Description
The MiBLSi schoolwide model is based on the development and support of Building Leadership Teams to guide the implementation process. Building Leadership Teams provide guidance and coordination of implementation efforts at the schoolwide level. An emphasis is placed on developing and building implementation capacity and systems of support that are sustained over time. This leadership team attends the MiBLSi trainings and creates action items for implementation of schoolwide reading and behavior support models. The action plans and implementation activities associated with MiBLSi should be embedded within the school improvement framework. The Building Leadership Team monitors the supports at the Universal Level (program provided to all students), the Targeted/Strategic Intervention Level (for students who need supplemental support in addition to the universal program), and the Intensive Individualized Intervention (for students experiencing significant difficulties who need more specialized support). Targeted/Strategic Supports may be implemented at the classroom or grade level. Intensive supports may require the involvement of a child study/student assistance team from the building and/or the district level. A Building Leadership Team increases the likelihood of sustainability because a team can continue on even if one or two members change over time. Also, a Building Leadership Team may increase staff buy-in when the Building Leadership Team is seen as representing the best interests of all within the school community.
Membership
Building Leadership Teams include individuals who are representative of the whole school building. The members of this team should have leadership capacity to develop and act upon action plans, such as the building principal. It is important that the Building Leadership Team is embedded within the school improvement process. In some schools, the school improvement team and the MiBLSi Building Leadership Team are represented as the same team. In other schools, members are shared across the two teams. Minimally, there should be alignment, communication, and collaboration across the school improvement and MiBLSi Building Leadership Teams. Since the Building Leadership Team monitors and supports the system development of each level (Universal, Targeted/Strategic, Intensive), it is important that members of the leadership team include representatives who provide leadership for schoolwide, grade level, and student assistance teams.
Responsibilities
Team members develop the action plans and provide leadership with implementation activities at the building level, as well as provide communication within the school community. The coach facilitates the process for schoolwide implementation, problem-solving, and celebrating success.