CtiConversations on reshappging our Schools...M task toda :My task today: • Convince you that if...
Transcript of CtiConversations on reshappging our Schools...M task toda :My task today: • Convince you that if...
C tiConversations on reshaping p gour SchoolsFeb/Mar/Apr 2009Feb/Mar/Apr 2009
D G N iDr. Gary NorrisSuperintendent
Did you know?Did you know?
My task today:My task today:• Share a small portion of my vision for p y
reshaping our schools • Include the compelling “why” for reshaping p g y p g
our schools• Ask for your active involvement and y
support• Convince you that the problems caused by y p y
failure to reshape are far more significant than the temporary discomfort caused by h hthe change
M task toda :My task today:• Convince you that if we implement theConvince you that if we implement the
strategic plan that we share with you today--student engagement, parent involvement, stude t e gage e t, pa e t vo ve e t,attendance, discipline, students’ willingness to follow directions, the dropout rate, and o o ow d ec o s, e d opou e, dour ITBS scores will ALL improve
• Garner your “buy in” for a plan that is only• Garner your buy in for a plan that is only now in its infancy
My task today:
• Do all of that in 30 to 40 minutes!
IMPOSSIBLEIMPOSSIBLE…• …and then I thought of January 3, 2008g y ,• …and how being uncomfortable with the
“status quo” later resulted in the events ofstatus quo later resulted in the events of November 4, 2008 and January 20, 2009
Iowans (and Americans) wereIowans (and Americans) were uncomfortable with???
• War(s)• Economy—lack quality jobsy q y j• Direction of our country• Broken go ernment• Broken government• Politics as usual• Feeling helpless
A question to ponder--q p
As you think about our total K-12 system today…
Are you uncomfortable ywith any of these…
• Lack of respect for adults• Unexcused absencesUnexcused absences• Violence
D• Dropout rate• Unwillingness to do homework• The achievement of many• Discipline problemsDiscipline problems
You are not alone!You are not alone!• Your School Board• Local businesses and corporations• Many elected officials• Many elected officials• Many citizens• Our committee• Your principalsp p• Your superintendent
Th l f t bl ll!These people are uncomfortable as well!
Our concerns involve complex and strategic thinkingand strategic thinking…
i l l inot simple solutions!
No one believes that schools d it l thcan do it alone…anymore than
President Obama can fix all of our country’s issues by himself!
We need a very comprehensive planWe need a very comprehensive plan that is:
• Personalized to Waterloo• Involves stakeholders• Supported by the communitypp y y• Will not be derailed by the naysayers • Beneficial to the entire community• Beneficial to the entire community
Plan will include:Plan will include:• Curriculum (Iowa Core) and
Instruction• Early Childhood• Technology
• Assessment and use of data• HS Continuous
I t
gy• Equity• Facilities
Improvement• Student Services • Dropout Prevention
• Finance• Student Activities
S fDropout Prevention• Career Technical education • Professional and Leadership
• Safety• Human Resources• Community Partnershipsp
Development• Community Partnerships
• Signature Programs
•Parent Involvement and Communication
Put the skunk out on the table!• My current plans are to
retire in 7-8 yearsN b ildi• Not building my resume
• Picked the Midwest• Passion urban education• Love Waterloo• Very happy that your
School Board selected me
The “big picture” for Reshaping Our SchoolsOur Schools
I present this to you t d b I’ i d th ttoday because I’m convinced that
• Student engagement g g• Parent involvement • Attendance• Attendance • Discipline problems• Willingness to follow directions • Dropout rate p• ITBS scores
WILL IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY thWILL IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY over the next 3-5 years with a good implementation
If those things improve…so willIf those things improve…so will• Faculty morale• Professional quality of life• Legacy fulfillment• Pride in our work• Pride in our work• Respect for our work• Our community
…ALL Improve!
My job is to help with…
• Time to work with your colleagues to reshape things
• Time for professional development• Tools for engagement and effectiveness• Resources needed for facilities and equipment• Community supporty pp• Identification of current responsibilities to
“selectively abandon”
My job is NOT to…
• Blame anyone for system issues• Ask you to work harder• Expect you to do everything “in theExpect you to do everything in the
evening”
Where do these ideas come from:
• Research from McRel and others• Brazosport, TXp ,• Teachers—Grand Prairie, TX• 300+ Daggett (ICLE) High Schools• 300+ Daggett (ICLE) High Schools• Salina, KS and Sarasota, FL• Research from universities and product
developers
Waterloo Community SchoolsCommunity Schools
have a very proud tradition!
Di it• Diversity• Hard Working, Quality
StaffStaff• Facilities improvements
O t iti• Opportunities• Community support
hi• Focus on Teaching & Learning
But we also • Providing quality instruction for EVERY
child
have i ifi
• Eliminating the achievement gap • Dramatically increasing graduation rate• Enhancing career, technical educationsignificant
challenges
Enhancing career, technical education• Providing adequate resources• Developing pride, confidence, &
ownershipchallenges ownership• Maintaining focus on safety, security
Wh h ld h l h ?Why should schools change?
