February 2020 Newsletter
3rd Annual Distinguished Lean Practitioner Winner!
The Distinguished Lean Practitioner award annually recognizes an employee for their significant contributions in supporting continuous improvement efforts in Des Moines Public Schools. Kaitlyn Evans, Scheduling Specialist in Assessment, Data and Evaluation, is the 3rd annual Distinguished Lean Practitioner!
“Kaitlyn has exponentially increased efficiencies and equities in the high school scheduling process and outcomes,” said Superintendent Tom Ahart. “As a result of Kaitlyn’s problem-solving, this new schedule increased the number of instructional minutes and will positively impact student academic, social and emotional learning by increasing the frequency with which students interact with their teachers and peers.”
The Distinguished Lean Practitioner award annually recognizes an employee for their significant contributions in supporting continuous improvement efforts in Des Moines Public Schools. Kaitlyn Evans, Scheduling Specialist in Assessment, Data and Evaluation, is the 3rd annual Distinguished Lean Practitioner!
“Kaitlyn has exponentially increased efficiencies and equities in the high school scheduling process and outcomes,” said Superintendent Tom Ahart. “As a result of Kaitlyn’s problem-solving, this new schedule increased the number of instructional minutes and will positively impact student academic, social and emotional learning by increasing the frequency with which students interact with their teachers and peers.”
Systems Thinking Concept: Interconnectedness
"A system is a set of components that work together in a particular environment to perform whatever functions are required to achieve the system's objective" - Donella Meadows
Systems thinking requires a shift in mindset, away from linear to circular. The fundamental principle of this shift is that everything is interconnected. Essentially, everything is reliant upon something else to grow or achieve a result. A systems thinker makes meaningfully connections within and between systems by seeing how concepts, facts and ideas link together, which can lead to new learning, discoveries and innovations.
As you review, change or improve a system, keep theses questions in mind
1. What are the relationships among pieces of the system and how do they affect understanding of the whole?
2. How can different perspectives of a system work together to benefit the system?
3. How does understanding of one system transfer to understanding of another system?
"A system is a set of components that work together in a particular environment to perform whatever functions are required to achieve the system's objective" - Donella Meadows
Systems thinking requires a shift in mindset, away from linear to circular. The fundamental principle of this shift is that everything is interconnected. Essentially, everything is reliant upon something else to grow or achieve a result. A systems thinker makes meaningfully connections within and between systems by seeing how concepts, facts and ideas link together, which can lead to new learning, discoveries and innovations.
As you review, change or improve a system, keep theses questions in mind
1. What are the relationships among pieces of the system and how do they affect understanding of the whole?
2. How can different perspectives of a system work together to benefit the system?
3. How does understanding of one system transfer to understanding of another system?
Project Spotlight!
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Shout Outs!
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Facility Management has taken a new approach to how they use their work trucks. Each truck is now equipped with the most frequently used inventory to reduce the need to go on supply runs. The inventory is customized for each craft. This is saving time and resources. Specifically, the Facilities team is producing 16% more work than three years ago. They are also completing 13% more of their work tickets in one week or less than three years ago.
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Congratulations to Jamie Wilkerson for being nominated for the 2020 Distinguished Lean Practitioner award!
Thank you Orange County Public Schools for sharing your system and process improvement work with us! |
