From googledocs, to Twitter to Facebook to regular emails...I have found it hard to keep up. However, I feel this is a year that will be history in the making...it's important enough to capture.
Just to catch you up, our school system has opted to transfer academic control our school to an educational management company, Educational Directions. While the transition has been a quick one, it has been rather smooth. With only 2 weeks in we still have a few wrinkles to press out but all in all we are ready to roll.
With yet another year at Andrew Jackson High School it is obvious to see the foundation has been laid and is rather securely set. With this being year four, I have suceesfully ushered a group of ninth graders through to their senior year. I know them all and they know me...they are my children. With year four families are connecting me to Andrew Jackson and feel comfortable with our process and plan......this will be a great year.
And the news says.....
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Friday, September 3, 2010
BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY....but today I wept
It's the end of the 2nd week of school. While our enrollment is slightly down, like most high schools across the nation, it has been a fabulous opening. The students have been amazing, teachers have been inspiring and there has been an overall sense of calm at the school. My school has experienced such growth over the last 2 years and while I am beginning my third year, I am excited about the possibilities.
During week one, I met with all underclassmen, as most school leaders do...welcomed them back, introduced myself to the new ones and shared with all our expectations. I let them know about our culture...you know, the way we do things here. I love providing incentives for the students but was not completely thrilled to announce our first school wide "pep rally." After all, as I told the students, they had done everything I asked them to do over the past 2 years and it was time for me to recignize that and give htem something they really wanted. This group of seniors had only been at the school a year when I got there and quickly comformed to my expectations. But....it still did not stop me from being nervous.
We spent 2 weeks ordering t-shirts, as I wanted all the students to be in the same shirt, graduating classes only seperated by colors. The students were not excited about the shirts initally but were thrilled about the pep rally and wanted to make certain everything went well so I would not have a reason to "exercise my right to change my mind," which I always reserve.
It's 1:15p.m. our radio personality T-roy and our DJ are in place. The activities director has made a list and checked it three times.....we are ready to go. The students enter in their flow of black (c/0 2011), grey (c/o 2012), beige (c/o 2013), white (c/o 2014)and the games began. The AFROTC, our flying TIGERS did presentation of colors and then the music started pumping. The seniors started to scream as T-Roy recognized the Class of 2011!!!
During the course of the rally I could not help but stand back and smile. My teachers were having a blast...the kids were having a blast and things were great. When it comes to school, it really doesn't take much to make me happy...quality teaching, kids enjoying school, adults building relationships....it all makes me happy. As I stood back and looked at the students I thought about how far we had come. I thought about the many successes we had witnessed over the last 2 years. I thought so many thoughts and with misty eyes...I smiled.
The big game night. Five hundred tickets sold in the first hour. Two thousand people later I was still waiting for the other shoe to fall. I look out over the crowd and hear my name being called repeatedly. I get hugs around my neck from behind, only to turn and see 2010 graduates showing me love. Telling me all about college as many were thanking me for caring enough to make certain they did what was necessary to graduate.
At the end of the night I was overwhelmed. It wasn't as if this was our first game ever or as if we had walked away with the victory as we had so many times in the past...but as I thought about the whirlwind week, the excitement from the students the connection of the teachers, a moment stood still. Our theme for the year is "It's Our Time...Dream, Dare, Do!" Earlier that day a student asked me as I was standing in the hall, Ms. Wright, why dream, dare, do...another student promptly chimed in..."at first our success was a dream...we dared to be successful but still came a little short...this time around with our hard work we will be successful...we are the group to do it." I stood in awe and with a mild nod, I said, "Exactly."
The night is over, the game is over, but the work is just beginning. As the tears began to stream down my face I heard the words we say every day...Tigers exhibit...Togetherness, Integrity, Greatness, Enthusiasm, Respect and Success. I thought about where we've been, envisioned where we are going and like a baby, eyes no longer misty, I cried.
It truly is OUR TIME!!
During week one, I met with all underclassmen, as most school leaders do...welcomed them back, introduced myself to the new ones and shared with all our expectations. I let them know about our culture...you know, the way we do things here. I love providing incentives for the students but was not completely thrilled to announce our first school wide "pep rally." After all, as I told the students, they had done everything I asked them to do over the past 2 years and it was time for me to recignize that and give htem something they really wanted. This group of seniors had only been at the school a year when I got there and quickly comformed to my expectations. But....it still did not stop me from being nervous.