Jobs now and in the future:
• Network administration and programming
• Respiratory therapistp y p• Automotive technician• Computer systems technician• CAD drafter• Commercial Art• Website and graphic design• Electronics engineering
t h ltechnology
Is our system of education broken?y
What are AmericanWhat are Americanbusiness leadersbusiness leaderssaying??saying??
1950s and 1960s work force
P f iP f iIndustry/Blue CollarIndustry/Blue Collar ProfessionsProfessionsIndustry/Blue CollarIndustry/Blue Collar
Low SkillsLow Skills
Now need high Now need high skilled workersskilled workers
Teaching with the bell curve
• Cover lesson one• Cover lesson two three and fourCover lesson two, three and four• Cover lesson five
Gi i• Give a unit test• Grade on the curve20% master, 60% learn parts, 20% fail• Cover lesson six and so onCover lesson six…and so on
What are AmericanWhat are American Students saying?y g
1950s Educational strategies just will not work
• Passive• Passive• Receive Knowledge• Learn Alone• Learning Contentg• Replicate• Tracking• Tracking
What is needed?What is needed?• A plan focused on increasedA plan focused on increased
student engagement.• A plan to empower our
instructional staff with researchinstructional staff with research-based, highly-effective teaching strategies and facilitate laser-like, focused instructionfocused instruction.
• A plan that addresses the new three R’s plus reflection
• A strategic plan and accountability system.
Why?Why?• Because children’s brains are
wired differently
• Because we must align teaching and learning to
’ kf dtomorrow’s workforce needs
• Because we must acknowledge world economic and technological realitiestechnological realities
Powerful Teaching StrategiesPowerful Teaching Strategies
• Active Learning• Construct Knowledgeg• Learn Together• Learning to Learn• Learning to Learn• Innovate• Different Learning Styles
Activboard technologyActivboard technology
Transforming the Intersectionof Work and Learningof Work and Learning
Learning Work Applied 80% Conceptual 20%
Hawkeye Community College
Conceptual 50%
Work
Applied 50%New Model: Smaller Learning communities
LearningWork
Conceptual 80% Applied 20%High School AP Courses
Learning Work (c) VisionLink 1996
The NEW three R’s plus reflection
• RIGORRELEVANCE• RELEVANCE
• RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPSand• REFLECTION
tion our practice
l i i h l killNearly every occupation requires technology skills!
Career Technical Education
• Hands on• Appliedpp• Technology• Rele ant• Relevant• Contextual• Discrete skills• Intersection of school and work
CTE belongs in each school…not j t H k C it C lljust Hawkeye Community College.
• Agriculture, Food, • Health ScienceAgriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
• Architecture & C t ti
Health Science • Hospitality & Tourism • Human Services
Construction • Arts, A/V Technology &
Communications
• Information Technology• Law, Public Safety &
Security• Business, Management &
Administration • Education & Training
Security • Manufacturing • Marketing, Sales & Service
• Education & Training • Finance • Government & Public
• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
• Transportation, Distribution Administration
p ,& Logistics
Iowa Career PathwaysIowa Career Pathways• Business, Information, Management and g
Marketing• Agriscience and Natural ResourcesAgriscience and Natural Resources• Family, Consumer and Human Services
H lth S i• Health Sciences• Engineering, Industrial and Technology
Services• Arts and Communications
• Manufacturing• Financial Cluster• Creative Cluster
Business Clusters
• Logistics• Education and Health Care
Clusters
• Education and Health Care
• Advanced Manufacturing• Advanced Manufacturing• “Bio” productsTargets
REFLECT: Does increased focus on t hi t t i ithi i t tteaching strategies within in a context
make sense?
• Active Learning• Construct Knowledge• Learn TogetherLearn Together• Learning to Learn
I• Innovate• Different Learning Styles
Is it possible forIs it possible for nearly all children tonearly all children to learn at significantly g yhigher levels?g
Student Achievement
Field TripsProf. Develop.
Talking to Evaluation
Talking to press
Talking to critics decisions
Advancement (evaluation)
Travel & time out of the district
B d M i
Publications
Purchasing d i i
press (evaluation)
Board Meetingsdecisions
Policies, Procedures and
Laser Focus
D b 2009
Procedures and Programs
December 2009
RESHAPING our schools:RESHAPING our schools:Big picture first, then…
• FrameworkDi i• Discussion
• Structures• Timelines• InputInput• Decisions
I l t ti• Implementation
Th k !Thanks!• Hard work • Dedication• Dedication• Years of service• Opinions• Opinions• Care and concern for students
Willi t t id• Willingness to try new ideas
Y i t d!You are appreciated!