Creating an instructional vision is crucial to the success of any school’s improvement efforts. When a principal develops and communicates a clear, actionable vision for teaching and learning, it sets the foundation for student success. This vision serves as a “north star” for educators, guiding curriculum development, instructional strategies, and professional learning. CTL’s School Turnaround efforts begin with creating a vision for the work, and understanding that the student experience is the most important driver in school improvement efforts.
The Importance of Instructional Vision
According to the Center for Educational Leadership’s (CEL)’s Visioning Pyramid, a comprehensive instructional vision begins with a focus on the student experience and builds toward coherent instructional practices, strategies, and curriculum. This holistic vision prioritizes both social-emotional and academic growth, ensuring that students not only achieve academic success but also experience a sense of belonging, pride, and agency in their learning.
University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership’s Visioning Pyramid
Instructional vision becomes particularly important in school turnaround scenarios, where clear goals are needed to disrupt patterns of underperformance. In the School Turnaround Field Guide, the Wallace Foundation emphasizes that successful school turnaround leaders build a shared vision that aligns staff, students, and families around high expectations and consistent practices. Without a cohesive vision, instructional initiatives can become disjointed, resulting in fragmented student experiences and ineffective teaching practices.
A shared instructional vision acts as a blueprint for aligning school resources, guiding professional development, and creating consistency across classrooms. It helps avoid what is known as the “implementation dip,” where well-intended reforms falter due to lack of coherence in execution. A shared vision becomes a point of pride with staff as they work together to create the kinds of student learning experiences they all want for their students.
Three Actionable Steps to Create an Instructional Vision
Here are three key steps a principal can take to craft and implement an effective instructional vision:
1. Engage the School Community in Co-Creating the Vision
One of the most impactful actions a principal can take is to involve stakeholders—teachers, students, and families—in the process of creating the instructional vision. The CEL’s Visioning Pyramid highlights the importance of a co-created vision for student learning and experience. When a vision is developed collaboratively, it reflects the shared values and goals of the school community, making it more likely to be embraced and acted upon.
A principal might start by facilitating workshops or focus groups where educators and families discuss the desired student outcomes and experiences. For instance, questions like;
- “What do we want students to feel and experience throughout their time at our school?” or
- “What will it look like when we are successful in providing exceptional learning experiences for our students?”
can open meaningful conversations that help define a vision grounded in both academic and emotional well-being. Engaging students in this process is equally important, ensuring that their voices shape what happens in the classroom. This step creates a sense of ownership and accountability, making the instructional vision a living, shared document rather than a top-down directive.
2. Align the Vision with Daily Instructional Practices
Once the vision is articulated, the next step is to align daily instructional practices with this vision. CEL’s Visioning Pyramid suggests that instructional strategies should be connected directly to the broader vision for student learning and experience. At CTL, we provide teachers specific strategies and professional development to translate the vision into active classroom practice. We strive to
For example, if the vision prioritizes student ownership and engagement, teachers should be equipped with instructional strategies that encourage active student participation. Techniques like Socratic seminar or Give 1, Get 1 can be useful in promoting high-level student discourse and critical thinking. By aligning professional development with these strategies, the principal can ensure that the instructional vision is reflected in every classroom interaction.
In addition, principals should provide teachers with regular opportunities for reflection and collaboration. Classroom observation tools and professional learning communities (PLCs) can be instrumental in helping educators align their teaching practices with the vision. Feedback loops and data collection can further guide instructional adjustments, ensuring that teachers are not only implementing the vision but also refining it based on student outcomes.
3. Use Data to Continuously Refine and Improve the Vision
The final step in creating an effective instructional vision is to ensure that it remains dynamic and responsive to student needs. The Wallace Foundation’s School Turnaround Field Guide emphasizes the importance of using data to track progress toward the vision and make necessary adjustments. This is where the concept of the “staircase,” from the Visioning Pyramid, becomes particularly useful: principals can visualize where the school currently stands and outline the steps needed to reach the ideal state.
By regularly reviewing multiple data sources, including; walkthrough data, engagement surveys, student achievement data, and teacher feedback, the principal can determine whether the vision is being realized in practice. This data-driven approach allows for a continual refining of instructional strategies, ensuring that the vision evolves with the school’s progress. In particular, principals should focus on disaggregating data by student subgroup to ensure that all students—regardless of background—are benefiting from the instructional vision.
Conclusion
An instructional vision is not a static statement but a dynamic framework that drives the school’s entire educational approach. By engaging the school community in co-creating the vision, aligning instructional practices with that vision, and continuously refining it based on data, principals can create a cohesive and impactful learning environment. Ultimately, this shared vision fosters an inclusive, engaging, and academically rigorous school culture, where every student can thrive.