April 2018 Newsletter

Our April Status Quo Breaker is...
Vicky Bennett, Student Information Support Analyst on the Assessment, Data and Evaluation team, is being recognized as our April Status Quo Breaker! Vicky is always engaged in looking for opportunities to improve processes and involve others in those efforts. She has been a key player in a number of Lean projects (at least seven!) that have reduced rework and hand-offs, freeing time for staff to focus on providing great customer service to our students and families. Thank you, Vicky!
The Status Quo Breaker is a monthly traveling trophy recognition of an employee for their contribution to process improvement, to say thank you for being Lean and/or for helping make DMPS Leaner.
Vicky Bennett, Student Information Support Analyst on the Assessment, Data and Evaluation team, is being recognized as our April Status Quo Breaker! Vicky is always engaged in looking for opportunities to improve processes and involve others in those efforts. She has been a key player in a number of Lean projects (at least seven!) that have reduced rework and hand-offs, freeing time for staff to focus on providing great customer service to our students and families. Thank you, Vicky!
The Status Quo Breaker is a monthly traveling trophy recognition of an employee for their contribution to process improvement, to say thank you for being Lean and/or for helping make DMPS Leaner.
Training Graduates
Congratulations to our newest Introduction to Continuous Improvement training graduates! Thank you Katie Niday, Lori Brenno, Erin Rempe, Katie Northness, Nicole Wichman, Tanya Stark, Larry Holland, Elena Polush, Jamie Punke, Kelly Kretschmer, Sacha Wise, Allison Hanrahan and Stephanie Mcfarland for fully engaging throughout the day and becoming experts in Lean.
Congratulations to our newest Introduction to Continuous Improvement training graduates! Thank you Katie Niday, Lori Brenno, Erin Rempe, Katie Northness, Nicole Wichman, Tanya Stark, Larry Holland, Elena Polush, Jamie Punke, Kelly Kretschmer, Sacha Wise, Allison Hanrahan and Stephanie Mcfarland for fully engaging throughout the day and becoming experts in Lean.

What Do You Need to Get Started with Lean?
WHAT IS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT? An established approach to evaluate all district processes in order to identify opportunities for improvements leading to increased efficiencies, effectiveness, and greater student outcomes. To improve organizational performance and empower employees, time-tested Lean tools and methodology are utilized. Lean focuses on the key processes in departments, the services being delivered, and how much of what is being done is value-added vs. non-value added.
WHY USE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT? To build a culture where leadership supports and promotes the empowerment of employees while developing their problem-solving ability. DMPS staff will identify wastes (non-valued added tasks) within processes and set out to optimize resources and improve customer service.
TELL US! WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED?
WHAT IS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT? An established approach to evaluate all district processes in order to identify opportunities for improvements leading to increased efficiencies, effectiveness, and greater student outcomes. To improve organizational performance and empower employees, time-tested Lean tools and methodology are utilized. Lean focuses on the key processes in departments, the services being delivered, and how much of what is being done is value-added vs. non-value added.
WHY USE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT? To build a culture where leadership supports and promotes the empowerment of employees while developing their problem-solving ability. DMPS staff will identify wastes (non-valued added tasks) within processes and set out to optimize resources and improve customer service.
TELL US! WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED?
Would you like your CI project highlighted in this newsletter? Be sure to report your results!
Shout Outs!
Way to go Office Managers for creating a Lean Dreams channel in your Microsoft Team to discuss Lean ideas!
Awesome job Office of Academics in using the Affinity diagram tool at a middle school Principal meeting and using the 5 Whys tool at a Teaching and Learning meeting!
Awesome job Office of Academics in using the Affinity diagram tool at a middle school Principal meeting and using the 5 Whys tool at a Teaching and Learning meeting!