Transform your school's strategic plan from dust-collector to daily driver

Hey —It’s Danny.

In today’s issue:

• If you want money from Uncle Sam, I recommend asking ChatGPT for synonyms for DEI.

• The key to transforming a school is by playing the game on your terms

• Strategic plans that break the mold

• And more …

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OFF CAMPUS

Here we want to share the best content, news, and resources found this week. Add commentary, summaries or takeaways in 1-2 sentences. In this section we’ll feature our podcast, any content we produce on social, and other people too … Always promote the podcast first

• 💪 Summer power up. Our live events are legendary. Get intentional time with speakers and fellow Ruckus Makers who want to Do School Different. 36 tickets remain. Save your seat here.

• 🧩 Your Game. Your Rules. Amy Galloway on how the traditional playbook for change isn’t enough for today’s schools. Listen here.

• ✍️ Sign here: The Trump Admin wants school districts to certify in writing they won’t do DEI if they want access to federal funding.

• 📲 Join the convo: What teachers are saying about the administrations NO DEI or NO MONEY policy. 300+ comments here.

• 🥃 Into Bourbon? Then you’ll LOVE this newsletter I’m writing with some friends.

A MESSAGE FROM IXL

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DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT

The Ruckus Maker Who Broke the Strategic Plan Mold

On my podcast last month, I made a bold claim: "Most schools create Strategic Plans to appease their bosses... and never look at them again."

I wasn't trying to be provocative—just honest about what I've observed working with hundreds of school leaders. These plans often become elaborate dust collectors, disconnected from daily reality.

So I challenged my listeners: Prove me wrong.

Show me a strategic plan that actually guides your school's work.

I didn't expect much.

After all, I've seen it all. The row of binders. The impressive charts and data. The mission statement (nobody references).

That's when an email from Sheryl at the American School of Dubai hit my inbox.

"I am an avid BLBS podcast listener," she wrote. "You challenged that no schools have real, living strategic improvement plans. I would definitely say that this is false."

I was intrigued but skeptical.

I've heard similar claims before. Only to visit campuses where nobody could find the strategic plan. Let alone explain how it guided their work!

But Sheryl continued: "You will see we have four aspirations, with action plans for each one. The booklet form keeps it digestible, simple, and straightforward. We refer to the booklets regularly when making decisions."

Then came the kicker—the real evidence that their "Framework for the Future" wasn't just another binder gathering dust: "And... the way you really know your plans are alive... students know the Framework and the aspirations."

Students who know their school's strategic plan?

Now that's something I hadn't seen before.

On their website I found exactly what Sheryl described—a clean, simple framework. No hundred-page document full of jargon. Four clear aspirations that anyone could understand and remember.

This discovery led me to a revelation.

The problem with most strategic plans isn't the concept—it's the approach.

While most schools start with benchmarks, mandates, and endless committee meetings ...

The successful ones begin with two fundamental questions:

1. What is the ONE thing that makes our school truly special?

2. How special is that one thing, really?

Answering these questions isn't easy. It requires admitting when beloved programs aren't delivering results. It means facing the possibility that what you thought made your school special... doesn't.

This is where most strategic planning falls apart.

It's not in the execution. But in the unwillingness to have uncomfortable conversations about identity and differentiation.

Sheryl's plan reminded me of an on demand course I've built. It's called Strategy Therapy. 15-modules that helps school leaders have brutally honest conversations. Ones that lead to actionable strategy.

What makes this approach different is our core belief: Simplicity is velocity.

Traditional strategic plans sprawl across dozens of pages. Nobody reads that garbage.

On the other hand, Strategy Therapy leverages AI ...

To distill your school's unique value into a single, powerful page. A page that everyone can understand, remember, and act upon.

One of my favorite sayings is, "If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are the students learning?"

The same applies to strategic planning—if you don't challenge assumptions, what value are you adding?

Traditional strategic planning can take months of meetings and consultations.

With Strategy Therapy's AI-powered approach, you'll create a one-page strategy document in hours. A strategy that guides decision-making instead of sitting on a shelf.

So you have a choice:

Continue creating complex strategic plans that impress superintendents but don't drive action.

Or discover the power of honest strategic conversation distilled to its essence.

Strategy Therapy isn't for everyone. It's for leaders willing to have uncomfortable conversations and challenge the status quo.

Is that you?

ALBA (IS ON SPRING BREAK)

CLASS DISMISSED

“What if this doesn’t work?” is a terrible question to ask.

This question is asked by many leaders are paralyzed with fear.

• Fear of the unknown.

• Fear of failure.

• Fear of what is required.

Ruckus Makers ask a different, better question.

They ask:

What if it does work?

And if you’re the kind of leader who is asking bold questions …

And would like to surround yourself with other leaders who are equally bold …

Then you’ll love what we are cooking up for you this summer in Sacramento.

Where we’ll teach our Ruckus Maker Flywheel Framework and help you:

• Align your life and leadership

• Set a 90-day plan (and your team up for success)

• And develop deep connection with other leaders

36 tickets remain. Best price before April 20th.

Keep Making a Ruckus,

Danny

PS … I’d love to see you in Sacramento this summer.