We spent 2 weeks ordering t-shirts, as I wanted all the students to be in the same shirt, graduating classes only seperated by colors. The students were not excited about the shirts initally but were thrilled about the pep rally and wanted to make certain everything went well so I would not have a reason to "exercise my right to change my mind," which I always reserve.
It's 1:15p.m. our radio personality T-roy and our DJ are in place. The activities director has made a list and checked it three times.....we are ready to go. The students enter in their flow of black (c/0 2011), grey (c/o 2012), beige (c/o 2013), white (c/o 2014)and the games began. The AFROTC, our flying TIGERS did presentation of colors and then the music started pumping. The seniors started to scream as T-Roy recognized the Class of 2011!!!
During the course of the rally I could not help but stand back and smile. My teachers were having a blast...the kids were having a blast and things were great. When it comes to school, it really doesn't take much to make me happy...quality teaching, kids enjoying school, adults building relationships....it all makes me happy. As I stood back and looked at the students I thought about how far we had come. I thought about the many successes we had witnessed over the last 2 years. I thought so many thoughts and with misty eyes...I smiled.
The big game night. Five hundred tickets sold in the first hour. Two thousand people later I was still waiting for the other shoe to fall. I look out over the crowd and hear my name being called repeatedly. I get hugs around my neck from behind, only to turn and see 2010 graduates showing me love. Telling me all about college as many were thanking me for caring enough to make certain they did what was necessary to graduate.
At the end of the night I was overwhelmed. It wasn't as if this was our first game ever or as if we had walked away with the victory as we had so many times in the past...but as I thought about the whirlwind week, the excitement from the students the connection of the teachers, a moment stood still. Our theme for the year is "It's Our Time...Dream, Dare, Do!" Earlier that day a student asked me as I was standing in the hall, Ms. Wright, why dream, dare, do...another student promptly chimed in..."at first our success was a dream...we dared to be successful but still came a little short...this time around with our hard work we will be successful...we are the group to do it." I stood in awe and with a mild nod, I said, "Exactly."
The night is over, the game is over, but the work is just beginning. As the tears began to stream down my face I heard the words we say every day...Tigers exhibit...Togetherness, Integrity, Greatness, Enthusiasm, Respect and Success. I thought about where we've been, envisioned where we are going and like a baby, eyes no longer misty, I cried.
It truly is OUR TIME!!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
It' OUR TIME
The new school year is upon us and I have really set my sights on figuring out this secondary reading thing. I mean..let's face it...high school teachers never expected to have deal with whether or not students know the short and long "o" vowel sound or whether or not they were caught on the second syllable of a multisyllabic word...but...it is, what it is. Many of our students cannot pass the high stakes tests and I am convinced...based on our data...it's because they are stuck in the weeds with the actual skill of reading. While I do not propose that we "send them back to elementary until they get it right:" I have elementary aged daughters. I propose we bring elementary to them. That we meet them where they are and get them to reading before time for FCAT.
The million dollar question is how. Well, I must proclaim...I am not the expert, but I am an extreme researcher and all over the research about reading. What I gather is this...get ready because this is huge...they will not get better until we address their deficits. WOW...rocket science, right? NOT!!! Just time consuming. I feel a bit in awe that I, of all people, did not know the resources available on the state's reading site. I mean, I've been to training, but what they show the administrators has to be different because I swear I did not know this stuff existed. I don't think my former reading coach did either, otherwise she would have saved herself a lot of time pulling random passages (mental note...send her an email.) Nonetheless, it has a wealth of information. THEN I found this AWESOME resource at our county. While her job is RtI, she has a background in reading...GO FIGURE. Well, just by asking questions she led me to really cool stuff and we now have a "program" that will not cost thousands of dollars. OUR PLAN..pretty simple, Use a simple screening assessment......instruct using age appropriate materials(we selcted some resources from ABE)....and use the scaffolded materials from the state's site for progress monitoring...that's it. Now, you may be thinking...are you crazy..that's way to simple but who has time to do it in high school. by the way...did I mention...monitoring the data using google docs....now, that's it.
