Lead Learners Update 4.22.13

In their effort to build a single, unified message, effective leaders do the following:

1. Answer the why question before the how question
2. Clearly communicating initiatives and priorities
3. Framing collaborative conversations to ensure shared understanding
4. Serving as a cultural barometer
   
   
   Erkens and Twadell, 2012

Calendar of Events

4.22 Reserved for interviews

4.23 Reserved for interviews

4.24 Reserved for interviews

4.25 Instructional rounds with Liz City (9:00 a.m. at the FFA Enrichment Center on the DMACC campus in Ankeny)

4.26 Reserved for interviews

4.29 K-4 Meeting with Josh (8:00 - 11:30 @ ESC Board Room)

4.29 K-12 Admin Learning (12:00 - 3:30 @ ESC Board Room)

5.2 GT Academy (8:30 - 3:30) in Newton, Iowa

5.6 Simplifying RtI (Point, Crest, Ridge Teams) The other school teams will join September Workshops

Administrative Evaluation (Ying YIng Chen)

The new state code indicates that all administrators should be evaluated annually.  CCSD has revised the district procedures to meet this mandate. The administrative evaluation document was shared with you by John earlier in the year.  Just a quick review:

• All administrators will have quarterly conversations with his/her supervisor to discuss goals, reflect practice and to monitor progress (same as in the past)
• All administrators will use the existing PLP tool to house reflections and artifacts that are aligned with the leadership standards (same as in the past).  By the end of year, a summary form will be signed by both the administrators and the supervisors (added procedure to meet the new state guideline).
• A comprehensive evaluation cycle will happen every third year.  During this cycle, the long form will be used and signed by both the supervisor and the administrator (same as in the past).

PLP Recommendation Review (By Ying Ying Chen)

Several times a year, I bring out the document “PLP recommendations” for the administrative team to review.  The recommendation was done by a PLP task force, and the intent of the document is to:

• Maintain consistency among all administrators

• To reinforce the concept that administrators set the tone for a culture of professional reflection
• To refresh what administrators can do to make the state mandate as meaningful as possible

Please take a few minutes to review this recommendation to maintain system fidelity.

How to prepare teachers for the end-of-year PLP closure?

There is plenty of flexibility in how school principals make the PLP process work in your building.  The PLP task force discovered that teachers appreciate a clearly communicated process throughout the year.  The following is one example about how to close the school year.

• Review the process in a staff meeting in late April or early May.  Invite one or two teachers to share their PLP reflection from the previous year.  Review the end of year components (USE rubric, final reflection, artifacts, etc.) on PLP.
• Establish a timeline and offer guidance to teachers. A sample timeline:
• Team members brainstorm possible PLP end of year reflection points during the 1st week collaboration in May;
• Have teams invite administrators to have a 10-15 minute dialogue about their reflection during the 2nd week in May;
• Individually enter PLP reflection during the 3rd week in May;
• Principals review PLP by end of May.  
• Note: The state guidelines require principals to conference with each teacher about their PLP annually.  The suggested group process was brainstormed by administrators a few years ago with the intent to save time and still make the process meaningful to teachers.  The administrators suggested the group dialogue process because most teachers work on similar goals in collaborative teams.  One caution is that PLP is an individual reflection based on own learning.  It is not appropriate that one teacher types the reflection and the team members copy it.  We have found this to be an issue occasionally.  When principals review the process with teachers, please clarify what is appropriate to collaborate (i.e. Brainstorm what the team worked on/the impact on student learning) and what should be done individually (the actual USE scale and PLP reflection).

MAP Testing Update:  Craig Barnum

Due to the network disruption the week of April 8th, I’ve extended the MAP testing window to last until Friday, 4/26.  I cannot declare testing complete until after this date.  This means that the earliest full reports will be read on the NWEA reporting site is Monday, the 29th.  I will send out an email to all building offices to let your staff know they can run reports on this date.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Curriculum Matters by Bill Poock

Spring 2013 District Writing Assessment Schedule:

• Elementary:   April 29 - May 3
• Secondary:   April 15 – 26

Writing prompts, assessment procedures, and the district writing rubric can be accessed via the Writing Assessment Google site at:  https://sites.google.com/site/ccsdwritingassessment/

For K-6 teaches, time will be allocated during our next PL day on May 6th for teachers to utilize for scoring student writing (similar to last year).  That information should be shared with teachers by the building cadre/building principals once that determination is finalized.  Plans for making copies for scoring rubrics should be handled at the building level.  Teachers in the 7-12 level will follow building leaders’ directions.  This is usually a shared decision between the building principal and the department chairs.

Scores must be entered into Campus by May 10th to ensure that data collection procedures are consistent across the district as we prepare end-of-year reports.  Thank you!

Math Curriculum Update:

We have selected enVisions Mathematics by Pearson for our next curriculum adoption for K-6.  The final two vendors were very similar in their offerings, but enVisions was found to be more highly aligned with the CCSS.  There are many components that will be of high value to our teachers:  electronic access to all materials; electronic manipulatives; a built-in RTI system of interventions; ability to create assessments electronically; etc.  K-2 will have no textbook--but will be provided with a lesson by lesson handout for students.  Grades 3-6 will have an actual physical textbook.

In Fall 2013, we will have our first orientation session led by Pearson on Friday, August 16th.  Two sessions will run concurrently in the morning from 8:30 - 11:30 AM and two sessions will run concurrently in the afternoon from 12:30 - 3:30 PM.  More information regarding specific grade levels for AM or PM will be shared, but it is likely that we will have K-2 both in the AM and 3-6 both in the PM.

Later, in mid to late October, we will have a second session with Pearson that will be for our Math Task Force members (K-6) to learn how to more effective utilize the various technological components with the new series.  These members will then provide additional learning at the building level for grade level teams.  This second meeting with Pearson will occur during one of Math Curriculum Council meetings to be announced.

Thank you for everyone who invested in this process.  We had a solid process to select our new curriculum.  Many area schools have also selected enVisions mathematics because of its high degree of alignment to the CCSS.