August 16, 2010

Back to School

December 18, 2006

Know more about the world Think in interdisciplinary combinations Manage, interpret, and validate information (information literacy)

Communicate and work in teams Utilize technology Understand key concepts taught in depth

21st Century Students

August 2009 we launched a comprehensive

district wide strategic plan--to prepare our

students for the 21st Century

Strategic Focus Areas• Student Achievement and Development

• Human Assets• Climate for Learning• Financial Sustainability and Operational Excellence

• Community Engagement

Mission StatementThe Waterloo Schools

community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path and contributing to a community.

Why?-Because children’s brains are wired differently

-Because we must align teaching and learning to tomorrow’s workforce needs

-Because we must acknowledge global economic and technological realities

1950s Educational strategies just will not work

Passive Receive Knowledge

Learn Alone Learning Content

Replicate Tracking

Engaged 21st Century Classrooms

-Active Learning-Construct Knowledge

-Learn Together-Learning to Learn-Relevant instruction

-Different Learning Styles

Strategic Focus Area OneStudent Achievement and Development:Delivering the comprehensive curriculum through engaging instruction with a focus onmeasured results for student achievement.

Picture Word Inductive Model—Kerri Johnson

Reading Coaches—Donnie Weimer Good Habits Great Readers—Haley

Rezai Instruction Decision Making—Tammy

Ryan Media Specialists—Doree Cronin Guidance Counselors—Al Howard and

Stephanie Chandler

Student Achievement and Development (part one)

Instructional Decision Making

Core Instruction

80%

Supplemental Assistance

15%

Intensive Assistance

5%

2 Week Chunks of Instruction

Customized learning will help many more students succeed in school

Student-centric classrooms will increase the demand for new technology

Computers must be disruptively deployed to every student

Horn Concludes:

Disruptive innovation can circumvent roadblocks that have prevented other attempts at school reformWe can compete in the global classroom—and get ahead in the global market

Horn Concludes:

We are the first district in Iowa to implement

A local example of disruptive innovation…

PBDA

Performance Based Diploma Academy (PBDA)1. Online academic instruction

300 Students at East and West 200-250 at

Expo

Performance Based Diploma Academy2. Career technical certification

Performance Based Diploma Academy3. Counseling

Performance Based Diploma Academy4. Mentoring

Student Achievement (part two)Performance Based Diploma Academy—Justin Little and Anjuli Myers

Promethean Boards—Darby Kurtz, Sarah Lalk, and Becky Landers

Marzano findings:When corrected for attenuation, the percentile gain associated with the use of Promethean ActivClassroom is 17 percent. A reasonable inference is that the overall effect of a 17 percentile point gain is probably not a function of random factors that are specific to the independent treatment/control studies; rather, the 17 percentile point increase represents a real change in student learning.

Marzano StudyThe meta-analytic findings suggest relatively large percentile gains in student achievement under the following conditions:

1. A teacher is experienced.

2. A teacher has used Promethean ActivClassroom for an extended period of time.

Marzano Study

3. A teacher uses Promethean ActivClassroom extensively in the classroom but not beyond 80% of the time.

4. A teacher has high confidence in his or her ability to use Promethean ActivClassroom.

Alan November

Novemberlearning.com

Tutorial DesignersOfficial ScribesResearchersCollaboration CoordinatorsContributing to SocietyCurriculum Reviewers

Students as Contributors: The Digital Learning Farm

Strategic Focus Area Two

Human Assets: Staffing our organization with high performing leaders, teams, and employees.

We are empowering our instructional staff with research-based teaching strategies

and facilitating laser-like, focused instruction.

Characteristics of Effective Instruction—Barbie Bass

Reciprocal Teaching—Pat Chase

Human Assets

Strategic Focus Area Three

Climate for Learning: Providing a safe, caring, engaging, and inviting environment for our students, staff, parents, and community.

Campus Safety Monitors—Roderick Jones Positive Behavior Intervention Supports—

Paul Hubbard, Rebecca Lins, and Lisa Dumler, and Marsha Watters

Climate for Learning

PBIS1. Focuses on the

positive rather than the negative behavior

2. Consistency3. Used in all Waterloo

Schools4. Research Based5. Dramatically lower

discipline referrals

Strategic Focus Area Four

Financial Sustainability and Operational Excellence: Operating with fiscal integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness.