Bottom line...we have to meet them where they are and teach them to where we need them to be...can we do it? YES WE CAN!!! Stay tuned!
The million dollar question is how. Well, I must proclaim...I am not the expert, but I am an extreme researcher and all over the research about reading. What I gather is this...get ready because this is huge...they will not get better until we address their deficits. WOW...rocket science, right? NOT!!! Just time consuming. I feel a bit in awe that I, of all people, did not know the resources available on the state's reading site. I mean, I've been to training, but what they show the administrators has to be different because I swear I did not know this stuff existed. I don't think my former reading coach did either, otherwise she would have saved herself a lot of time pulling random passages (mental note...send her an email.) Nonetheless, it has a wealth of information. THEN I found this AWESOME resource at our county. While her job is RtI, she has a background in reading...GO FIGURE. Well, just by asking questions she led me to really cool stuff and we now have a "program" that will not cost thousands of dollars. OUR PLAN..pretty simple, Use a simple screening assessment......instruct using age appropriate materials(we selcted some resources from ABE)....and use the scaffolded materials from the state's site for progress monitoring...that's it. Now, you may be thinking...are you crazy..that's way to simple but who has time to do it in high school. by the way...did I mention...monitoring the data using google docs....now, that's it.
Bottom line...we have to meet them where they are and teach them to where we need them to be...can we do it? YES WE CAN!!! Stay tuned!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Phase 2
While reviewing our preliminary scores has been a celebration, the reality is before me. I believe we have shown significant progress but just don't see the necessary 65 points to get us off "THE LIST." This is one time that I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I am.
However, I really don't have time for a pity party. We have done great work, yes the numbers are telling, yet there is still much left to do. Our lens have a way of helping us to shift focus. I am convinced that we can effect "massive" change with our children...and they are exhibiting a willingness to let us to do so. While we talk much about the strategy of reading, it may be time to focus on the skill of reading. Nuts and bolts, nitty gritty.
In reviewing Locating and Correcting Reading Difficulties, I am inspired by what I read. I am ordering one for every reading teacher and informing them that they are to become READING SPECIALISTS. I mean, let's face it...that's what it's going to take if we are going to remove the bites from the elephants. While we are investing in a new reading program, that really excites me, I cannot move away from the need to focus on the fundamentals.
For all those who say it won't work..watch our smoke.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
THEY ARE ALL CRAZY!!!!
For now, in our county we are fortunate enough to have academic coaches.....those who spend their every waking moment...during school, at night, on the weekends...at my beck and call....to discuss another one of my brilliant plans about how to SAVE OUR SCHOOL. Not only are they on my speed dial, they spend time researching best practices, embellishing curriculum, providing professional development and most importantly, working with teachers, for the mere purpose of leveraging their skill set for student achievement. They build relationships with teachers, work with students and look for every possible way to bridge the gap. Since my last posting a major event has happened in my life. I loss my mother in law, who was not only a colleague and confidante, she was the epitome of poise and grace. She possessed a passion for life and those who she loved that I can only imagine passing on. QUITE UNEXPECTED...in the MIDDLE OF OUR HIGH STAKES TEST!!! I am having a difficult time getting accustomed to this "new normal," but she said words to me that I will hear for a lifetime..."You can do it," "they have the right person," "If you can't do it, it can't be done." And believe me the list goes on. But tonight, I was feeling sorry for myself.
I spent the day in a pretty dreadful meeting only to have enough time to leave that meeting and get to the next meeting. I was not at my best as I had not eaten and was feeling famished. In this life, we grow accustomed to missing lunch, but I didn't eat dinner last night, ate a granola bar for breakfast before I ran a mile and then sat through a meeting that made me feel ill. The second meeting of the day was about a federal grant our state is applying for and "TAG" I am one of the chosen schools. Oh yippie, one more thing to do. I sat there listening to all the additional demands that will be placed on my teachers....while the concept itself is exciting, I could not help but be concerned about how they, especially the good ones, will respond. Well, at the end of the meeting I was compelled to run back to the school, while everyone else was going elsewhere, to share the info with my thought partners to give them time to frame their thoughts.
Anal retentive may not be an inappropriate way to describe me....so my OCD behaviors take over and I am drafting the proposal as I see fit.....but becoming increasingly anxious thinking about how we can manage all of this and still survive. My heart is racing...my head is pounding and then I get an email from one of my coaches.
