To encourage early registration, Kennewick School District leaders developed a two-pronged approach: spread the word and register as many incoming migrant/bilingual kindergarten children as early as possible to determine staffing, classroom allocations, and bilingual and ELL services. Kennewick School District’s Leader for Partnership knew that the chairpersons of each school’s Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) had unique strengths and developed a program to make the most of individual talents and preferences in conducting planned partnership activities.

Kennewick, Washington

Boosting Kindergarten Registration

In the Kennewick School District, kindergarten registration begins after spring break and continues through the first week of school in the fall.  It is important for the district to have accurate numbers of registrants to know how to plan for the incoming class.  The numbers determine staffing, classroom allocations, and bilingual and ELL services.  Many families who wait until the fall to register, must send their children to a school that is not staffed or equipped with the ELL or bilingual services needed.

Over the past years, spring registrations have been shrinking, while fall registrations for Kindergarten have been rising.  To encourage early registration, district leaders developed a two- pronged approach: spread the word and register as many incoming migrant/bilingual kindergarten children as early as possible.  The district worked with a team of advisors and experts including the local Univision affiliate who improved media outreach via a commercial on Univision.

Building on Strengths—Understanding the Individuals that Make Your Team

Kennewick School District’s Leader for Partnership knew that the chairpersons of each school’s Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) had unique strengths and talents.  If their true colors were identified, then the district leaders could tailor ways to assist the school leaders and their teams.  True Colors (explained in the book Showing Our True Colors by Mary Miscisin, 2010, lists four personality types or colors: Green (Conceptual); Blue (Compassionate); Orange (Spontaneous); and Gold (Responsible).  People do not fall exclusively into these categories, but some people are particularly strong in one or another that might indicate the best (or favored) way to contribute to a team.

At the annual ATP retreat, district leaders asked ATP Chairpersons to select one color that best described the role they take as a team chairperson.  As an activity, the color-coded groups were asked to design a winter party for their school.  After 10 minutes for planning, each group presented their party plans, which, amazingly reflected their selected personality traits.  For example, the Gold (Responsible) group was the only one that completed a plan with time, activities, and people’s assignments.  The Blue (Compassionate) group wanted to ensure that everyone felt included in their party, including children and pets.  The Green (Conceptual) group established a budget and delegated planning to people who most enjoyed that task; and the Orange (Spontaneous) group planned a white water rafting adventure.  The district leaders explained how the activity might help ATPs make the most of individual strengths, talents, and preferences in conducting planned partnership activities.  The ATP Chairs found the strategy so enlightening, they used the same technique to learn the strengths and talents of their own school’s ATP members.

Building on Strengths: Understanding the Individuals that Make Your Team is featured in Promising Partnership Practices 2015.