Leading Collaborative Change in an Educational Organization

Organizations can effectively apply a variety of strategies for leading and accelerating desired change. As a practical illustration, this article evaluates an organizational change effort within the United States’ Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), analyzing the restructuring of its worldwide school system through Kotter’s accelerators for leading change. A cornerstone of DoDEA’s effort was the creation of three Centers for Instructional Leadership (CILs), whose mission is to improve student achievement by developing educational leadership and supporting instructional excellence. The development of DoDEA’s CILs presents a valuable case for understanding the leadership necessary for successful organizational change, particularly in light of Kotter’s model.