Windsor Public Schools -

Dr. Noha Abdel-Hady captivates the audience during Windsor Public Schools' presentation at the Performance Matters Forum, highlighting the district’s Instructional Core Wheel, affectionately known as "the North Star" of WPS schools.

WINDSOR, CT—Earlier today, Windsor Public Schools reinforced its position as a leader in Connecticut’s education landscape, presenting its innovative work in central office leadership at the Connecticut Performance Matters State Department of Education Conference. The presentation, titled Reorienting and Refining Central Office through Systems Thinking, highlighted how Windsor Public Schools transformed its leadership approach by applying systems thinking (ST) principles.

Session attendees left the presentation equipped with practical tools they can immediately implement to strengthen systems and shift mindsets within their own districts.

The session showcased how systems thinking fosters a holistic and interconnected approach to school leadership. Drawing on research from Shaked and Schecter (2016, 2017) and Rorrer et al. (2007), the presentation detailed the vital relationship between individual parts of the organization and the organization as a whole. Windsor’s instructional services team shared how this multidimensional approach has shaped the district’s culture, with a focus on high-quality instruction, data systems, professional learning, and accountability structures.

Attendees paused to engage in discussion and explore the Instructional Core Wheel during the presentation.

“Our goal was to break down silos, enhance collaboration, and build a more adaptive, responsive culture within our schools,” said Dr. Noha Abdel-Hady, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services. “By reorienting central office through systems thinking, we’ve created a more unified approach to our district’s leadership, which ultimately benefits all of our students and staff.”

Michelle Williams delves into the science behind the mission, explaining the impact of data-driven work and systems thinking.

Dr. Hady was joined by Bonnie Fineman, Director of Secondary Curriculum, and Michelle Williams, Director of Elementary Curriculum. Together, they showcased Windsor’s journey in refining its leadership practices to ensure a continuous, high-impact focus on student success.

Bonnie Fineman chats with an enthusiastic session attendee about the impactful work being showcased.

Windsor Public Schools was honored to share its pioneering progress with districts across the state, reaffirming its role as a model for advancing high-quality instruction and building a strong educational community.