Skip to content

Human Resources

Staffing for teaching quality and teacher diversity

DL2's research shows Human Resources (HR) units of various sizes support equitable teaching and learning districtwide when they:

  • Continuously eliminate, streamline, and redesign routine business processes to free school and HR staff time to focus on strategic support for equitable teaching and learning,
  • Ensure teacher recruitment and selection drive equitable teaching and learning, and
  • Partner with principals to strategically staff teacher teams with explicit attention on supporting the retention and success of teachers of color.

HR has typically worked on the “operational” side of school district central offices, ensuring compliance with hiring laws and filling vacancies as they arise. Our research highlights the importance of HR significantly cutting red tape and centering performance rather than compliance as their main driver.

Resources

Research

9781682538432.jpg?auto=format&w=298&dpr=2&q=100

From tinkering to transformation: How school district central offices drive equitable teaching and learning (2023)

In this book, available from Harvard Education Press, we share our latest findings on the work of Human Resources (Chapter 3) as well as Teaching & Learning, Principal Supervision, Operations, and Cabinet.

Order From tinkering to transformationBook Here

Tool

artworks-25sCSSzmyV3nz6x5-rvF7ZQ-t1080x1080.png

AASA Podcast: From Staffing to Strategy in Human Resources (2024)

This episode of AASA's Principal Supervisor Podcast Series focuses on DL2's research on the transformation of Human Resources units to drive equitable teaching and how Des Moines Public Schools (IA) has been using those ideas to anchor transformation in their district.

Listen to From staffing to strategy in Human ResourcesPodcast Here
5209-central-office-transformation-equitable-teaching-learning-self-study-guide-2-0.doi_.10.59656%252FEL-LS5509.003.png

Central Office Transformation for Equitable Teaching & Learning Self-Study Guide 2.0 (2025)

Part 3 of this tool helps T&L central office leaders and their staff self-assess how they work in relation to the central office transformation research findings and develop action plans.

Download Central office transformation for equitable teaching & learning self-studyGuide Here

"Once you see it you can’t unsee it… How much time, effort, and talent we waste with outdated business processes that we have to channel into strategy that supports teacher quality and diversity. DL2 staff are the premier researchers in this area. They help us see what’s possible. As our partner, they work alongside us [and] push us to get better."

-Associate Superintendent for Human Resources