Getting Beneath the Surface to Enable More Coherent and Sustainable Instructional Work

Leading a school district or network through a complex change process isn’t easy, but it’s often necessary for enabling future system success. Dr. Mark Healy says:

Leaders should consider where they are putting their time and focus. Are the decisions and implementation building a foundation for consistent and lasting student achievement? By prioritizing instruction and making thoughtful, strategic choices, leaders can create an environment where sustainable learning becomes the norm.”

The bottom line: Whether you’re aligning coaching frameworks with strategic goals, refining curriculum implementation, or preparing leaders for a new school year, strategic support can transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable improvement.

Dr. Healy, the senior director of system strategy at Leading Educators, knows this complexity firsthand. With a career spanning classroom teaching, school leadership, and district leadership, Mark now helps state and system-level education leaders uncover insights and craft tailored strategies to address their most persistent instructional challenges.

I recently sat down with Mark to learn how instructional “snapshots” and strategic tools can guide leaders toward sustainable, systemic improvement.

1. What fuels your work to support leaders?

I’m an educator, first and foremost.

I always knew I wanted to teach. Teaching is such a powerful lever to change lives and shape the future, and I’ve always felt that energy in education. I vividly remember watching my principal racing around the school and thinking, “That’s a wild job—I’ll never do that!” The long hours, the constant problem-solving—it looked overwhelming. But then, I became a principal.

What drew me to the role was the opportunity to scale my impact. As a teacher, you shape the lives of 20-40 students at a time. As a principal, you shape an entire school community. You’re not just supporting students—you’re guiding teachers, working with families, and influencing a broader vision for the school.

My journey didn’t stop there. I moved into district leadership in both public and charter schools, gaining insight into how systems work at scale. Now, I get to take everything I’ve learned—the successes, the missteps—and use it to help school and district leaders improve. It’s about equipping them to make an even greater impact than I could on my own.

1. What is challenging about driving instructional improvement across a system?

One of the biggest challenges is finding the right balance between autonomy and governance. On one hand, autonomy lets schools tailor decisions to their unique students and staff. On the other, governance ensures consistency and alignment with a district’s vision. Leaders need to decide where to be “tight” with expectations and where to allow flexibility.

• Districts should be tight on the materials we put in front of students. Research-based, high-quality instructional materials are essential. Teachers shouldn’t spend hours creating unvetted resources when their time is better spent differentiating lessons and meeting the needs of their students.
• At the same time, we can give teachers autonomy in how they deliver instruction, adapt strategies, and respond to their classrooms.

A great starting point for district leaders is to conduct an audit: Where should your vision be consistent across schools, and where is it okay to see variation? By being clear on these priorities, districts can better support educators and, ultimately, improve outcomes for students.

1. What can leaders do when they identify structural barriers to student learning and teacher success?

When leaders encounter structural barriers, the first step is to understand the current landscape before making sweeping changes. As part of Leading Educators’ systems advising team, we conduct instructional reviews, or “snapshots,” to help district leaders get a clear picture of what’s working, what’s not, and where gaps exist.

Often, districts adopt new curricula or practices and discard everything they previously used—losing some strong, effective practices in the process. A snapshot ensures this doesn’t happen by identifying strengths that should be retained, alongside areas that need improvement.

We provide an informed analysis through classroom observations, data collection, and empathy conversations with teachers and students. This partnership helps district leaders make evidence-based decisions that are grounded in their district’s unique context and needs, ensuring sustainable and meaningful improvement.

1. Often, leaders are thinking about the tradeoffs of investing in immediate services vs. strategy. Why is something like a snapshot worth the resources?

There are a couple of scenarios where a snapshot is invaluable.

For new leaders, it’s a crucial tool to quickly understand the culture and expectations of their school or district, helping them hit the ground running. For leaders starting new initiatives, a snapshot provides insights into competing factors from a broader perspective, offering support that might not be available locally.

I often tell teachers and students that everyone deserves a coach, and a snapshot serves as a form of coaching. It allows leaders to step back and receive constructive feedback on their strengths and challenges, along with actionable recommendations. This support is especially valuable because leaders often work in isolation, juggling multiple issues. Having a collaborative partner through a snapshot helps them navigate these challenges more effectively.

1. You previously mentioned that a snapshot might lead to a more detailed strategy document or strategic tool. What should these articulate?

District leaders often benefit from a blueprint when they need a clear, research-based plan for complex initiatives, such as a curriculum adoption. A blueprint helps guide the “what’s next” after a snapshot, providing step-by-step strategies, highlighting what to prioritize, and identifying potential pitfalls to avoid. For example, during a curriculum review cycle, we equip leaders with tools, learning opportunities, and evidence-based practices to ensure a smooth and effective process.

In addition, strategic tools are invaluable when specific challenges arise, such as the need to strengthen conditions for instructional improvement. For example:

• Instructional frameworks can help districts define a clear vision for strong instruction that aligns with their goals. This ensures that all instructional materials and practices reflect what the district values most.
• Coaching frameworks can be useful for streamlining coaching practices across districts to create consistent, cyclical feedback loops for teacher growth. Without this, you might have dozens of coaches operating independently without cohesive impact.

Both blueprints and tools support district leaders in balancing where they are “tight” (clear expectations) and where they are “loose” (flexibility for local implementation). These strategies ensure alignment across the system, empowering teachers while advancing instructional goals to meet student needs effectively.

1. What questions should leaders ask themselves now to clarify the support they might need and what actions they can take with their teams?

Early in my career, I often felt overwhelmed by daily challenges and didn’t focus enough on instructional leadership.

To shift this mindset, leaders should ensure that everything they do is centered on instruction. Ask yourself: Is this initiative going to create predictable and sustainable improvement for my students? Some actions are necessary to keep the school running smoothly, but the primary focus should always be on instruction.

Leaders should also consider where they are putting their time and focus. Are the decisions and implementations building a foundation for consistent and lasting student achievement? By prioritizing instruction and making thoughtful, strategic choices, leaders can create an environment where sustainable learning becomes the norm.

Ready for Support?

Leading systemic improvement requires clear strategies and aligned action across all levels of your system. Amid budget constraints and new needs, the stakes have never been higher. Our system advising team helps leaders like you build sustainable plans for instructional coherence and student success.

🗓️ Schedule time to talk with us about your goals.