Often, educational leaders develop meticulous, strategic plans,  yet still struggle to be successful with the implementation.  In “The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals”,  Covey emphasizes that a coherent and concise framework, like the Disciples of Execution (4DX) is necessary in order to facilitate an effective execution of any plan.  The 4 Disciplines of Execution is a methodology that provides the framework to increase strategic execution (Covey, et. al., 2021).  The model shows the five stages of changing human behavior.  It also illustrates how the 4 Disciplines of Execution help to implement the change. Successful implementation of the 4 disciplines within each stage ensures a change in people’s behavior, which is vital to successful implementation
 

Discipline 1: Focus on the Wildly Important

This is the discipline of focus. Exceptional execution starts with narrowing the focus—clearly identifying what must be done. Otherwise, nothing else you achieve really matters much.  (McChesney, Covey, & Huling, 2021)

The Wildly Important Goal (WIG) for the successful implementation of ePortfolio’s in the ELA classroom’s is having students stay focused and actively engaged in their project throughout the school year.  
 

Discipline 2: Act on the Lead Measures

This is the discipline of leverage. Identify and act on the activities with the highest leverage.  (McChesney, Covey, & Huling, 2021)

Intentionally planned activities and measurements of growth, are key to successful implementation of the ePortfolios initiative for all ELA students on my campus. The ELA department head, the campus technology department and myself will meet once per grading period to reflect on the previous 6 weeks and map out the next six weeks. Then once a week, I will meet with grade level teams to help build lessons and activities that align with map that department heads created.  Lessons will be built around a grade level ELA ePortfolio that students will have access to.

Discipline 3: Keep a Compelling Scoreboard

In addition to students sharing their ePortfolio’s with their grade level teachers and department heads,  they will also share their work with parents, guardians, friends and classmates.   This will assist the strategic implementation team in ensuring that we are staying on task and keeping students focused and engaged, or if we need to look at changes in the map and activities.

In addition to students sharing their ePortfolio’s with their grade level teachers and department heads,  they will also share their work with parents, guardians, friends and classmates.   This will assist the strategic implementation team in ensuring that we are staying on task and keeping students focused and engaged, or if we need to look at changes in the map and activities.

Discipline 4: Create a Cadence of Accountability

This is the discipline of accountability. Each team engages in a simple weekly process that highlights successes, analyzes failures, and course-corrects as necessary, creating the ultimate performance-management system.  (McChesney, Covey, & Huling, 2021)

Creating a schedule of checkpoints to remain on track is essential not only in the strategic implementation of the Eporfoltio’s in the ELA classroom initiative, but also essential to keep students actively engaged and on track.  In addition to meeting monthly with department heads and weekly with grade level PLC’s, it is also essential that I conference weekly with students to create a culture of responsibility and accountability.