Fostering Collaboration with Educators around a High-Impact Tutoring Program

Purpose: Educators are an essential part of an effective tutoring program. See the guidelines and resources below to support strong educator collaboration:

Engaging Educators to Design Program Purpose and Vision

Use these guidelines to build educator buy-in by aligning and engaging teachers and school leaders in the program's purpose:

  • Clear Goals and Program Alignment: Communicate how the tutoring program supports classroom instruction, amplifies differentiated learning efforts, and reallocates educator efforts to other classroom needs.
  • Stakeholder-Led Focus Areas: Actively involve teachers and school leaders in selecting focus areas, materials, and strategies to ensure sessions align with classroom and system-wide needs.
  • Collaborative Vision Setting: Facilitate initial planning meetings to co-create a shared vision, establish goals, and design implementation strategies before the tutoring program begins
Key RecommendationCorresponding Resource
Inform and invest school leaders and teachers in high-impact tutoring. District leaders can build understanding and buy-in by highlighting key elements such as strong tutor-student relationships, alignment with the curriculum, and structured, consistent implementation. Additionally, this resource helps address common questions or misconceptions, equipping school leaders and teachers with the knowledge and confidence to prioritize high-impact tutoring as a powerful instructional strategy.

Reading: FAQS on High-Impact Tutoring for Educators 

Reading: Talking Points

Customize a letter using district or school branding to invite teachers and school leaders to participate in program design or refinement. Even for existing programs, it’s never too late to seek their input to strengthen alignment and effectiveness.Template: Invitation to Co-Design the High-Impact Tutoring Program with Teachers and Leaders
Guide a kickoff meeting with school leaders and teachers on tutoring program implementation. Focus on aligning program goals with school priorities, establishing clear roles, and planning logistics like scheduling and resource needs.Template: Teachers and School Leaders High-Impact Tutoring Kickoff Meeting Agenda
Create structured, supportive communication presentations to ensure alignment and success in tutoring programs. The example from Guilford County Public Schools serves as a model to craft personalized, clear, and effective communications for teachers and school leaders. The Teacher of Record presentation example outlines essential roles and responsibilities for engaging tutors, maintaining schedules, and supporting student outcomes. At the same time, the one-pager for staff provides actionable guidance on establishing collaboration between teachers, liaisons, and tutors. 

Example: Guilford County Public Schools 

Facilitating Communication Between Educators and School Leaders

Use these guidelines to ensure effective ongoing communication and continuous improvement:

  • Communication Plan: Develop routine communications (weekly or monthly updates) to maintain consistency and transparency.
  • Utilize Existing Platforms: Integrate tutoring updates into current platforms for streamlined and faster communication, such as leadership meetings or PD sessions.
  • Monthly/Quarterly Alignment Meetings: Conduct monthly or quarterly alignment meetings with teachers and principals.
  • Practical Feedback Tools: Collect data through forms and discussions to collect data on program performance.
  • Implementation of Feedback: Show how feedback influences program changes to generate trust and continuous improvement.
Key RecommendationCorresponding Resource
Facilitate ongoing collaboration meetings with school leaders on implementing the tutoring program. The agenda is designed to leverage feedback from teachers and leaders, evaluate program metrics, address challenges, and collaboratively plan the next steps. Focus areas include aligning tutoring strategies with instructional goals, refining communication, and ensuring actionable solutions to enhance program impact.Template: Sample Agenda for Ongoing School Leader Collaboration Meetings
Collect teacher feedback on the tutoring program and how it aids student learning and fits with teaching. Their answers will assess how well the program focuses on critical skills, uses data, and fosters collaboration, which can guide improvements.Template: Teacher Feedback Form: High-Impact Tutoring Program
Gather school leaders’ feedback on how the tutoring program improves academic priorities and student outcomes. They’ll let you know if the program is worth your time, where to improve, and whether it supports your school’s mission and vision.Template: School Leader Feedback Form: High-Impact Tutoring Program
Supporting and Recognizing Teachers and School Leaders
  • Acknowledge and Celebrate Contributions: Publicly celebrate the efforts of teachers and school leaders during staff meetings, newsletters, or district-wide communications to highlight their leadership impact.
  • Recognition Through Data: Use metrics like student progress and attendance to showcase the tangible results of teacher and school leader contributions.
  • Tailored Professional Development: Provide targeted opportunities to help teachers and school leaders strengthen collaboration with tutors and implementation.
  • Celebrate Individual Achievements: Provide specific and meaningful recognition to emphasize unique contributions driving success.
  • Empower Through Resources: Equip teachers and school leaders with tools and resources to support their engagement and effectiveness.
Key RecommendationCorresponding Resource
Provide training around effective practices of a high-impact tutoring program. Access example training geared towards school leaders through our Tutor Training Toolkit. You can filter by audience to see examples of training provided to teachers and school leaders in other districts.Toolkit: Teacher and School Leader Training 
Share curated resources that help teachers integrate tutoring effectively into their instruction. The template includes sections for descriptions, usage guidance, access details, and opportunities for professional learning. These resources aim to enhance alignment with classroom standards, improve collaboration, and maximize student outcomes.Template: High-Impact Tutoring Resource Sharing
Craft personalized messages recognizing teachers’ or leaders’ contributions to the tutoring program. Highlight specific feedback, collaborative efforts, and measurable impacts on student outcomes. This thoughtful communication helps celebrate their dedication while encouraging ongoing collaboration and sharing of ideas.Template: Recognizing Teacher's or Leader's Contributions to the High-Impact Tutoring Program Email
Fostering Collaboration between Teachers and Tutors

Use these guidelines to foster collaboration between teachers and tutors:

  • Relationship Building: Establish strong relationships at the outset through kickoff meetings to align expectations and build trust.
  • Clear Communication Protocols: Define preferred methods and set regular update schedules.
  • Shared Platforms: Use tools like Google Drive to share lesson plans, analyze data, and provide feedback.
  • Regular Alignment Meetings: Hold biweekly or monthly meetings to align goals and address challenges.
  • Data-Driven Strategies: Share student performance data to refine instructional approaches.
  • Feedback Implementation: Use teacher and tutor feedback to make visible, impactful program adjustments.
Key RecommendationCorresponding Resource
Guide kickoff meetings between teachers and tutors to establish effective communication protocols and support student success. Focus on aligning tutoring sessions with classroom instruction, sharing critical student information, and creating transparent collaboration practices. Prioritizing curriculum alignment, defining roles, and planning logistics like scheduling and resource allocation will ensure a smooth implementation and foster ongoing collaboration.Template: Teacher/Tutor High-Impact Tutoring Kickoff Meeting Agenda
Enhance collaboration between teachers and tutors and ensure consistent support for student success. Establish clear and regular channels for sharing updates, solving problems, and refining strategies. This tool emphasizes a flexible blend of asynchronous updates and real-time communication, allowing programs to balance the benefits of collaboration with time constraints. By aligning tutoring efforts with classroom instruction and program objectives, this framework ensures that the tutoring experience is impactful, efficient, and tailored to student needs.Checklist: Teacher/Tutor High-Impact Tutoring Communication