Download - Orchestrating Academic Excellence

OrchestratingOrchestratingAcademic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence

Center Grove Community Center Grove Community School CorporationSchool Corporation

Shared Academic VisionShared Academic Vision

To develop the best academic To develop the best academic programs for all Center Grove programs for all Center Grove Community School students. We Community School students. We want all students to achieve to their want all students to achieve to their highest potential.highest potential.

Curriculum MappingCurriculum Mapping

Purpose: To share and develop a Purpose: To share and develop a challenging K-12, teacher-designed challenging K-12, teacher-designed curriculum which avoids gaps and curriculum which avoids gaps and overlaps in instruction and which overlaps in instruction and which documents K-12 learning documents K-12 learning experiences.experiences.

Curriculum Mapping StatusCurriculum Mapping Status

Teachers are working to document what is Teachers are working to document what is taught and assessed in each classroom taught and assessed in each classroom and at each grade level to avoid gaps or and at each grade level to avoid gaps or overlaps in instruction.overlaps in instruction.

Teachers have selected the most Teachers have selected the most important Indiana math standards to teach important Indiana math standards to teach and assess in each grading period.and assess in each grading period.

Teachers will repeat the process with Teachers will repeat the process with reading/language arts, science and social reading/language arts, science and social studies.studies.


Grades 6-12 teachers in each school Grades 6-12 teachers in each school have selected the most important have selected the most important Indiana standards to emphasize in Indiana standards to emphasize in each subject.each subject.


K-12 teachers are in various stages K-12 teachers are in various stages of developing tests or other of developing tests or other assessments given at the same time assessments given at the same time to all students in the same course to to all students in the same course to check learningcheck learning

Curriculum Mapping VisionCurriculum Mapping Vision K-12 teachers: will develop a district K-12 teachers: will develop a district plan

for reading/language arts (June 2008)for reading/language arts (June 2008)

Eventually all K-12 teachers will have for Eventually all K-12 teachers will have for their grade level/course :their grade level/course :

District level plans of the most important District level plans of the most important standardsstandards

Grade or subject plans for instructionGrade or subject plans for instruction Tests or assessments that measure the standardsTests or assessments that measure the standards Shared Assessments that frequently measure Shared Assessments that frequently measure

student learningstudent learning Additional data from each assessment will be Additional data from each assessment will be

used to guide instruction.used to guide instruction.

Curriculum Mapping Vision Curriculum Mapping Vision

Teachers will have an updated Teachers will have an updated individual plan each year.individual plan each year.

Students, parents and teachers will Students, parents and teachers will be able to view the district and grade be able to view the district and grade or subject area plans for the school or subject area plans for the school corporation.corporation.

Teacher-led curriculum reviews will Teacher-led curriculum reviews will occur frequently to reflect changes in occur frequently to reflect changes in student needs.student needs.

New Reading AdoptionNew Reading Adoption(Scott Foresman: Reading (Scott Foresman: Reading

Street)Street)We believe this series offers the most We believe this series offers the most

comprehensive approach to:comprehensive approach to:

increase rigorincrease rigorfoster independent readingfoster independent readingprovide strategic intervention for provide strategic intervention for

struggling studentsstruggling students


Street)Street)My SidewalksMy Sidewalks is the companion, is the companion,

supporting intensive intervention supporting intensive intervention program for students with the program for students with the greatest needs.greatest needs.


Street)Street)The program is based on current The program is based on current

reading research and focuses on the reading research and focuses on the use of:use of:

whole-group instructionwhole-group instructionflexible, small group instruction flexible, small group instruction

matched to student needsmatched to student needsindependent readingindependent reading

Over 540-960 leveled readers (books Over 540-960 leveled readers (books written for a variety of reading written for a variety of reading levels) are available for each levels) are available for each teacher.teacher.


Street)Street)

Allows for differentiation for high-Allows for differentiation for high-ability, at-level, below-level and ENL ability, at-level, below-level and ENL students using leveled readers and students using leveled readers and focused vocabulary instruction.focused vocabulary instruction.


Street)Street)

K-5 textbook adoption was selected K-5 textbook adoption was selected by a group of CG teachers. by a group of CG teachers.

They received additional professional They received additional professional development in reading prior to last development in reading prior to last year’s materials selection.year’s materials selection.


