Initiate

Goal
Learn about transformation, build belief, and prepare for the journey ahead

Phase Owner(s)
Superintendents and central office leaders, school leaders and lead designers, district and school transformation teams

Initiating the Design Journey

In this phase of the journey, district and/or school leaders set the stage for transformation—gauging interest in and support for the design journey among community members. Simultaneously, they reflect on the capacity of the district or school to undertake and sustain a transformation effort.

To initiate the design journey, district or school leaders work to recruit a small team of motivated people to join the transformation or design team—the team that leads the day-to-day work. Next, the transformation or design team conducts a readiness self-assessment to better understand current capacity for transformation. Finally, the team enlists key members of the community whose support will be essential to the transformation effort.

Along the way, the district and/or school team gets to know the XQ transformation process and what it entails—from the journey ahead to the central role of community engagement to the importance of an inclusive team, and the XQ Design Principles and the XQ Learner Outcomes that are the foundation of high school transformation.

Creating the Conditions for Success

District and/or school leaders are responsible for completing the key activities within this phase, but it’s crucial that they seek input from others along the way. High school transformation requires the deep collaboration of many, including in these early conversations.

The Initiate Phase Journey

Phase:

Initiate

Districts and/or schools learn about high school transformation, build belief, and prepare for the journey ahead.

Key steps in this phase

Assembling the district transformation team and/or the school design team
Assessing readiness
Enlisting key community members

Phase:

Activate

Districts and/or schools kick off the work, build community support, and get energized to transform high school.

Key steps in this phase

Announcing a public commitment to high school transformation
Activating the community
Understanding the student experience (EOAA)

Phase:

Design

Schools explore transformation while developing their design concepts. Districts or partners offer guidance and support.

Key steps in this phase

Completing a series of design experiences
Conducting inspiration visits to other schools
Developing school concepts and proposals

Phase:

Implement

Schools pilot and scale their design concepts, with ongoing support from the district or partner.

Key steps in this phase

Piloting and prototyping
Launching full school model
Continuing to build community support
Building and evolving the model

Assembling the school design team:

The high school principal, along with 2-3 other leaders at the school, delves into understanding the meaning and purpose of school transformation and the role a school design team will play in their school’s design journey.

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Assessing the school’s readiness:

The school design team completes an assessment to evaluate the school’s capacity, foster shared understanding, and strategize for the design journey.

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Enlisting key community members:

The the school design team maps their community ecosystem and identifies an initial set of community members whose support will be essential to secure before publicly committing to the design journey.

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