From Silos to Systems: Integration of Core Work at the Heart of SST Region 4 and Painesville City Local Schools' Partnership to Create Sustainable Improvement on Behalf of All Learners

"Integrated work is our number one non-negotiable," stated State Support Team (SST) Region 4 consultant Liesl Blackwell. Blackwell, who serves as lead SST consultant assigned to the Painesville City Local School District.

SST Region 4 serves districts, agencies, and families in the Lake and Geauga counties of northeast Ohio.

"Our work is a collective effort; we work together, not in silos, in using a systems approach to work with districts," added Blackwell.

SST 4 director Merrie Darrah describes her team of consultants as being "very integrated" and focused on supporting districts in making meaningful and lasting improvements.

"The words 'system' and 'integration' come up so much in our collective conversation. Our team has members that look at the work from different lenses, whether it be an early learning lens, a special education lens, an improvement lens, and so on. But, we all work within the Ohio Improvement Process framework to support districts in creating a plan that meets their needs."