Street)Street)

Waterford Early-Reading Waterford Early-Reading SoftwareSoftware

This software is currently being This software is currently being installed in all 6 elementary installed in all 6 elementary buildings.buildings.

Financed with a state grant.Financed with a state grant.

Waterford Early-Reading Waterford Early-Reading SoftwareSoftware

Individualized and leveled reading Individualized and leveled reading instruction occurs daily (15-20 instruction occurs daily (15-20 minutes)minutes)

Supporting materials available for Supporting materials available for school and/or home useschool and/or home use

Provides remediation, at-level, and Provides remediation, at-level, and accelerated literacy work from K-1accelerated literacy work from K-1

Classroom NovelsClassroom Novels

Issue: To address teacher and parent Issue: To address teacher and parent concerns about students reading the same concerns about students reading the same book more than once in different grades.book more than once in different grades.

Results: Results: Grades 3-6 common novel list created last yearGrades 3-6 common novel list created last year Two to four common novels were selected and Two to four common novels were selected and

purchased for each gradepurchased for each grade

NCA/PL221 GoalsNCA/PL221 Goals

This is the year that each school will select This is the year that each school will select new academic target goals for both NCA new academic target goals for both NCA accreditation and for PL221 state accreditation and for PL221 state evaluation.evaluation.

Literacy has been a common theme Literacy has been a common theme among district leaders.among district leaders.

Stay tuned as building steering Stay tuned as building steering committees select goals.committees select goals.

Literacy AuditLiteracy Audit

Purpose: Purpose: Examine current resources and practices Examine current resources and practices Gather information to guide future decisions Gather information to guide future decisions

for professional development and literacy for professional development and literacy practicespractices

Recommend a literacy frameworkRecommend a literacy framework


Consultants have: Consultants have: observed instruction in each buildingobserved instruction in each building surveyed and/or interviewed parents, students, surveyed and/or interviewed parents, students,

teachers and administratorsteachers and administrators examined resources and dataexamined resources and data


Results of the audit should be Results of the audit should be available to administrators in available to administrators in December.December.

We plan to share this information We plan to share this information with the Board and staff in the with the Board and staff in the second semester.second semester.

Instructional CoachesInstructional Coaches

2.5 literacy coach positions and .5 2.5 literacy coach positions and .5 instructional coach position have been instructional coach position have been added at the elementary leveladded at the elementary level

A special programs coordinator A special programs coordinator oversees:oversees:Literacy coachesLiteracy coachesTitle I programTitle I programHigh Ability servicesHigh Ability services

These positions are paid for through These positions are paid for through grant money.grant money.

English as New Language English as New Language LearnersLearners

Created 2 full-time teaching positions Created 2 full-time teaching positions for ENL instruction this yearfor ENL instruction this year

Increased learning materials for ENL Increased learning materials for ENL students and teachersstudents and teachers

Provided professional development Provided professional development to West Grove teachers on working to West Grove teachers on working with ENL students in the general with ENL students in the general classroom.classroom.

High Ability Task ForceHigh Ability Task Force

Our goal is to increase services to Our goal is to increase services to our K-12 high ability students.our K-12 high ability students.

The state has a new law requiring The state has a new law requiring schools to identify and provide schools to identify and provide services to high ability students in K-services to high ability students in K-12.12.

Task force groups are developing Task force groups are developing recommendations to better serve our recommendations to better serve our students.students.

Curriculum, Instruction and Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (CIA Cadre)Assessment (CIA Cadre)

This dynamic group of teachers is This dynamic group of teachers is focused on professional development focused on professional development that will impact student learning.that will impact student learning.Completed action-research projectsCompleted action-research projectsAttended differentiation conferences and Attended differentiation conferences and

implemented classroom strategiesimplemented classroom strategiesInvestigating assessment practicesInvestigating assessment practicesDeveloping their leadership skills so they Developing their leadership skills so they

can positively influence their colleaguescan positively influence their colleagues

TechnologyTechnology

High tech multimedia classrooms to High tech multimedia classrooms to enhance instruction being piloted by enhance instruction being piloted by 119 corporation teachers119 corporation teachersYear 1 of a 3-year rolloutYear 1 of a 3-year rollout

