Charles W. Earle Elementary School

Chicago, Illinois

Institute for School Improvement and Education Options Conference

Adrian G. WillisTurnaround Principal, Chicago Public Schools

agwillis@cps.k12.il.usSeptember 2007

“Soaring to Success By Becoming the Best of the Best”

Demographics

• 500 Students (99.9% African American)– 98% Free/reduced lunch

• 60 Faculty and staff – 30 Classroom teachers– 3 Special Ed. Self contained classrooms – 90.5% Highly qualified teachers

• 92% Student attendance rate• 94% Staff attendance rate• 47% Mobility Rate

2005-06 Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) Results*Grades 3-8 Meeting/Exceeding Standards

0102030405060708090

100

Reading Math Science Comp.

3rd grade 4th grade 5th grade 6th7th8th

2006-07 Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) Results*Grades 3/5/8 Meeting/Exceeding Standards

0102030

40506070

8090100

Reading Math Science Comp.

3rd Grade 2006

3rd grade 2007

5th grade 2006

5th Grade 2007

8th Grade 2006

8th Grade 2007

4th Grade 2006

4th Grade 2007

7th Grade 2006

7th Grade 2007

Ms. Robinson 6th grade 3 years

Identifying the Data “Brutal Facts”

Lack of Leadership in presenting dataNo Communication/ChaosAbsence of Horizontal/Vertical PlanningNo collaboration/Teacher EmpowermentPoor Professional DevelopmentData Driven discussions did not existMonitoring classroom instruction was rareNo usage of ISAT/Learning 1st Templates

Preparing to use Data to “Turn Around”

• Identifying the leadership team• Creating learning community teams• Creating a sense of urgency• Facing the scores without blame• Rebuilding/Rescheduling• Monitoring classroom instruction • Introduce templates/present research

Instructional Changes to Support Data

• Lengthening instructional time spent in reading and math

• Remediation based on Benchmark testing, Learning 1st and DIBELS

• Re-teaching based on data (benchmark testing)

• Semi-departmentalization• Teaming (clusters/grade levels)• “Breakfast Club” PD to support instruction

Mrs. Susberry 4th grade 1 year

Earle Learning 1st Reading DataVocabulary, Reading Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Literature

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10

20

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40

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60

3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Fall

Winter

Earle Math Benchmark DataNumber Sense, Measurement, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis

0102030405060708090

100

3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Fall

Winter

Earle DIBELS Data – KindergartenInitial Sound Fluency (ISF) Nonsense Word Fluency (NW) Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

K-BOY K-MOY K-EOY

IntensiveStrategicBenchmark

Mr. Flambouras 8th grade 15 years

Targeted Interventions for Students

• Saturday “Enrichment Academy” Club “66”

• SES After School Tutoring

• Lindblom H.S. Kid Math Colloquim

• Lindblom H.S. Kid Writing Colloquim

• Ancillary Support during Reading Block

• Flexible Guided Reading Groups

• Full Departmentalization

External Partner Support Programs • Individualized Teacher Professional Development• Angel Book Worms Program • Management Planning Institute (Attendance)• AVID Advancement Via Individual Development• 21st Century Children’s Home + Aid Society• Marlon’s Way Character Education Development• St. Bernard/Holy Cross Student Health Initiatives• Mobile Care Van (Asthma)• Earle Branch of the Chicago Children’s Choir• Citibank Financial Services Partnership• ETA Creative Arts Foundation Program

Leader Actions

Visit every classroom every day

Provide constant feedback

Communicate vision on a regular basis

Become research based and data driven

Participate in PD with teachers/staff

Share data with teachers in a timely manner

Hold all stakeholders accountable for results

Paint classrooms, repair windows, display art

Mrs. Goosby 2nd grade 23 years

UVA/CPS Connection

• Goal Setting• Communicating With Data• Leadership and the Power of Communication • The Balance Scorecard• Difficult Conversations• The Art of Influence• Working With the Press• Motivate and Sustain A Committed Team• Building a School Support Team• UVA Portal Assess and Usage• Roadmap 2 Year Change

Sustaining Turnaround Change“A documented, quick, dramatic and sustained change in the performance of an organization.”

• Data Wall (public & transparent)• 3rd-5th Intermediate Great Books Program• C4MGP (Earle Middle School)• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren• Chicago Urban League Initiative• Harper High School Articulation Program• Bi-Weekly Leadership Team Meetings • Quarterly Action Plans• Teacher Led Professional Development• Special Education Inclusion Model• Enhance school Learning Climate• Expanding “Real Men Read” Program

Famous Last Words

• …teach me, maybe I’ll learn

• …teach me with compassion, I will learn

• …teach me with compassion and high expectations and I’ll become a life long learner.

a.g.willis