers. External reviewers bring an outside lens and valuable expertise, whether an improvement methods or the team’s specific aims such as improving math instruction, reducing chronic absenteeism, or engaging students and families.

After the presentation, the facilitator guides everyone through a structured protocol where reviewers ask clarifying questions and then share insights and feedback related to their team’s work and their dilemma. Colleagues and leaders are invited to chime in and share ideas and feedback too.

We encourage leaders to ask the team, what can I do to support you? This helps surface system level obstacles and gives leaders the opportunity to remove them, ensuring improvement efforts stay on track.

When done across an organization or a network, improvement reviews showcase the power of diverse people and contexts, working together to solve complex problems. Not only celebrate our wins, but also celebrate our collective learning and impact.

ERIN ASSELIN: In the change process, it’s OK to have failed and it’s OK to put out there that things didn’t go as you thought or things didn’t go as you planned. So much learning can come from that.

MARTIN CASAS: You’re going to find different ways and methodologies and tools to help your students get to school, but also to help your families and your community in ways that maybe districts haven’t before.