In many school communities, existing partnerships can use the Collaborative Action Team process to strengthen their teams. The Collaborative Action Team process brings the characteristics of true collaboration to the school environment by developing a partnership between a school and a community. Then it helps the team develop and follow an action plan and use local resources to resolve problems. During this process, you develop a sense of momentum that helps your team move forward. Each stage of the Collaborative Action Team process includes a series of steps.
Some steps focus more on team building.
Others focus more on action planning. However, successful teams do both throughout the entire process. Examples from various Collaborative Action Teams are also provided. The gardening symbols that you'll see throughout these materials will help you understand how the materials fit together to support your efforts. Gardeners must be patient as seeds sprout slowly and mature over the entire growing season.