Quarterly Intent
A superintendent's three-sentence statement. The only thing the SHIP cycle asks of the leader.
The quarterly intent is the only document the superintendent owes the SHIP cycle. It sets the what and the why, and explicitly leaves the how to teams. Three sentences. Maximum. This is directed-opportunism doctrine in practice (Bungay): leaders set intent, empowered subordinates make local decisions about execution.
§ I · The instrumentCompose your intent
Type into each field below. The proof typesets as you write. Use the buttons to copy a clean version into psd401.ai, a Google Chat post, or an email.
Composing desk
Concrete enough that a team can tell whether they've moved the needle. Broad enough that there are many ways to get there.
Names the moment — what changed in the AI landscape, what is pressing on PSD, what window is open.
Names the two or three things that must remain true regardless of approach. Usually some mix of student data privacy, public trust, equity of access, staff dignity.
§ II · What teams take from itThe contract
- Each SHIP team chooses one bet inside the intent
- Teams self-organize within the constraint
- Teams do not need permission for the how — only honesty in the Publish
What teams do not get
- A list of approved bets
- A list of disallowed bets (beyond the non-negotiables)
- A pre-decided answer
§ III · Worked exampleSeptember – October 2026 (illustrative)
By the end of this quarter, we are after measurable reductions in administrative time across our cabinet and principal teams using AI tools that already exist in our environment.
This matters now because agentic AI tools have moved from experimental to dependable in the last six months, and the time we recover this quarter is time we can redirect to students and instructional support before winter break.
We will not compromise on student data privacy, staff dignity in role redesign, or the requirement that every team publishes what they tried — including what failed.
§ IV · CadenceHow it moves through the year
- Drafted by the superintendent in the two-week plan gap before each cycle
- Shared with cabinet one week before the cycle begins
- Posted to psd401.ai when the cycle launches
- Reviewed and refreshed every cycle — never assumed permanent
§ V · The testHow to know the intent is good
- A SHIP team can read it once and immediately picture two or three bets they could run
- Cabinet members do not need to ask the superintendent clarifying questions before teams form
- The non-negotiables are concrete enough to flag a bet that would violate them
- Nothing in the three sentences pre-decides how anything gets done
§ VI · PitfallsFailure modes to avoid
- Intent that is actually a project plan (too prescriptive)
- Intent that is actually a vision statement (too abstract to act on)
- Non-negotiables that are everything ("we won't compromise on quality, equity, trust, time, money…") — this is no constraint
- Carry-over intent that hasn't been refreshed because the previous quarter was incomplete