The School Synergy Guided Conflict Resolution process focuses on improving the environment and effectiveness of staff, students and parents within a school community. We serve as an objective resource, deeply trained and experienced in conflict resolution processes and strategies, to assist schools in working through thorny issues. 

School Synergy will help your school build consensus for meeting future challenges.  We specialize in helping people communicate more effectively and avoid communication pitfalls. When people are in conflict, they don’t often know how to move forward while still “saving face.”  We teach and model the skills for effective communication while addressing and resolving the underlying issues. The result is higher productivity, more satisfying working environments and staff that are able to deal with problems effectively, fairly, and directly. 

Some areas in which we have successfully worked with school and district staff include:

How the Guided Resolution Process Works

Step One: Interview with school leaders
Through structured questions and discussions with the school leaders, we help to peel away the layers of concern and uncover their hopes and dreams for the students, staff and leadership in the school.

Step Two:  System analysis
A school’s mission is focused on high quality teaching and high expectations for student learning.  We take a detailed snapshot of the school by reviewing student assessment results, observing classroom instruction, interviewing staff, students and parents, and we evaluate the system in respect to goals, values, culture and communication.

Step Three:  Group communication
By facilitating communication between group members, we assist them in focusing on the real issues affecting the working environment and student achievement.  We begin by identifying what the group is grappling with.  Then together we explore the needs, fears and desires that underlie and motivate opposing positions.  We then brainstorm options and possibilities that might meet the needs and interests or needs of all parties.

Step Four:  Develop collegial relationships
Respectful, collegial relationships help to build trust, improve communication and increase tolerance.  While improved relationships alone cannot bring about conflict resolution, they are the result of the behavioral agreements we make as a group.

Step Five:  Reframe the issues and solutions
Reframing helps the group look at the issues in a more open-minded and hopeful way.  We take the group through a reframing exercise that looks at the issues and together we develop a variety of solutions.  Solutions are prioritized and possible implementation strategies are discussed.

Step Six: Design the resolution
Resolution means an agreed upon solution… “A course of action determined or decided on.”  Successful communication requires clear channels of transmission and shared agreements.  We guide the group through the articulation of solutions then ensure progress through follow up video conference coaching.