To know him is to love him....he is the most eclectic and possibly the most visibly passionate in the group. While he's grown in diplomacy, his thoughts are obvious through his laughter. So, I'm sitting there. I have drafted a proposal, sent it to those in charge and I sit, and think......what in the world is wrong with me. Why is it that everybody else is resting for the evening and I am drafting a proposal. I am thinking about what is the "it" that we have to do to make certain our students grow academically.
My computer dings and I see a note from my eclectic coach. He says....when I saw this I thought about us. Not knowing what he was sharing with us and looking at the time finding it hard to believe that he not only was awake but was sending Internet links, I clicked the button.How to start a movement
What I saw made me howl. I then realized....it's not that they just feel they need to talk to me when I call at noon on a Saturday afternoon; or they are vying for job security when I make a comment and they have the information researched and laid out before I can leave work; or that they anticipate my thoughts and come to meetings already prepared with answers to my probable questions.....the truth is "THEY ARE JUST AS CRAZY AS ME!!!"
See we live and love this work. As I watched the video clip, I could not help but wonder, "How many see us as the lone nuts?" Why is it that when everyone is enjoying their weekend, we are at the school drawing t-shirt designs or analyzing student data to share on Monday. My coaches actually believe are children are worth investing in. They, while completely out of the classroom, seek ways to interact with and encourage children.
They believe s in themselves...they believe in themselves and they believe in the true "lone nut; " ME! I couldn't ask for a better group...we grow, we learn, we develop......TOGETHER!!! Kudos to those that help make my work possible.
I spent the day in a pretty dreadful meeting only to have enough time to leave that meeting and get to the next meeting. I was not at my best as I had not eaten and was feeling famished. In this life, we grow accustomed to missing lunch, but I didn't eat dinner last night, ate a granola bar for breakfast before I ran a mile and then sat through a meeting that made me feel ill. The second meeting of the day was about a federal grant our state is applying for and "TAG" I am one of the chosen schools. Oh yippie, one more thing to do. I sat there listening to all the additional demands that will be placed on my teachers....while the concept itself is exciting, I could not help but be concerned about how they, especially the good ones, will respond. Well, at the end of the meeting I was compelled to run back to the school, while everyone else was going elsewhere, to share the info with my thought partners to give them time to frame their thoughts.
Anal retentive may not be an inappropriate way to describe me....so my OCD behaviors take over and I am drafting the proposal as I see fit.....but becoming increasingly anxious thinking about how we can manage all of this and still survive. My heart is racing...my head is pounding and then I get an email from one of my coaches.
To know him is to love him....he is the most eclectic and possibly the most visibly passionate in the group. While he's grown in diplomacy, his thoughts are obvious through his laughter. So, I'm sitting there. I have drafted a proposal, sent it to those in charge and I sit, and think......what in the world is wrong with me. Why is it that everybody else is resting for the evening and I am drafting a proposal. I am thinking about what is the "it" that we have to do to make certain our students grow academically.
My computer dings and I see a note from my eclectic coach. He says....when I saw this I thought about us. Not knowing what he was sharing with us and looking at the time finding it hard to believe that he not only was awake but was sending Internet links, I clicked the button.How to start a movement
What I saw made me howl. I then realized....it's not that they just feel they need to talk to me when I call at noon on a Saturday afternoon; or they are vying for job security when I make a comment and they have the information researched and laid out before I can leave work; or that they anticipate my thoughts and come to meetings already prepared with answers to my probable questions.....the truth is "THEY ARE JUST AS CRAZY AS ME!!!"
See we live and love this work. As I watched the video clip, I could not help but wonder, "How many see us as the lone nuts?" Why is it that when everyone is enjoying their weekend, we are at the school drawing t-shirt designs or analyzing student data to share on Monday. My coaches actually believe are children are worth investing in. They, while completely out of the classroom, seek ways to interact with and encourage children.
They believe s in themselves...they believe in themselves and they believe in the true "lone nut; " ME! I couldn't ask for a better group...we grow, we learn, we develop......TOGETHER!!! Kudos to those that help make my work possible.
