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The SCALE Effect: Sustainable Implementation for Schools & Districts

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Interactive Session
Virtual Session
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Session description

Discover how the SCALE Model helps schools and districts move beyond rollout fatigue to create lasting impact. Learn practical strategies to align vision, people, and processes so every initiative thrives and sustains results.

Outline

The SCALE Effect: Sustainable Implementation for Schools & Districts
Total Time: 50 minutes (Virtual Workshop)

1. Welcome & Framing the Challenge (5 minutes)

Content: Introduce the problem of “initiative fatigue” in schools/districts; highlight why many technology initiatives fail to sustain.

Engagement: Quick audience poll via Zoom/Slido: *“How many initiatives in your school/district have stuck for more than 3 years?”

Process: Immediate participant reflection in chat; facilitator shares themes and validates experiences.

2. Introducing SCALE (10 minutes)

Content: Overview of the SCALE Model (Set the Vision & Team, Create the Script, Act & Communicate, Learn–Listen–Linger, Empower & Elevate). Connect to ISTE Standards (Visionary Planner, Empowering Leader, Systems Designer).

Engagement: Visual infographic walkthrough; participants type in chat or annotate on a Jamboard: “Which step do you usually get stuck on?”

Process: Device-based interaction, peer-to-peer sharing in breakout pairs for 2 minutes.

3. Deep Dive: Applying SCALE to District and School Initiatives (20 minutes)

Content: Case study of a district rolling out a new initiative (e.g., AI integration or standards-based grading platform, 4 C's, Kagan strategies). Show how each SCALE step supports sustainability.

Engagement Activities:
- Breakout Group Task (10 minutes): Each group selects an initiative (their own or provided scenarios). Using a guided template, they identify one action for each SCALE step.
- Report Back (5 minutes): Groups share top insights on a shared Padlet or Google Doc.
- Facilitator Commentary (5 minutes): Highlight patterns, elevate strong strategies, tie back to ISTE Standards.

Process: Frequent peer-to-peer interaction, collaborative document creation, live facilitator synthesis.

4. Build Your Roadmap (10 minutes)

Content: Participants apply SCALE to their own context.

Engagement: Guided worksheet (fillable Google Doc/Word template).

Participants draft:
- A vision statement for their initiative
- One next step for engaging stakeholders - One system or partnership to sustain change

Process: Independent reflection, optional pair-share for accountability.

5. Closing & Call to Action (5 minutes)

Content: Recap key takeaways; emphasize ISTE Standards alignment.

Engagement:
- Chat storm: “One word that describes how you’ll lead differently tomorrow.”
- QR code link to SCALE Roadmap template + resource bundle.

Process: Collective sharing, motivational close, concrete takeaway tools.

Overall Engagement Frequency & Tactics
Every 3–5 minutes: Interaction through chat, polls, annotations, or breakout discussions.
- Tools used: Zoom polls, Slido/Mentimeter, Jamboard/Padlet, Google Docs templates, breakout rooms.
- Peer-to-peer activities: Breakouts (2x), role-play, and small group tasks.

Products attendees create:
- Draft SCALE implementation roadmap
- Case study solutions

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Outcomes

After this session, participants will be able to…

Apply the SCALE Model to any initiative by setting a shared vision, creating an action plan, and embedding a continuous improvement cycle.

Design strategies that empower teachers and staff to use technology in innovative ways, building confidence and aligning with ISTE Standards for Educators and Students.

Develop systems and partnerships that sustain implementation, including team structures, communication processes, and community connections to support long-term success.

Practice stakeholder engagement techniques—such as gathering input, celebrating successes, and addressing challenges—that ensure initiatives are people-centered and results-driven.

Create a personalized implementation roadmap that can be adapted to their school or district context to ensure initiatives last beyond launch.

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Supporting research

Aarons, G.A., Ehrhart, M.G., Farahnak, L.R. & Hurlburt, M.S. (2015). Leadership and organizational change for implementation (LOCI): A randomized mixed method pilot study of a leadership and organization development intervention for evidence-based practice implementation. Implementation Science, 10, 11 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-014-0192-y

Bryk, A. S., Gomez, L. M., Grunow, A., & LeMahieu, P. G. (2015). *Learning to improve: How America's schools can get better at getting better*. Harvard Education Press.

Fixsen, D.L., Naoom, S.F., Blasé, K. A., Friedman, R. M., & Wallace. F. (2005). Implementation research: A synthesis of the literature.Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, The National Implementation Research Network (FMHI Publication #231). https://nirn.fpg.unc.edu/sites/nirn.fpg.unc.edu/files/resources/NIRN-MonographFull-01-2005.pdf

Implementation Framework. (n.d.). ImpSciUW. Retrieved from [https://impsciuw.org/implementation-science/research/frameworks/](https://impsciuw.org/implementation-science/research/frameworks/)

Kelloway, K. & Barling, J. (2000). What we have learned about developing transformational leaders. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 21(7). DOI: 10.1108/01437730010377908

Kotter, J. P. (1995, May). Leading change: Why transformation efforts fail. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/1995/05/leading-change-why-transformation-efforts-fail-2

Pizutto, J. & Carney, S.(2024). Implement with impact. Solution Tree Press.

National Policy Board for Educational Administration. (2015). Professional standards for educational leaders. https://www.npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Professional-Standards-for-Educational-Leaders_2015.pdf

Reeves, D. B. (2007, March). Closing the implementation gap. Educational Leadership, 64(6). Retrieved from https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/closing-the-implementation-gap-march-2007Teacher Magazine. (2024, July 9). Implementation in education. https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/research-to-practice-implementation-in-education

Williams, N.J., Wolk, C.B., Becker-Haimes, E.M.& Bedas, R.N. Testing a theory of strategic implementation leadership, implementation climate, and clinicians’ use of evidence-based practice: a 5-year panel analysis. Implementation Sci 15, 10 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-020-0970-7

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Presenters

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Leadership and Implementation Coach
Enlightening Leadership

Session specifications

Topic:

Principal Effectiveness

Grade level:

PK-12

Audience:

Curriculum Designer/Director, District-Level Leadership, School Level Leadership

Attendee devices:

Devices required

Attendee device specification:

Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Tablet: Android, iOS, Windows

Participant accounts, software and other materials:

Virtual presentation - Attendees will need a device with which to connect, as well as access to google docs.

Subject area:

Other: Please specify

ISTE Standards:

For Education Leaders: Visionary Planner, Empowering Leader, Systems Designer

Disclosure:

The submitter of this session has been supported by a company whose product is being included in the session