Working Through the Messy Middle

My View

Your school district launches a new initiative after careful review, piloting and thoughtful decision making among a hard-working planning committee. The initiative is sent out into the universe with common language and visually appealing graphics to explain the work as the school year begins.

School staff are trying on the new initiative — some are very happy and others may be grumbling, but they are trying. Leaders are checking in and supporting, and things are progressing until late October hits. Everyone is tired. They haven’t had a long weekend in what feels like forever. Parent conferences are coming, the honeymoon period of good behavior is over, and everyone is feeling some added stress.

And what about that shiny new initiative? Around late October, the grumblers are now yelling about how it’s not working, it was a big mistake, the students are bored, the staff hasn’t had enough time or support, and we need to stop it forever. The people who still support the new initiative get quiet. They are fearful of speaking against their colleagues.

The initiative’s leader is now doubting everything — did we move too fast, did we not offer enough support, was the system not ready for this, should we abandon this now before it gets worse?