This week started with a second round of visits from the Department of Education. I decided that they were going to have to search long and hard to find something me and my team were not already doing (in the words of one of my bosses) for "Children's Sake." Well guess what...THEY COULDN'T FIND A THING. My team, ( academic coaches, administrators and teachers) were ready to talk abou the work. We are working to make a difference for our children and we are doing it at a high level...we were not prepared to let others tell us likewise. The DOE team members referenced some of our work as being examples of the best in the state of Florida....did you get that...the STATE!!!
While I could spend time relishing in the confirmation, some of which I thougth I would never hear from this partciular team, I cannot. We still have so much left to do. We have test to take, tests to make, topics to teach, books to read, parents to call, students to target and the list continues. BUT, we are making it happen. Every day we get closer and closer to our target performance. I BELIEVE IT!!! Everyday, we build our children up to know this test is something they can beat.
So they week was off to a great start, as they came on Monday. I get an email Wednesday Night, which was NO SVHOOL because of Veteran's Day, that million dollar attorney Willie Gary was coming to my school....THE WILLIE GARY. I was screaming at 10:00 at night. The President of his foundation, for this area said, I was so moved by your passion ( he showed up at my school unaannounced to talk about donating money to the school...sounds like music to my ears, so I made time) that I wanted to quickly get Mr. Gary to you. Well, all he had to do is say when he was coming and I was rearranging ANY schedule to make it happen.
See while I have nothing against athletes and entertainers, our children really need to see the kind of accomplishments he has achieved through education and philanthropy. They need to see that beacuse you live in a one bedroom shack, you do not have to resort to drugs and a life a violence. You can rise above your situation and help those less fortunate than you. I know it sounds cliche-ish, but, "You Can Be Somebody."
While this past week was one of excitement and confirmations, this upcoming week will be one to celebrate our successes and comtinue to strategically work our plan. This Thursday we will invite the alumni of this great school to our first Alumni Night. During this time we will showcase some of our great talent, but more importantly, we will remind them of their connection to this school and share with them ways they can partner with us. To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required!!
Until next week.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
How important is student work
I've been gone but hopefully not forgotten.
We have spent the beginning of this school year in a more focused and purposeful way of work. Our school is entrenched in the Florida Continuous Improvement Model and making certain our students' needs are matched with the appropriate Instructional Stratgies. However, as we started the work this year we were sidetracked by something that does not seem very important..student engagement. How many students were really ENGAGED: interested, excited even , in and about the learning process. We visited classrooms, where at the end of our observation time we were racing out from being so unbelievably unengaged as adult learners. What could our students be experiencing. They walk away content with unengaging, ho-hum classes because they are conditioned to believe that's what school is all about. Only imagine-could our high school students experience this daily. Could students really go from class to class and not have SOMETHING happen that had them NOT wanting to learn more instead of bolt out the door at the sound of the bell?
Of course, me being the eternal learning leader that I am, I knew it had to be my fault. I had to reflect. I often document student engagement or lack thereof, but I really had not done a whole lot of "study" around STUDENT ENGAGEMENT...nor had I taken teachers to task who were just plain boring....so the search began. (Coincidentally our DOE team came in and referenced the students as passively engaged...go figure...passively---engaged)...But, I digressed;...each of us, all of the administrators and the academic coaches, began to search for information that would allow us to put into words what student enagement "looked like in practice."
After much search and finding some really great resources, my math coach found a handbook that I will forever use as a part of my professional material. Student Engagement: Creating a Culture by Richard Jones, gave specific practical steps to view engagement at a glance and the much more challenging noticing of "authentic engagement;" questioning students about their interest in the class and instruction. Our teachers are being challenged to have the students rate their classes on the engagement continuum with level 1 being "I was bored to sleep" to 5 being "I did not want to leave."
We can now move to the next steps of looking at strategies that not only increase engagement but have been proven to yield increased performance. Marzano's High Yield Strategies are not the "end all, be all" but they provide some well documented instructional models that teachers can integrate..not just into their class but into their practice.
Simultaneously we analyzing student work and the quality therein. We often say students rise to the level of our expectation, but is our expectation aligned with what will be necesssry for students to have growth on high stakes tests? One of my Assistant Principals noted higher expectations=better outcomes. Focusing on student work can only be a means to that end.
It was not until today that I thought of our work as being Action Research, but it is. The only question that remains is whether this ation will yield the level of impact necessary to have substanial growth for our children. All I can say is "Watch our Smoke."
And just because it makes me feel better...if you have not read Classroom Instruction that Works, by Marzano, and you are trying to get marked growth with your students...read it.
We have spent the beginning of this school year in a more focused and purposeful way of work. Our school is entrenched in the Florida Continuous Improvement Model and making certain our students' needs are matched with the appropriate Instructional Stratgies. However, as we started the work this year we were sidetracked by something that does not seem very important..student engagement. How many students were really ENGAGED: interested, excited even , in and about the learning process. We visited classrooms, where at the end of our observation time we were racing out from being so unbelievably unengaged as adult learners. What could our students be experiencing. They walk away content with unengaging, ho-hum classes because they are conditioned to believe that's what school is all about. Only imagine-could our high school students experience this daily. Could students really go from class to class and not have SOMETHING happen that had them NOT wanting to learn more instead of bolt out the door at the sound of the bell?
Of course, me being the eternal learning leader that I am, I knew it had to be my fault. I had to reflect. I often document student engagement or lack thereof, but I really had not done a whole lot of "study" around STUDENT ENGAGEMENT...nor had I taken teachers to task who were just plain boring....so the search began. (Coincidentally our DOE team came in and referenced the students as passively engaged...go figure...passively---engaged)...But, I digressed;...each of us, all of the administrators and the academic coaches, began to search for information that would allow us to put into words what student enagement "looked like in practice."