Monday, February 15, 2010
What a difference a "teacher" makes
By the 3rd quarter of our 4 quarter school year, I have observed more teachers than I did the entire year last year. I have always taken pride in the fact that I spent the average of 2 hours a day in classrooms doing observations. Under new accountability measures that has increased to approximately 4 hours a day. Not just for me, but for all administrators that work with me. In a challenged high school, amidst bus duty, cafeteria duty, behavioral interventions and parent conferences, my administrators complete at least 7 -15 minute observations, 3-30 minute observations and 1-90 minute observation. Some weeks we increase 15's and reduce 30's other weeks it's just the opposite...the bottom line...time is spent daily in classrooms completing observations.
I have also always felt that teacher evaluations should be a comprehensive process----that one 30 minute required observation should not be the only determinant that you are not a great teacher, as well it should not be the only determinant that you are "the bomb." I feel that teacher evaluations should truly be a tool for growth, not just another required bureaucratic activity.
Well through consistent classroom observations...I have come to believe this year, more than ever, that "time on task with a qualified instructor" is the only true thing that changes achievement of underperforming students. While technology is great at assisting with the process...the follow-up a child receives from utilizing the technology has a huge impact on performance. This year I have watched teachers connect with students, in our challenged high school, that just did not happen before. I am watching teachers take ownership for students and seeking ways, through collegial conversations and research, to make certain that students "get it." I am watching teachers take risks that move them out of what's comfortable by utilizing student data unlike before. In this last stretch before FCAT one of the most profound things we can do for our students is express to them our genuine belief in their ability to conquer the FCAT. It is so unfortunate that it has become us against the test, but the reality is, it's us against the test. While Urban School Reform has become a "buzz movement", the 2001 ERIC article clearly identifies teachers as the GREATEST contributing factor.
You may ask...what about those who truly don't believe...I am not "Polly-Anna" by any stretch of the imagination...I just believe there are enough who believe the students can to outnumber the naysayers. Under the Florida Differentiated Accountability model our school had to go through "reconstitution" as a result of the 3rd "F grade". Teachers had to re-interview and as a result some were assigned to other schools. Not to imply that all teachers reassigned were poor teachers...but some were not a fit for the work we had ahead for this school year. However, the vast majority of those left were up to the challenge and if they were not they have been surrounded by those who truly believe our students are capable of achieving at high levels and willing to work with them to get there. (And the TRUE NON-BELIEVERS are seeking other options.)
I have also always felt that teacher evaluations should be a comprehensive process----that one 30 minute required observation should not be the only determinant that you are not a great teacher, as well it should not be the only determinant that you are "the bomb." I feel that teacher evaluations should truly be a tool for growth, not just another required bureaucratic activity.
Well through consistent classroom observations...I have come to believe this year, more than ever, that "time on task with a qualified instructor" is the only true thing that changes achievement of underperforming students. While technology is great at assisting with the process...the follow-up a child receives from utilizing the technology has a huge impact on performance. This year I have watched teachers connect with students, in our challenged high school, that just did not happen before. I am watching teachers take ownership for students and seeking ways, through collegial conversations and research, to make certain that students "get it." I am watching teachers take risks that move them out of what's comfortable by utilizing student data unlike before. In this last stretch before FCAT one of the most profound things we can do for our students is express to them our genuine belief in their ability to conquer the FCAT. It is so unfortunate that it has become us against the test, but the reality is, it's us against the test. While Urban School Reform has become a "buzz movement", the 2001 ERIC article clearly identifies teachers as the GREATEST contributing factor.
You may ask...what about those who truly don't believe...I am not "Polly-Anna" by any stretch of the imagination...I just believe there are enough who believe the students can to outnumber the naysayers. Under the Florida Differentiated Accountability model our school had to go through "reconstitution" as a result of the 3rd "F grade". Teachers had to re-interview and as a result some were assigned to other schools. Not to imply that all teachers reassigned were poor teachers...but some were not a fit for the work we had ahead for this school year. However, the vast majority of those left were up to the challenge and if they were not they have been surrounded by those who truly believe our students are capable of achieving at high levels and willing to work with them to get there. (And the TRUE NON-BELIEVERS are seeking other options.)
With every fiber of my being I believe our school will get off the F-list this year. With everything in me I believe our children are ready and will perform at their best to make it happen. But if not, I believe because of the hard work of teachers the students will never be the same.
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