SCHOOL LEADERS

When we created the Denver Plan 2020, a consensus around the importance of school leadership was clear – that’s why preparing and supporting school leaders is one of the strategies in the plan.

In order to ensure Great Schools in Every Neighborhood, DPS designed the LEAD growth and performance system to support Instructional Leadership Teams and improve student achievement. This includes the LEAD Framework which defines what excellent school leadership looks like. LEAD also helps school leaders develop their skills by identifying their areas of strength and opportunities for growth. This happens through supervisor and teacher feedback paired with access to personalized professional learning opportunities.

LEAD aligns closely with our teacher-focused growth and performance system LEAP (Leading Effective Academic Practice). Together, the two systems support the growth of all educators in every school. 

Interested in becoming a school leader? Check out

• DPS Careers – Make a difference for our teams
• Teacher Leadership & Collaboration

School Leader Talent Report user guides

• School Leader Talent Report User Guide for RIS/RAIS
• School Leader Talent Report User Guide for Principals

LEAD GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE SYSTEM RESOURCES

LEAD Framework Resources

• LEAD Calendar of Events
• LEAD Growth & Performance System Handbook
• School Leader Positions on LEAD

Principal/AP/Leader of Others 

• LEAD Guide: How to create goals in SchooMint (formerly Whetstone)
• Infor HR Instructions: How to change AP position to be indirect supervisor over deans
• LEAD Fairness Guide
• LEAD End-of-Year Conversation Guide PDF Version
• SchoolMint Login Page (formerly Whetstone)

LEAD Evaluation Structure

LEAD evaluation is made up of 50% professional practice and 50% student growth. 

Professional practice is measured by the six competencies in the LEAD Framework. 
LEAD Framework Competencies:

1. Instructional Expertise
2. Vision & Strategy
3. People & Culture
4. Community & Equity
5. Personal & Values
6. Operational & Organizational

Student growth is measured by SPF growth and individual goals for student growth.

• SPF Growth Indicator, at least 30% of overall rating 
• Recommended 20%, minimum 10%
• Individual goals for student growth aligned with UIP and School Improvement Plan, at least 20% of overall rating 
• Recommended 30%, minimum 5%

All principals, assistant principals, and leaders of others create and submit 2–3 leader-selected student growth goals. Student growth goals are intended to highlight school leaders’ primary areas of focus and are intended to align with the school’s Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) and Strategic School Plan.

LEAD ONLINE TOOLS

SchoolMint (formerly Whetstone)

SchooMintis the collaborative observation and coaching tool for educators, inclusive of; Teachers, Specialized Service Providers and School Leaders. This tool includes enhanced communication and analytic features that make documentation and sharing simple, while helping educators work together to make progress toward their goals. 

SchoolMint is available at https://dps.whetstoneeducation.com/

Training is housed within the SchoolMint tool by clicking on "Take a Tour" in the bottom, left-hand corner.

SchoolMint User Guides:

• LEAD: How to Create Goals and Actions Steps
• SchoolMint LEAD Evaluation – Manager
• SchoolMint LEAD Evaluation - Employee