MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING - Stamford Public Schools
Transcript of MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING - Stamford Public Schools
Teaching and Learning Committee - 03/08/16
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MINUTES OF THE TEACHING AND LEARNING COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION Stamford, Connecticut
March 8, 2016
The Teaching and Learning Committee Meeting of the Board of Education was held on March 8, 2016 at the Government Center, 888 Washington Boulevard. The meeting was called to order at 6:12 p.m. by Mr. Andy George, Chairperson with the following Committee members present: Mrs. Allyn, Mr. Altamura, and Mr. George. Absent: Mr. Alswanger, Mrs. Burke. Also in Attendance: Mr. Bosak, Mrs. Heftman, Mr. Mannis, Mr. Connelly, Dr. Tamu Lucero, Dr. Michael Fernandes, Dr. Judy Singer, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Meyer, Ms. Diane Tung and several guests. Video: 00:00:38 Technology Interim Leader: Ms. Diane Tung has been appointed as an Interim leader of the Technology Committee to take the place of Christina Hefele who resigned in February. Ms. Tung along with Dr. Singer provided an update on what is happening at the schools. Tasks and transitions for the Chief Information Officer for Teaching & Learning include the School Climate survey; high school email; TPDL (Technology Professional Development Leaders); Ferguson Library pilot; high school pilot to infuse technology in the high school; and CES reimagining your school library. Mrs. Hefele worked with us and left a transition plan for each of these tasks and timeline. Teaching & Learning – Technology includes digitizing the elementary report card; parent portal for elementary; elementary scheduling electronically; automating data feeds; on-line registration; school net – test data and analytic component; power school upgrade. Priorities are the School Climate Survey and Registration.
Teaching and Learning Committee - 03/08/16
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Video: 00:10:04 Mental health initiatives Mr. Meyer and Mr. O’Callaghan presented updates from the third year of the mental health audit including findings for mental health support; ensuring sufficient clinical staff capacity; professional development for all teachers; better use of data and collection of data to make decisions; and revenue source maximization – collaboration of the community. This information was share through a Powerpoint presentation. . Mr. George received a request to take Elementary Literacy out of order. With no objections, the item was moved up on the agenda. Video: 00:37:55 Elementary literacy: Dr. Lucero introduced Natalie Elder, Director of School Improvement and Professional Development for Elementary who will discuss the work she and her team are doing around elementary literacy. Ms. Elder noted that the focus of the work is on strengthening the Tier One Core Literacy instruction, utilize an integrated unit approach in science and social studies. We will discuss the purpose and the structure of the unit and teachers will share their experiences on how we integrated these units. Member of the literacy elementary team are Karen Francis – Curriculum Associate for Social Studies and assists with Science, and Dr. Lisa Armstrong – Curriculum Associate for Literacy. Teachers who shared their experiences using the integrated units were Ashley Buchta and Roseanna Nargi, co-teachers from KT Murphy; and Jennifer Jones and Marcella Decarlo from Stillmeadow. Dr. Lucero noted that the integrated units were written by our teachers. Mrs. Allyn noted that these units are having a positive impact on our students. Video: 01:12:08 Early College Opportunity ECO: Dr. Fernandes provided an update on establishing the ECO at Stamford High School. Norwalk Community College is the institute of higher education that is partnering with us and we are looking for an industry partner. Dr. Fernandes and Mr. Manka presented at a work force development meeting in the Mayor’s Office on ECO as part of Stamford’s plan to build its economic plan. Possible partners that attended this meeting were NBC Universal, Webster Bank, Synchrony Financial and BLT. There was a lot of positive feedback. Companies requested our powerpoint presentation which we sent to all companies who were invited to the meeting. We received responses from Gartner Group and Nestle and will be making a presentation on the ECO model to them as well as the Fairfield County Business Council. We should have a program in place for the 2017-2018 school year.
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Video: 01:15:59 High School Call to Action Update: Dr. Fernandes provided background history, an update on the ninth grade program and shared what the committee is currently working on. This is the second year of implementation of the action plan. Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Chiappetta and Mr. Meyer provided a powerpoint presentation to the committee (attached to minutes). Video: 01:43:42 Teaching & Learning metrics for a Dashboard: Mr. Mannis requested that this topic be taken up at the next meeting. Dr. Singer shared information about data to monitor teaching and learning would be to align the data we are monitoring to the new state accountability system. Dr. Singer noted that not all information is available at the same time. We should decide what measures we want to monitor and place them on a timeline. It would be a calendar with the data we want to review to a timeframe we want to look at. Some would be once a year, some quarterly and some monthly. This discussion will continue at the next meeting.
