many hands make light work! alabama state department of education indistar summit ~ march 17, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Many Hands Make Light Work!Alabama State Department of EducationIndistar Summit ~ March 17, 2015
Introductions
• Dr. Karen Anderson – SIG Administrator– NEW to SEA– 29 years in education
• Lisa McEwen – SIG Instructional Coach– 6 years with SIG– 33 years in education
SIG Schools in Alabama
Cohort I
Cohort II
Background
• Cohort I – Began with another evaluation program;
AlaStar implemented later– Change was difficult to embrace
• Cohort II– AlaStar implemented immediately– Compliance mindset vs. turnaround mindset
AlaStar Indicator Categories
• A – Organizational Structures• B – Leadership• C – Personnel and Professional Development• D – Curriculum and Instruction• E – Support Systems/Strategies
AlaStar Indicator Examples
• A10 – School continuously evaluates the effectiveness of its increased learning time.
• B01 – Principal promotes a culture of shared accountability for meeting school improvement performance objectives.
• C08 – LEA provides induction programs for new teacher and administrators.
AlaStar Indicator Examples
• D04 – All teachers adjust instruction based on students’ master of instructional objectives.
• E05 – LEA and school includes parents in decision-making roles relative to school improvement efforts.
• E09 – School has implemented a systemic approach to improve school climate and discipline.
SIG Schools – Cohort I (12 Schools)
• School Type– 3 High Schools – 7 Middle Schools– 1 Elementary School– 1 Specialized School
• Location– 5 Urban (Mobile,
Montgomery, Tuscaloosa)
– 7 Rural
• 1/12 Schools selected the Turnaround Model
• 11/12 Schools selected the Transformation Model
Asbury High School
Cohort I Results
• All schools in Sustainability• 2 Schools removed from state “Failing
Schools” list• 1 School closed• Mixed results
– Graduation rates– Academic scores
Bellingrath Middle School
SIG Schools – Cohort II (11 Schools)
• School Type– 5 High Schools– 2 Middle Schools– 3 Elementary Schools– 1 K-8 School
• Location– 7 Urban (Birmingham,
Huntsville, Tuscaloosa)– 4 Rural
• 2/11 selected Turnaround Model
• 9/11 selected Transformation Model
Hayes K-8
School SpotlightBrantley Elementary
• Dallas County, Rural area• Transformation Model• Demographics
– Grades Pre-K – 6– 207 Students– 93% Free/Reduced Lunch– 63% Black, 35% White, 2%
Other
Use of AlaStar
• Honest, transparent conversations • Indicators used as road map for school
improvement• Abandon compliance mindset and focus on
students• Quality reports (Leading, Lagging,
Interventions, Transformation Implementation Indicators)
School SpotlightWestlawn Middle School
• Huntsville, Urban area• Turnaround Model• Demographics
– Grades 6-8– 534 Students (100 EL Students)– 49% Black, 29% Hispanic,
16% White, 6% Other– 100% Free/Reduced Lunch
Leadership Team Meeting Schedule to
Discuss AlaStar
Indicators
Westlawn Middle School
Use of AlaStar
• Process Manager updates agendas and keeps meeting minutes in AlaStar (minutes written as meeting proceeds)
• Ownership of indicators – principal, assistant principal, process manager, TOSA, other leadership team members report on progress
• Quality reports (Leading, Lagging, Interventions, Transformation Implementation Indicators)
Lessons Learned
• LEA – consolidate wherever possible– See the big picture…– Combine ACIP, AlaStar, Title I plans
• Address culture first• Attack mindset – compliance vs. turnaround
– High poverty areas = lack of resources can lead to compliance
– Help refocus on turnaround efforts
Lessons Learned
• Cultivate ongoing relationships and support for district staff– Schools cannot sustain improvement efforts without
district support– District personnel may need support as well
• Develop resources to support your schools– Rural vs. urban– Communicate often
• Frame school improvement around Turnaround Principles• Remember that change takes time
