Creating Stability Within Organizational Change, Addressing the ESSER “Fiscal Cliff,” and More
In this first WestEd 360° newsletter of 2024, we’re excited to share reflections from our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jannelle Kubinec .
We are also sharing new insights related to the ESSER “fiscal cliff” and the strategic use of one-time federal funding, 2024 Data Privacy Week, plus upcoming WestEd conference appearances and learning opportunities.? ?
CEO Corner: Reflections from My First 100 Days ?
Last October I took over leading WestEd in the first CEO transition in over 26 years. And while I have been part of WestEd for over 12 years, I know that my perspective needs to evolve with this new position. Particularly in my first 100 days as CEO, it was important for me to challenge my assumptions and broaden my perspective and to invite my colleagues to broaden their perspectives of me.?
I began this work by listening to learn. My first 100 days included more than 25 in-person and virtual listening sessions that took me to eight WestEd offices and cities coast-to-coast. With WestEd’s recent rapid growth (nearly half our current staff joined the agency in the last three years), these sessions gave me a unique opportunity to get to know people better and also gave them an opportunity to get to know each other better. It was gratifying to see staff discover they shared favorite restaurants, shopped in the same grocery stores, or attended the same high schools.??
More than 600 people participated in the Listen and Learn sessions and I left each one energized and increasingly aware that WestEd staff share a universal sense of excitement about being a part of this organization. That sense of excitement is one thing that distinguishes us from places where people see their work as just that, work. Every member of the staff is committed to improving education and human development in the wide array of communities in which we work. The dedication to making change and improving outcomes is palpable. But there’s also more to it. At WestEd, people know their colleagues care about them, and they care about the work that they are doing, not only because of the nature of that work, but because of who they get to work with.??
In my first 100 days as CEO, I have also been the beneficiary of WestEd’s culture of caring about and supporting colleagues. WestEd’s Board of Directors and staff have unequivocally embraced thinking about change and possibilities even as we remain firmly anchored in our mission and values.??
Even with all our strengths and assets, there are certainly things WestEd can improve upon, and I am committed to focusing on addressing those. A key issue is ensuring that we offer our staff, who are our “special sauce,” opportunities for career development here at WestEd. This need emerged in a series of previously held DEI listening sessions when many WestEd staff expressed a desire for more pathways and mentorship opportunities to grow as professionals. We are now actively working on a clear and well-defined career ladder to provide that structure and support.?
Leading this kind of change at a well-established and successful organization is both liberating and a great responsibility. A common question that people have asked me in my first 100 days is, “Are you scared?” It would be disingenuous to not admit that I have some trepidation. WestEd has roughly 1,000 current projects and a staff of more than 1,400 people who are deeply invested in this community. I have a healthy respect for and the significance of what I am leading as CEO. I also know that I am in this role to bring about stability with change, flexibility while staying the course. A course which must be informed by how I invite input, open myself to learning, and build relationships as a leader.?
Ultimately, the choices I make as a leader are not about just the overarching systems of things or the big structures, which are important, but about what’s really affecting the people and listening to what they say they need. I treat every interaction as an opportunity to give and accept trust and I look forward to what the year holds for me and the WestEd community as we pursue our ongoing mission to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults.?
Developing Strategies to Address the ESSER Fiscal Cliff in Education Funding??
As state and federal pandemic relief winds down, school districts must consider how to sustain programs that effectively address pressing challenges such as learning recovery, student mental health, and racial and economic inequities, beyond the duration of one-time funding. According to this Chalkbeat article , “schools received a total of $190 billion in three waves. So far, roughly $122 billion has been spent or committed, and schools still need to spend an additional $68 billion.” With the approaching deadline of September 30, 2024, educators need solid data to inform their decision-making. ?
Recently, WestEd’s Strategic Resource Allocation and Systems Planning team analyzed funding sustainability in California school districts. One key finding is that many districts may face more of a gradual “fiscal slope” than a “fiscal cliff,” likely due to state-level actions to promote year-to-year local budget stability as well as district-level anticipation that pandemic relief funds will soon be gone.?
According to Kelsey Krausen, PhD , WestEd’s Director of Strategic Resource Allocation and Systems Planning, “Education leaders can develop a ‘fiscal staircase’ by carefully planning for the reduction in funding and aligning their resource allocation strategy with their priorities for student learning and well-being. As part of this approach, education leaders will need to make tradeoffs that sustain their most effective programs and ensure funds are equitably allocated based on student need.”?
领英推荐
Navigating staff shortages is another prevalent concern, which requires re-imagining how to recruit and retain new staff. Research shows that trusting relationships with educators are linked to improved attendance and positive school climates while social-emotional learning supports help create learning environments where all can thrive.??
We have developed a rich array of practical guidance to help state and local leaders develop a clear strategy to fund key programs as one-time funds expire, given different timelines and allowable uses. For more insights about how leaders are approaching funding sustainability, here are some evidence-based resources to support your strategic resource planning efforts:?
Coming Up: 2024 Data Privacy Week from January 21—27, 2024?
Data privacy and data security are closely linked. To help spread awareness about online privacy, the National Cybersecurity Alliance hosts Data Privacy Week to help individuals understand that they have the power to manage their data and help organizations understand why it is important to respect their users’ data.?
The Data Integration Support Center at WestEd has been named a 2024 #DataPrivacyWeek Champion to promote a safer, more secure online world. Privacy is one of DISC's five focus areas , helping to ensure Integrated Data Systems (IDS) protect the privacy of people and data through appropriate governance and effective policies and procedures. Here are four tips from the National Cybersecurity Alliance to help you manage your data privacy settings: ?
For more on social media data sharing, check out this blog, “Share with Care: Staying Safe on Social Media .”??
You can also take part in daily DPW events to learn more about online safety. Head over to DISC’s website to find out about its technical assistance for public agencies interested in integrating data across sectors while protecting data privacy and ensuring the usefulness, fidelity, and transparency of data systems. Many of DISC’s services are provided at no cost for public agencies.?
Upcoming Appearances and Learning Opportunities ?
That’s a wrap for January! Thank you for reading and sharing this newsletter with your network. We'd love to hear your thoughts about any of the topics raised in this edition of WestEd 360° and what you’d like to see coverage of in the future - drop us a comment to let us know! ?