Community Conversation 2023 | A2Schools Podcast | Week of March 6, 2023

In this week's podcast, Andrew Cluley talks with Superintendent Jeanice Swift.

We talk about the community conversation AAPS is about to kickoff as part of the development of our new strategic equity plan. In addition to large events and online participation, we will be meeting with small groups in an effort to ensure we hear from everyone in the community.

In AAPS good news we celebrate the homebuilding program sending seven students to the state finals in the Skills USA Carpentry competition.

Transcript

:05

Andrew Cluley

Welcome to the A2 Schools Podcast. I'm your host, Andrew Cluley, the Director of Communications for the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Joining with me today is Dr. Swift, our Superintendent, thanks for being here.

:16

Jeanice Swift

Thank you. Thanks for having us, Andrew.

:19

Andrew Cluley

So, Dr. Swift, I know that we have been talking over the last several months regarding the AAPS Strategic Equity Plan. You've been doing some work behind the scenes and what not. But I know that in the timeline that we were talking about, sort of that late winter, early spring, we were going to go out and have a community conversation. Sounds like we're about ready to actually kick off that conversation.

:45

Jeanice Swift

Yes, Andrew, you know, I'm so excited because we're ready to do a full community engagement. You know, in the before times about three years ago, that was placed on hold. As you said, we've continued to do some work internally to train ourselves and develop ourselves around practices of equity. But we're really excited here during March, April and May to have a community conversation.

1:16

Andrew Cluley

And what type of things are we going to do to have this conversation?

1:20

Dr. Jeanice K. Swift

So, we really are interested in convening a community conversation that will help us to discover kind of the collective priorities that we have for our children, for our schools, for our community, and for our future together. We're really excited that it feels like in our community that folks are more comfortable with coming out to have conversation. People are also really good at still zooming when they choose it that way.

1:56

Jeanice Swift

So, we'll use a variety of formats. But our purpose is really to reconnect with our community. We've heard some clear priorities over the previous two years and, you know, the result of all that engagement is posted on our Web site and thousands of responses. And they point to the same priorities. And so, this is a great time to check back in with our community to see if these are still the priorities or if they've adjusted a bit coming through this time.

2:34

Andrew Cluley

So obviously, some of the things that were most important over the last couple of years may have been COVID specific. And we're trying to see if there's still the priorities that we have in the community?

2:45

Jeanice Swift

Exactly. If those are remaining our top priorities. And we're also interested to ensure that we're hearing from all voices. So, we'll be going at this engagement a little bit differently. We will still be convening the large in-person groups and the and the in the zoom groups for everyone. But we'll also be doing some smaller conversations with affinity groups, with groups who will invite us.

3:22

Dr. Jeanice K. Swift

For example, we have about eight really beautifully active parent groups, our AAPAC group, our LGBTQIA parent group, our districtwide black parent support group, our APISA/A group, our Arab-American parent and student support group. And I haven't listed them all. So, I don't want anybody to think I've left anyone off this list. But we'll be visiting with a variety of groups in our community centers at family night.

3:59

Dr. Jeanice K. Swift

We just added a date to our April schedule for a family night over at one of our housing developments. And so, we really are interested not just in having folks come to the school like we've done for many years, but us getting out into the community to hear from all kinds of voices out there. You know, we've been through a lot over the previous three years, and next Monday will be the three-year anniversary of our, you know, the closing of public schools in Michigan.

4:37

Jeanice Swift

And really, this is our time this spring to reconnect with our community face to face. Zoom to zoom as they prefer and to check back in on what are our priorities.

4:52

Andrew Cluley

And for family members that may be going out to a meeting or even doing the zoom, they just can't fit into their schedule. I'm guessing that we're still going to do some of that online ThoughtExchange opportunities so that everyone can participate, even if it's, you know, three in the morning is the time that I get a couple of minutes to do something? I can, I can have a way to participate that way as well?

5:12

Jeanice Swift

That's right. So, we'll use the ThoughtExchange. That is great for people who are pressed for time. I know not everyone prefers that venue, so we will be out with the large chart paper and the markers. And I use that tabletop format. We will be collecting that data the same as we're collecting the ThoughtExchange.

5:36

Andrew Cluley

And what are kind of like the big high-level ideas that we're looking to hear from our community about? I'm guessing it's not you're using the wrong kind of pencil in class, but, you know, and I'm saying that kind of as a joke, but what type of big level things are we looking to hear from?

5:54

Jeanice Swift

So, we are really wanting to hear from the lived experience of our students, our staff, our families in the Ann Arbor Public schools, and our community members. We want to hear what are the things we're doing that that are working well for families. They want us to be sure to hold on to those things. We want to hear where our students and staff and families feel we need to focus more attention for some kind of adjustment or improvement.

6:32

Jeanice Swift

We want to hear what individuals believe are our most important priorities. What we're hoping to achieve out of these conversations is a collective understanding around just that. Our priorities for the future.

6:54

Andrew Cluley

Okay. And then where do we go with that information as we start the conversation? This is going to be tied into I know the development of the strategic equity plan. How does this conversation, sort of getting the aspirations of the community, how does that then tie into the plan?

7:11

Jeanice Swift

I love that question. So, there will be a huge database of thoughts shared during this 90-day community conversation. And that data will be analyzed for themes and patterns. And those detailed responses will then inform the development of each of the areas of this strategic plan. So, whether that's about academic learning, student academic learning, growth and achievement, or whether that's about student and staff wellbeing, or whether that's about parent, family, community student empowerment.

7:59

Jeanice Swift

Those detailed responses will then be shared with those work teams on each of the areas of this strategic plan.

8:10

Andrew Cluley

So, it sounds like that this work that we're going to be collecting is going to help inspire and guide where the groups go with the strategic plan.