Mr. George moved, seconded by Mr. Altamura to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 pm with the following Committee members voting in favor: Mrs. Allyn, Mr. Altamura, and Mr. George.
Andy George, Chair Teaching and Learning Committee Stamford Board of Education
…to raise the bar for all students, accelerate the growth for struggling students, elevate the high school experience in
Stamford Public Schools, and ensure that all graduates are prepared for academic, social, technological, economic, and
global demands of the 21st Century.
The overarching idea that emerges from the work of the
High School Call to Action Committee is the importance of a personalized approach to education.
Focus on student engagement
Student choice of how and what they learn
Student voices
21st century skills (4Cs)
Personalization
Ninth grade is a pivotal year that provides a unique intervention point to prevent school
dropout. What is clear is that no matter how a school increases on-track rates in ninth grade,
graduation rates improve three years later. When schools concentrate their efforts on
helping students make a successful transition to ninth grade, it results in dramatic increases in graduation. CCSR Research Summary April 2014
Focus on the Ninth Grade
Action Plans P
erso
nal
izat
ion
Smaller Structures within High
Schools- 9th Grade Program
Technology Integration
Student Supports and Interventions
21st Century Pedagogy
1. Student Supports/SRBI subcommittee
2. Senior Internship Program/Career Readiness subcommittee
3. Student Success Plans/Naviance subcommittee
4. Capstone Project subcommittee
HSCA 2015-2016 Subcommittee Work
Student Supports/SRBI Subcommittee
Create monitoring systems for identifying students who are failing to learn and intervene early
Develop and implement a pyramid of interventions that are timely, directive, monitored, and recorded that will be used by teams
Student Supports Anticipated Outcomes
1. Develop consistent SRBI procedures to identify and monitoring students across high schools to be reflected in a draft High School SRBI Handbook
2. Implement a Data Management System to identify students, assign targeted interventions, and monitor progress
3. Expand intervention supports for next year Implement Universal Screeners in 9th grade to
identify and monitor students at risk
Expand tutoring centers and support classes
Student Supports- Where is committee in process?
Examining the SHS pilot SRBI process/procedures to develop a consistent process across both high schools
Piloting Universal Screeners SMI and SRI
Exploring intervention data management system for 2015-16
PURPOSE
Allow students to explore an area of interest outside the constructs of their formal educational program.
Provide students a career or service opportunity of interest prior to beginning college or other post-secondary schooling.
Prepare students for college, the work place, or military service.
Senior Internship Program (SIP) Subcommittee
Develop a Senior Internship Program
beginning Spring of 2017 including:
Criteria for entrance
Student selection process
Mentor assignments
Process for journal entries
Evaluation process
Communication Plan
Timeline
SIP- Anticipated Outcomes
Draft Program overview and timeline
Reviewed by administrators and staff
Presented at High School faculty meeting
Survey for feedback
Consultation with CSDE and DOL
SIP- Where is committee in process?
Capstone Committee
PURPOSE
Review of The Connecticut Plan re: new Graduation Requirements
Review information about Capstone projects from other districts/schools (AITE)
Determine framework for SPS Capstone including non-negotiables
Capstone- Anticipated Outcomes
Develop a framework with recommendations from this sub-committee to be shared w/Capstone writing committee
Capstone- Where is committee in process?
Review of The Connecticut Plan re: new Graduation Requirements
Review information about Capstone projects from other districts/schools (AITE)
Determine framework for SPS Capstone including non-negotiables
Purpose
Prioritize and narrow the scope of the student success plan framework
Solicit feedback on the student success plan framework
Explore better ways to implement the student success plans
Student Success Plans
Narrow the scope and focus while increasing the depth and student feedback of the Student Success Framework
Align SSP with Advisory/Connection Time and Curriculum
Increase parent access and knowledge of SSP
Student Success Plans – Anticipated Outcomes
Restructuring the HS SSP to provide: Student directed choice and flexibility Additional focus on postsecondary career
and jobs in addition to college resources. Providing MS Parent Access and increasing
HS Parent Access/Knowledge. Creating a resource on the District Web site
for SSP scope, tasks and resources. Aligning Advisory/Connection themes and
classroom curriculum to Naviance resources and activities.
Student Success Plans – Where is committee in process?