Middle school technology standardsMiddle school technology standardsEpsilen Project –online courses and Epsilen Project –online courses and

portfoliosportfoliosGrade 3 technology educationGrade 3 technology education

Targeted Instructional Targeted Instructional SupportSupport

OASISOASISIncreased number of tutors from 5 in Increased number of tutors from 5 in

2005 to 38 in 2007.2005 to 38 in 2007.Tutors volunteer with K-3 students in 5 Tutors volunteer with K-3 students in 5

of our elementary schoolsof our elementary schoolsTutors work on literacy skills 30 minutes Tutors work on literacy skills 30 minutes

each weekeach week

Targeted Instructional Targeted Instructional SupportSupport

RTI:RTI: Response To Intervention (RTI) is a program to Response To Intervention (RTI) is a program to

identify students who struggle with specific identify students who struggle with specific skills and/or behavior. skills and/or behavior.

Provides a daily targeted intervention for 30 minutes.Provides a daily targeted intervention for 30 minutes.Purpose is to reduce the number of special education Purpose is to reduce the number of special education

referrals.referrals. Current interventions target reading.Current interventions target reading. Math and behavior interventions will be the Math and behavior interventions will be the

next phase.next phase.

KindergartenKindergarten

Kindergarten Camp:Kindergarten Camp:Funded through the Johnson County Funded through the Johnson County

CAPE Grant for early literacyCAPE Grant for early literacyStudents (120) with the greatest Students (120) with the greatest

academic need are identified through academic need are identified through screeningscreening

Students attend K-Camp to learn pre-Students attend K-Camp to learn pre-literacy skills, phonemic awareness, literacy skills, phonemic awareness, classroom procedures, and enjoy classroom procedures, and enjoy reading and writing.reading and writing.

KindergartenKindergarten

Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) expandedexpanded

11 sections of FDK are offered. 11 sections of FDK are offered. About ½ of all kindergarten students About ½ of all kindergarten students attend full-day.attend full-day.

Program provides expanded Program provides expanded curricular opportunitiescurricular opportunities

Creating Positive Relationships Creating Positive Relationships (CPR)(CPR)

We have replaced the “Always We have replaced the “Always Changing” 5Changing” 5thth grade adolescent grade adolescent education program with the CPR education program with the CPR program to provide more program to provide more consistency. consistency.

CPR has provided a 6CPR has provided a 6thth grade grade program. program.

This year the 7This year the 7thth grade program was grade program was added in response to parent added in response to parent requests. requests.

Summer Remediation Summer Remediation ProgramsPrograms

Funded through state remediation Funded through state remediation funds last summer.funds last summer.

A two-week academic jumpstart A two-week academic jumpstart program provided additional program provided additional instruction to students in elementary, instruction to students in elementary, middle and high school.middle and high school.

Instruction focused on math and Instruction focused on math and reading/language arts.reading/language arts.

Middle School Courses for H.S. Middle School Courses for H.S. CreditCredit

First year world language courses First year world language courses were offered at both middle schools were offered at both middle schools for high school credit.for high school credit.

This year Honors Algebra I is now This year Honors Algebra I is now being offered for high school credit.being offered for high school credit.

Middle School ProgrammingMiddle School Programming

The Middle School Task Force is The Middle School Task Force is examining the best practices of examining the best practices of Middle Schools. Middle Schools.

Our goal is to develop and implement Our goal is to develop and implement the BEST middle school programs for the BEST middle school programs for our district.our district.

High School RedesignHigh School Redesign

Has expanded teacher participation in Has expanded teacher participation in the process of developing the best the process of developing the best high school programshigh school programs

Is focused on exploring programming Is focused on exploring programming options to maximize student potentialoptions to maximize student potential

Has representatives visiting Denver, Has representatives visiting Denver, New York, Houston, and Portland, OR New York, Houston, and Portland, OR to view sample programsto view sample programs

High School RedesignHigh School Redesign

Parents from the Coalition of Parents from the Coalition of Visioneers have joined high school Visioneers have joined high school staff in developing program directionstaff in developing program direction

Paul Buck has provided leadership Paul Buck has provided leadership and cohesiveness for the High School and cohesiveness for the High School Redesign Team.Redesign Team.

CARECARE

The CARE alternative high school program The CARE alternative high school program offers all core courses needed for offers all core courses needed for graduation.graduation.

