The Power of SMART Goals: Using Goals to Improve Student Learning, Nov/2005

The Power of SMART Goals

Help staff focus on results, and implement SMART (Strategic and specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results oriented, and Time bound) goals to transform your school into a place where every student meets or exceeds standards. The authors present four success stories from real SMART schools and several frameworks for adult and student goal setting that lead to real results.

1. Learn about the barriers to goal setting and monitoring.
2. Discover how to keep goals alive through supportive systems, policies, structures, and skill building.
3. Examine case studies from real schools that are turning challenges into opportunities for learning and improvement.
4. Understand the roles of assessment and professional development practices in goal setting and improvement.

About The Authors:

Jan O Neill, M.S., is a former teacher who became one of the pioneers in applying quality principles system-wide in municipal and state governments and health care. Anne Conzemuis, M.S., is a former school psychologist and executive assistant to the Wisconsin State Superintendent and has spent many years working in quality improvement in the public and private sectors. Both authors are cofounders of Quality Leadership by Design, LLC, based in Madison, Wisconsin, and co-authors of The Handbook for SMART School Teams.

Anne E. Conzemius is a trainer and coach. She served as director of employee development and training for Wisconsin’s Department of Employment Relations from 1988 to 1990. From 1992 to 1995, she returned to her roots in education and served as assistant state superintendent at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Anne began her career in education in 1978 as a school psychologist. In her six years with Marshall Public Schools, she led the district’s staff development, gifted, talented, and special education programs. In 1984, she became a professional development consultant for the DPI, where she oversaw the Education for Economic Security Act initiative for teacher development in math, science, and foreign language.

Anne’s work experience also includes various part-time positions in higher education, including lead program developer and instructor for the Academy for Continuous Improvement, University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Institute for the Development of Effective Administrative Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Anne’s work has been published in local, state, and national educational newsletters and journals. She has coauthored three books with Jan O’Neill and is a contributor to the graduate textbook Programming for Staff Development: Fanning the Flame and Realizing Our Vision of Languages for All. In 1994, Anne was recognized by the Wisconsin Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development as a Distinguished Leader in Education.

She holds master’s degrees in educational psychology and industrial relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.