ABSTRACT
Collaboration is not easy. It is a process of letting go of old systems and developing new ones. This chapter hopes to provide six steps that can be followed as a guide for those learning how to develop authentic collaborations at any level of the system. Essentially, by following these steps, we can turn a conflict into a success. The six steps include the following. (1) Dive into the problem and seek to understand it. (2) Seek partnerships in the community groups that are involved. (3) Set goals for change. (4) Figure out what it is going to take to meet those goals. (5) Have the hard conversations and make the changes needed. (6) Don’t stop there. As each step is outlined, a story around the national conflict of dyslexia will unfold. The chapter tells the story of one district that was able to use these steps to turn a conflict with lawyers and hundreds of upset parents and turn it into a deep and evolving partnership. From a district level, changes were able to be made in partnership with parents, international associations, district leaders, teachers and students that led to improvements for everyone involved.
