National Network for Educational Renewal

Critical Friend Process: Furthering the NNER Equity Self-Study Process

Call for Proposals

Background

In spring of 2006, the NNER convened an Equity Task Force to address equity and diversity as a network-wide priority, putting in motion an effort to identify and confront inequities in our working environments. The NNER recognized that while our mission is clear regarding providing access to quality learning in a nurturing environment for all in NNER settings, we have many gaps and unresolved issues. Our commitment to advancing efforts and seeing results, however, continues.
The Equity Task Force grew out of a specially convened group’s collective acknowledgement that there are inconsistencies and inequities within settings. Convened at the 2005 NNER Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, this group produced an equity statement that was subsequently adopted by the NNER Governing Council. To put this equity statement into practice, the following year, the Equity Task Force was charged with developing a process for self-study to be used by each setting to candidly discover, acknowledge, and study issues related to equity. The ensuing self-study process includes questions for study and conversation within a setting—questions that focus specifically on institutional policies, practices, and formal and informal conditions related to providing a physical, psychological, emotional, and intellectual environment that nurtures, supports, and includes diverse groups.

A vital component included in the self-study process is the critical friend work, designed by the Equity Task Force to support settings’ inquiry by including an opportunity to engage in conversation and shared learning with colleagues from other settings. This component allows settings or groups within a setting that have undergone the initial self-study steps to engage in deeper reflection on their findings.

Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick defined critical friend as “a trusted person who asks provocative questions, provides data to be examined through another lens, and offers critique of a person’s work as a friend. A critical friend takes the time to fully understand the context of the work presented and the outcomes that the person or group is working toward. The friend is the advocate for the success of that work.
”_________
Costa, A. and Kallick, B. (1993) “Through the Lens of a Critical Friend,” Educational Leadership 51(2) 49-51

An adaptation of the above definition defines the process and the spirit of the critical friend interaction as envisioned by the Equity Task Force. The critical friend will engage with the institution(s) or setting rather than with individuals as noted by Costa and Kallick. The NNER critical friend processes are characterized by engagement with trusted colleagues in other settings with the explicit purpose of examining conditions, policies, practices or other factors addressed in the self-study, engage in conversation that leads to change related to equity, or more specifically, to inequities. The NNER seeks to advocate for renewal in all aspects of our mission; this work is central to our renewal

To begin this important phase of the process developed by the Equity Task Force, the NNER will provide a $1,000 stipend to as many as five settings, or institutions(s) within a setting, to support their capacity to convene a critical friend visit. The funds may be used for expenses required to organize, prepare for, and convene the critical friend visit. This may include meals, meeting space, transportation, document printing, conference calls, video conferencing, release time for teachers (examples) as needed for the visit.

Criteria for Application

Following are the criteria for application:

The setting or institution(s) within a setting must have engaged in the self-study process as described in the Equity Task Force document (attached).
The setting or institutions(s) within a setting must have studied and identified areas that need to be addressed to improve the work related to equity issues.
The setting or institution(s) with a setting must have documented the results of the self-study in a way that critical friend conversations are based on the findings. (As examples, the critical friend session(s) will use summaries of interviews, surveys, observations, meeting notes, document analysis, course syllabi analysis, environmental analysis, etc.)
The setting or institution(s) within a setting agree to conduct the critical friend visit prior to the October 2008 NNER Annual Conference.
A setting representative (this could be the contact for the application or someone designated) for this work will agree to present a summary or critique of the critical friend work and follow up at the 2008 NNER Annual Conference in Arlington, Texas, and other possible venues as agreed upon by the setting and the NNER Executive Director.

Application

Applications are due to Ann Foster by March 20, 2008. Please submit the application electronically to: annf2@u.washington.edu
Members of the Executive Board and the Executive Director will review the applications and will determine recipients, and communicate to all applicants on the status of their proposal, by March 30, 2008. All information will be provided electronically.

The application should include:

Name of Setting or Institution(s) Submitting the Application:

Name of Contact for the Application:

Contact Address:

Contact Phone Number:

Contact Email Address:

Narrative (not to exceed three pages):

Provide a brief description of the self-study process (who facilitated the process, who was involved on the self-study team, what procedures were used, how many groups were convened, a description of the various roles included in the convening groups, etc.)
Provide a summary, description, or list of the areas that will be the foundation of the critical friend visit and explain why these areas were selected.
Provide the name of the setting (and if known) individual(s) who will serve in the critical friend role, and information as to whether the above individuals have been contacted and agreed to participate.
Provide a short description of the critical friends’ process (a timeline for the visit, a draft agenda or sequence of activities or meetings that will occur) and the names of those who will be involved from your institution(s) or setting.
Include a brief budget narrative not to exceed $1,000. Explain how the funds will be used with any itemized information that is possible. (As examples, cost of video conference set-up, transportation estimates, etc.)

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