8:19

Jeanice Swift

Exactly, because we want each of those areas. Those areas are, to me, fairly clear from our community, already. We've heard time and again that these are the areas. But what's not clear is what might be the specific goal for, say, next year or for the next three years. So, we will be listening to hear the pattern of urgency, the pattern of importance, the pattern of take this step, please, you know, to support our children and our families and our community.

8:56

Jeanice Swift

We want that strategic plan to be live and active and a method by which we can realize the values and the priorities of our AAPS community. All the voices at this table.

9:15

Andrew Cluley

So, then what is the timeline in terms of what happens? You said that you will be out getting this information, collecting it for the next couple of months. Then what's the next step after that for developing of the plan and such?

9:28

Dr. Jeanice K. Swift

So, the next step then will be that we bring the framework to the Board of Education and back to the public. We ask for input and feedback and the framework will essentially say, here's what we heard about the priorities in each of these areas. Does that sound right to you? And so, during May, as we wrap up the school year, we'll be checking in to say, does this sound like what you intended?

9:58

Jeanice Swift

What I call our strategic intention, is that correct? Is that in line with your thinking? And then we'll bring to the board for their approval by, in June the framework. The second half of 2023, I think is the more exciting. It's all exciting, but the more really satisfying part of it is each of those areas of the plan then will have a work team that takes all of that data from the community conversation and articulates it into goals and measures and more specificity than what the framework shows.

10:48

Andrew Cluley

So really, we're kicking off a conversation right now, but it's really only the first of at least two conversations. And then the real hard work of finalizing and coalescing behind a strategic plan.

11:02

Jeanice Swift

Exactly. And that is the 2023 goal. So, I see this not just as a spring endeavor. Spring is an exciting time because we want to hear from everyone. But that second half of the year is, putting actions to what we've heard, which to me is really the most exciting part. So, we hope that by Thanksgiving, around that time, what the community and the board can see are each of the areas of the plan are pretty fully developed and that'll be the 1.0 version.

11:42

Jeanice Swift

And then I imagine over the coming years we'll fine tune with I don't know if it's 1.1 or 2.0. I don't know how that gets labeled, but you know what I mean? The next versions.

11:53

Andrew Cluley

Well, it sounds really exciting and it sounds like a lot of work in front of us, but it all starts with that conversation, getting the voices of the community involved.

12:03

Jeanice Swift

And you may remember, but I love the phrase, everything good in life begins with the conversation and that we're going to have to get that quoted and put it in the show notes because I don't want to use someone else's words without properly quoting them. (Quote from Daniel Pink) But I really do believe that everything good about our moving forward from this very challenging time, everything good is going to be about this community conversation.

12:36

Jeanice Swift

You know, they’re our children. These are our schools. Everyone in this community has a stake in an interest in having quality public schools. And that's not a solo act. That's not the teacher or the principal's job. That is everybody's commitment. And so, I'm really excited for us to be able to restore that conversation in ways that we were unable to do during the height of the pandemic the last three years. This is a great time and exciting time in Ann Arbor.

13:14

Andrew Cluley

And that's true and it's a good time. And it's a good time to talk about the good news on the A2 Schools Podcast. And this week we're going to celebrate. I'm actually, you unfortunately weren't able to join us last week, but last week's podcast was about all about CTE.  So, if you haven't had a chance to listen, go click on that, listen to it.

13:34

Andrew Cluley

But amazingly enough, last week there was also good news that's tied to the CTE program, and that is the home building students pretty much just destroyed the competition at the Skills USA Carpentry. Alex Enrique-Shakespeare from Community came in first place. Zyers, Ruff from Huron came in second place. Drew Jackson from Huron came in third place. The alternate Patrick Hansen.

14:02

Andrew Cluley

He scored high enough that he's qualified for the state competition as well. In total, the homebuilding team is advancing seven students, to states. So, congratulations to the home homebuilding program.

14:15

Jeanice Swift

Wow, I tell you that AAPS home building program, they are rock stars, aren't they? And I love to see them in action. And we need to sometime, Andrew, and I know you're on it. We need to go check on their home. How's it coming?

14:31

Andrew Cluley

That's a good question. I have not I have not seen pictures in at least a couple of months, but I'm guessing that that's got to be coming along pretty good because they normally have it done by the end of the school year under the leadership of Mark Valchine. And we give him thanks and credit for always doing an amazing job giving these kids these amazing skills.

14:53

Andrew Cluley

And here we are going to be sending a bunch of kids on to the state championships for the Skills USA Carpentry contest.

15:01

Jeanice Swift

Well, congratulations. And I can't wait to go out and see the home. I hope they haven't gotten too far behind in the winter weather, but they probably planned on Michigan winter, so it's probably fine, right?

15:14

Andrew Cluley

I would imagine so. Well, thank you very much, Dr. Swift, for joining us today and talking about this community conversation that we're going to be getting underway.

15:23

Jeanice Swift

Thank you so much. I'm looking forward and I hope that folks I know it's been just an interesting time to figure out if we're going to Zoom or be in person or how folks feel about their level of comfort. But please, we'll be sharing some dates and we hope that folks will join us in the way that's most comfortable, because this conversation about important questions really matters for the future of our district. Thank you.

15:52

Andrew Cluley

And thank you for listening to the A2 Schools Podcast. As always, if you have any questions about the Ann Arbor Public Schools, the first place to go is our website a2schools.org. If there's a topic that you'd like to hear us talk about in a future episode of the A2 Schools Podcast, please email communications@a2schools.org, and we'll start talking about that topic at some point in the future. And once again, thank you very much for listening to this week's edition of the A2 Schools Podcast.