In Thompson Valley School District in Colorado, new standards for students was followed quickly with standards for teachers. In Broward County Schools in Florida, curriculum benchmarks for students are aligned closely with staff development and soon the staff evaluation system will align with these standards. In Adams Twelve Five Star Schools in Colorado, the staff development programs are aligned closely with the district's curriculum frameworks and standards-based education program. Schools and districts resemble barges on a river being moved along by the current. Rather than being left to the mercy of the current, barges are guided by tugboats that pilot them on a safe course toward their destination.
Tugs provide direction and even power to combat the forces of the current.
Sometimes when a section of river or a harbor is particularly difficult to navigate, additional tugs are sent in to help pilot. The same occurs in schools and districts. When the political, economic, or educational current is treacherous or dangerous, a tug guides the school or district. These tugs usually come in the form of new programs, projects, mandates, or expectations. As with river barges, when times are particularly challenging, multiple programs may be needed to counteract the effects of the currents.