A+ Examples of Collaboration

Ask 10 people in the A+ office to define collaboration, and you may get 10 different answers. And at A+, that's just what we want.

Since its inception in 1997, Houston A+ Challenge has worked to make meaningful collaboration a part of the everyday practice among diverse educators and others passionate about education. Whether it's the Preparing to Dream initiative connecting local educators with National College Access Network (NCAN) expertise to get more kids into college, or the Principal Leadership Academy developing educators at all levels into powerful leaders, Houston A+ seeks to bring a sense of shared purpose around important education issues.

• Watch a video about our founders and A+'s impact
• Watch a video of reflections from superintendents, school board members, teachers and principals
   

As Stovall Academy exemplifies, effective collaboration is essential to improving teacher practice and student achievement. Leading researcher Gabriel Diaz-Maggioli sums it up in his book, Teacher-Centered Professional Development: "When teachers are provided with the means and the time to reflect collectively on their teaching methods, and when they are able to share their teaching styles with each other, results improve and the act of teaching is transformed."

At Sharpstown Middle School in Houston ISD, teachers utilize common planning time to integrate strategies from the Readers/Writers Workshop across the curriculum. Such collaboration has led to the use of interactive journals in all core content areas, where students make personal connections to their learning.

At Pine Forest Elementary in Humble ISD, collaboration is at work on multiple levels. Teachers work in grade-level Critical Friends Groups to build curriculum units, reflect on individual and group practice, and give and receive feedback around student work. In addition, Pine Forest has reached out to build a fine arts infusion network with two sister schools. This summer, faculty from all three campuses participated in Critical Friends Group Coaches training provided by Houston A+ Challenge to solidify in this new partnership. 

The stories are manifold in the A+ network, but common to all of them is the essential role that collaboration plays. As Houston A+ Challenge continues to work with schools and districts to increase student achievement, collaboration will remain at center stage.

For more information about A+ programming, upcoming events or networks, contact Melissa Milios Davis at mmdavis@houstonaplus.org.