YOUR ARTS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT REPORT
Your program is...
LIVIN' ON THE EDGE
"Tell me what you think about your situation/ Complication, aggravation / it's getting to you, yeah" -Aerosmith, "Living on the Edge"
Based on your responses, it seems there are serious issues in your program that are about to boil over. Your program is at an important crossroads. There is still time to make strategic changes that heal and strengthen your impact.
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?
BURN OUT IS BOILING OVER
You or your teachers are burning out and quitting.
Burnout looks different in every person, but the hallmarks are exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficiency. There’s plenty of sarcasm in staff meetings. Maybe teachers 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THE CURRICULUM IS WAY OUT OF DATE
Your curriculum is collecting a lot of dust.
Maybe teachers don’t have the right resources to make it come to life, or they don’t see how the curriculum applies to what they want to do. Regardless of the reason, there’s little to no direction for your teachers to follow. 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.
STUDENTS ARE QUITTING
The slipping numbers are keeping you up at night.
Try as you might, students are dropping out of your arts programming 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.” If this trend keeps up, the program may need to downsize in a few years.
COMMON PITFALLS
There's so much to do and too little time...
"IT'S GOOD ENOUGH."
Motivation is low and cynicism is high. Some teachers have low expectations for students.
"NO ONE WANTS TO CHANGE WHAT THEY ARE DOING. LEAVE US ALONE."
Burnout has taken root in the program and is spreading quickly. It feels like change isn’t possible.
"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