YOUR ARTS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT REPORT
Your program is...
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
"It's been a hard day's night / And I've been workin' like a dog." - The Beatles "A Hard Day's Night"
Based on your responses, it seems there are serious issues in your program that need to be addressed immediately. Every day feels like "a hard day's night"; a never-ending struggle with no results to show for it. Your program is at an important crossroads. There is still time to make strategic changes that strengthen your impact and bring your program back from the brink.
Your program is part of a delicate ecosystem of community members, curricula, and culture. One small change can have a major impact on everything else. By focusing on the aspects of the program that you can influence the most, you can take your program from struggling to thriving.
WHAT THIS MEANS
Does any of this sound like you and your program?
TEACHERS ARE QUITTING
You or your teachers are burning out and quitting.
Burnout looks different in every person, but the hallmarks are exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficiency. Teachers are totally disengaged during meetings and instructional time. They aren’t showing up like they used to. Outcomes and results are slipping. Burnout has serious consequences for teachers, students, and the community as a whole.
THE CURRICULUM DOESN'T EXIST
You want a cohesive curriculum but don't have the capacity to create one.
There’s little to no direction for your teachers to follow. Teachers don’t have the resources they need. The result is uneven results between schools, confusion amongst teachers and students, and missed opportunities.
YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH DIVERSITY
You have high hopes and goals for diversity and inclusion, but aren't achieving them.
You want diversity, equity, and inclusion to be at the core of what you do. Excellent. But the populations in your arts program do not match the rest of your school or community. Maybe there is a distinct change in demographics as students move from elementary to high school. You know what you want to see in your programs, but have no idea where to start.
RETENTION & RECRUITMENT ARE LOW
The slipping numbers are keeping you up at night.
Students are not opting into your programs, and try as you might, students are dropping out faster than you can recruit. There’s always an excuse, but it usually boils down to: “I don’t want to do this anymore” or “I want to do something else way more than this.” You’ve already had to downsize your programming and more cuts are on the way.
COMMON PITFALLS
There's so much to do and too little time...
"WE'LL REBUILD NEXT YEAR."
You’ve been saying it over and over: Next year will be better. You’ve tried this and that tactic but nothing seems to work.
"TEACHER TURNOVER IS SO HIGH... THERE'S NO POINT IN TRYING TO REVAMP THE PROGRAM NOW."
Burnout has taken root and turnover is extremely high. No one has a solid footing on the program’s direction, mission, or even policies and procedures.
"THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T SUPPORT US."
Without administrative support, the program is listless, struggling, or stagnant. Issues go unaddressed until they explode into chaos.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can upgrade your program in three simple steps:
SET THE STAGE: Uncover the core values amongst your students, staff, and community with the power of data
ENVISION THE OUTCOMES: Create a values based mission and ultimate outcomes for your entire program that are grounded in equity and connection
CREATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN: Promote buy-in and prevent burn-out with personalized growth and implementation plans for each teacher
DON'T HOPE... ACT!
If you’re ready to stop hoping things will get better, ready to have a guide through a complete transformation, ready to sure up your program’s legacy, let’s get started today!
Allison Russo
The Critical Good
thecriticalgood.com