Two teachers work full-time with students.Two teachers work full-time with students. On-line components provide individualized On-line components provide individualized

instruction to meet student needs.instruction to meet student needs. 30 students participate in this program.30 students participate in this program.

According to state funding regulations, the According to state funding regulations, the student-teacher ratio can be no greater than student-teacher ratio can be no greater than 15:1.15:1.

SATsSATs

A higher percentage of Center Grove A higher percentage of Center Grove High School students are taking the High School students are taking the SAT than at any other high school in SAT than at any other high school in the county.the county.

Advanced PlacementAdvanced Placement

• CG successfully completed the CG successfully completed the national AP audit last year.national AP audit last year.

With the addition of AP Spanish, we With the addition of AP Spanish, we now have 20 AP courses offered at now have 20 AP courses offered at the high school.the high school.In the past five years, six AP courses In the past five years, six AP courses

have been added to the high school have been added to the high school offerings.offerings.

Advanced PlacementAdvanced Placement

Brad Timmons, the AP coordinator, Brad Timmons, the AP coordinator, actively recruits students to enroll and actively recruits students to enroll and complete the exams.complete the exams.

Mr. Shockley speaks to parent groups at Mr. Shockley speaks to parent groups at the middle schools each spring to the middle schools each spring to encourage enrollment in Honors and AP encourage enrollment in Honors and AP courses.courses.

Goal: To increase the number of CG Goal: To increase the number of CG students taking AP courses and taking the students taking AP courses and taking the AP exams.AP exams.

National MeritNational Merit

Goal: To have 20 National Merit Goal: To have 20 National Merit finalists within 5 years.finalists within 5 years.Last year, 1 CG student was named a Last year, 1 CG student was named a

National Merit finalistNational Merit finalistThis year, 5 CG students were named This year, 5 CG students were named

National Merit finalistsNational Merit finalistsHigh school administrators are High school administrators are

developing a long-term plan to developing a long-term plan to achieve this goal.achieve this goal.

High School Dual Credit OptionsHigh School Dual Credit Options

CGHS offers 11 dual credit courses CGHS offers 11 dual credit courses through area colleges and through area colleges and universities and is working to expand universities and is working to expand offeringsofferings

High school administrators have met High school administrators have met with 5 post-secondary institutions to with 5 post-secondary institutions to explore additional opportunities.explore additional opportunities.

Higher ExpectationsHigher Expectations

Higher expectations (from good to Higher expectations (from good to great) have been set for everyonegreat) have been set for everyoneA New Teacher Induction program A New Teacher Induction program

emphasizes high expectationsemphasizes high expectationsEarly Release Wednesday provide ongoing Early Release Wednesday provide ongoing

opportunity for staff professional opportunity for staff professional developmentdevelopment


Administrative professional development Administrative professional development has expandedhas expandedCG is growing our own administrators through CG is growing our own administrators through

teacher-leadersteacher-leadersNew administrator professional development New administrator professional development

supports transition to Center Grovesupports transition to Center GroveAdministrators are planning their own Administrators are planning their own

Professional Development based on district Professional Development based on district needsneeds

Several PD opportunities including Cognitive Several PD opportunities including Cognitive Coaching, Curriculum Mapping Institute, Coaching, Curriculum Mapping Institute, National Staff Development Conferences and National Staff Development Conferences and NCA are planned.NCA are planned.


Professional development for Professional development for administrators has emphasized:administrators has emphasized:Increased rigor of teacher evaluationsIncreased rigor of teacher evaluationsCloser monitoring of new hiresCloser monitoring of new hiresClassroom walkthrough expectationsClassroom walkthrough expectationsKnowledge of best practices in literacyKnowledge of best practices in literacy

Collegiality and common purpose Collegiality and common purpose have accelerated the growth of the have accelerated the growth of the teamteam


The addition of two elementary assistant The addition of two elementary assistant principals has added teacher support and principals has added teacher support and allowed the principals to monitor allowed the principals to monitor instruction more closely.instruction more closely.

We have a focused effort to target We have a focused effort to target recruitment for ALL POSITIONS to the best recruitment for ALL POSITIONS to the best and brightest, and have increased and brightest, and have increased expectations for evaluation and retention expectations for evaluation and retention of employees.of employees.