Strategic planning is a process utilized by numerous organizations, including K-12 school boards, intent on improvement and reform. A thoughtful strategic planning process can help develop a board’s desired future driven by goals and strategies aimed at progress. However, improvement processes such as strategic planning are challenging. In fact, they are even more difficult in the context of political or interpersonal conflict. This case describes a superintendent’s efforts to convince her divided board of education to become involved and utilize strategic planning for school improvement in their district in a politically charged environment.
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