Abstract

The Iredell-Statesville School District in North Carolina was over budget, out of money, and mired in mediocre academic performance and administrative scandals. In 2002 the board of education hired Terry Holliday, a superintendent with a proven record of using the Baldrige criteria to guide successful schools, to lead the district. Both instructional and support personnel were trained on the use of the plan, do, study, act (PDSA) method; Holliday trained many staff members personally. The district began a sustained effort to use PDSAs in every classroom, as well as every task performed by nonteaching staff. Six years later the district enjoyed improved test scores, a firmer economic footing, and greater public confidence. The district ranked among the top 6 percent of all 2007 Baldrige National Quality Program applicants.