 

Operations—Tim FlodeenCustodians—Steve BredowBus Drivers—Deb MorrisonFood Service—Jessica Bormann

Operational Excellence

Strategic Focus Area Five

Community Engagement: Interacting effectively with our students, staff, parents, and business communities.

Connect Ed—Anita Barr Infinite Campus, Parent Portal—Sue Liddle

Community Engagement

High School Continuous Improvement

Career Interest Academy Features

1. 3-4 smaller learning communities

2. A college-prep curriculum with a career theme

3. Partnerships with employers, the community, and higher education

Originally conceived forty years ago, career academies address academic rigor, relevance of instruction, and build relationships between students and adults.

Career academies have thrived because of their dual objectives of career and college preparation.

Career Interest Academies-Smaller Learning Communities

-Heterogeneous groups of 300 - 400 students

-Cohort of students and teachers who stay together over the course of four years

-Group core area teachers in career disciplines

-Place an emphasis relationships

rigorous, relevant, and relational

Career Interest Academies-Smaller Learning Communities

-Prepares students for postsecondary education and employment-Integrates academic and career instruction with real-world relevance-Enhances advanced classes

Agriculture, Food

Natural ResourcesMarketing,

Sales, Services

Business, Management,

Administration

Information TechnologyFinance

Hospitality Tourism

Law Public Service

Security

Government Public

Administration

Education Training

Human Services

Health Sciences

Arts A/V Technology

Communications

Architecture Construction

Science Technology Engineering Mathematics

Manufacturing Transportation Distribution

Logistics

Nationally Jobs are divided into 16 Career Clusters

Arts, Communication & Business Academy

Health Academy

Human Services Academy

Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing Academy

Career Interest Academies-get students off to a great start in High School

Teach employability skills in 9th grade and the career courses--reinforced in academic courses

Use local employer partnerships to provide program guidance, mentors and field-based experiences.

Let’s review where we have been and where we are

going…

2008-2009: Aligned belief systems—Failure is not an option, individual legacy, commitment vs. compliance (submitted DINA plan)

2009-2010: Launched our new strategic plan and implemented PBIS, IDM, ActivBoards, strengthened our data teams (submitted PLA plans)

School system vs. a “system of schools”

School accountability Replaced outdated information systems

Geared up for a new reading implementation

FOCUS OF THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR

2010-2011 Consistency of implementation of all initiatives (in the intended manner)

Operating like a “School System” rather than a system of schools

Moving from “Pockets of Excellence” to “Patterns of Excellence”

Moving accountability to the classroom level

Field Trips

Travel & time out of the district

Board Meetings

Publications

Prof. Develop.

Purchasing decisions

Talking to press

Talking to critics

Evaluation decisions

Advancement (evaluation)

Laser Focus

Student Achievement

August 2010Policies, Procedures and Programs Laser Focus

Role of SchoolsSupport great teams: Principal, AP, Lead Teachers, Adm. Asst., Instructional Coaches, Teachers, Support Personnel, etc.

Celebrate and support those that are on board and working the plan

Provide coaching and support for those who are struggling

Why have a Strategic Plan? Our Roadmap!

Whether We Play A Large OR Small Role…By Working Together We Achieve Our Objectives

Each of you are the only ones that can make sure that our strategic plan becomes reality!

Bottom line…

Urban Children Deserve the Best!

They are depending on you!

Your warm smile and caring spirit makes a huge difference!

The economy is depending on you

Our nation is depending on you

The World is Depending on You

I have faith that each and everyone of you will rise and meet the challenge!

Do you remember ?

His name is Gary Hobson. He gets tomorrow's newspaper today. He doesn't know how. He doesn't know why. All he knows is when the early edition hits his doorstep, he has twenty-four hours to set things right.

Kyle Chandler

Despite urban demographics-- Waterloo Community Schools Produce Record Advances in

Student Achievement!!

Monday, August 16, 2015

HAVE A GREAT YEAR!