After much search and finding some really great resources, my math coach found a handbook that I will forever use as a part of my professional material. Student Engagement: Creating a Culture by Richard Jones, gave specific practical steps to view engagement at a glance and the much more challenging noticing of "authentic engagement;" questioning students about their interest in the class and instruction. Our teachers are being challenged to have the students rate their classes on the engagement continuum with level 1 being "I was bored to sleep" to 5 being "I did not want to leave."
We can now move to the next steps of looking at strategies that not only increase engagement but have been proven to yield increased performance. Marzano's High Yield Strategies are not the "end all, be all" but they provide some well documented instructional models that teachers can integrate..not just into their class but into their practice.
Simultaneously we analyzing student work and the quality therein. We often say students rise to the level of our expectation, but is our expectation aligned with what will be necesssry for students to have growth on high stakes tests? One of my Assistant Principals noted higher expectations=better outcomes. Focusing on student work can only be a means to that end.
It was not until today that I thought of our work as being Action Research, but it is. The only question that remains is whether this ation will yield the level of impact necessary to have substanial growth for our children. All I can say is "Watch our Smoke."
And just because it makes me feel better...if you have not read Classroom Instruction that Works, by Marzano, and you are trying to get marked growth with your students...read it.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
What I Really Wanted to Say
All week I have been thinking about what I wanted to document this week. I thought I had it on Tuesday, when I received the nicest card of encouragement in the mail from a close friend and colleague. Thought I would talk about how we needed to connect with and help each other, you know, that "no man is an island" stuff. Then on Wednesday I thought, nope....today is really it....when I was able to successfullly help a senior and her parent understand why as a pending Social Studies major, she really needed to take that AP Calculus class. Thought I would talk about taking the time to help our children see both sides of the coin. Reminding them that anything worth having is worth working for.
Well, what I realized is as the week progressed and I was thinking about what I wanted to say, everyday I had more and more to share. While I admit I was exhausted on Friday thinking of all I need to get accomplished this week....I am always rejuvenated by students. While waking up this morning to a positive article on the front page of the newspaper about my students and their wilingness to give their time and talent to Super Saturday Academy would be enough to have anyone pumped, it is so much more than that for me. I heard myself saying yesterday to the parents and students that I LOVE THIS WORK!!
While I often relish in the growth of the students....I feel it my responsibility to help teachers move from Good to GREAT!! Yes, it's a little hard for me that all teachers don't want to be great...and even worse the ones who think they already are; but it is one of my goals as an Instructional Leader. A little strange, but I get enjoyment out of watching teachers learn and grow together. Most of my teaching staff is new and they are really embracing Professional Learning Communities as a way of life.
I suppose in the end I am ending where I had planned to start. Each one...has to reach one. We are not in this work alone. Seek out those around you who may offer you help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. If you prefer to stay in your clasroom and do it your own way ask yourself a few questions:
1. What do I really want my students to learn
2. What am I going to do when they don't learn it
If you come up with all the answers all by yourself--GREAT, find everybody else and tell them the answer. If not...find a critical friend and work it out together.
Reach for the moon and if you don't make it you will land among the stars.
Well, what I realized is as the week progressed and I was thinking about what I wanted to say, everyday I had more and more to share. While I admit I was exhausted on Friday thinking of all I need to get accomplished this week....I am always rejuvenated by students. While waking up this morning to a positive article on the front page of the newspaper about my students and their wilingness to give their time and talent to Super Saturday Academy would be enough to have anyone pumped, it is so much more than that for me. I heard myself saying yesterday to the parents and students that I LOVE THIS WORK!!
While I often relish in the growth of the students....I feel it my responsibility to help teachers move from Good to GREAT!! Yes, it's a little hard for me that all teachers don't want to be great...and even worse the ones who think they already are; but it is one of my goals as an Instructional Leader. A little strange, but I get enjoyment out of watching teachers learn and grow together. Most of my teaching staff is new and they are really embracing Professional Learning Communities as a way of life.
I suppose in the end I am ending where I had planned to start. Each one...has to reach one. We are not in this work alone. Seek out those around you who may offer you help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. If you prefer to stay in your clasroom and do it your own way ask yourself a few questions:
1. What do I really want my students to learn
2. What am I going to do when they don't learn it
If you come up with all the answers all by yourself--GREAT, find everybody else and tell them the answer. If not...find a critical friend and work it out together.
Reach for the moon and if you don't make it you will land among the stars.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Ready, Set, Go
I was awakened this morning by an alarm clock I thought I turned off last night. The morning I vowed, "I am going to sleep in," I am still up at 5:00a.m. After lying there for 30 minutes I realized I was not going back to sleep, so what better do I have to do than check and delete emails (not sure if anyone else has trouble keeping their mailbox clear but mine gets full often...topic for another post); nevertheless I go to my computer and get about the business of re-reading emails to decide what needs to go.
I come across an email sent by one of my former teachers who is now an administrator (I taught her well) with a link to an article titled A Lousiana School Leader Answers the Call of Duty. I knew it had to be read worthy if she sent it to me, so at 5:45 a.m. I am reading the article.
See this week has been filled with reminders of how great the task of turning our school around really is. My school has dipped into intervene status with the DOE. Therefore "THE STATE" has carte blanche to come into our building whenever they want. Trust me, they are exercising that right! Last week, the first week of school, they were there for 2 hours reviewing with me what "the monitoring" would be for the year. This week, they spent 2 days in the building as a large group and another one came back yesterday. One day, one group visited all content area classrooms while the "Director" grilled me about many things I was told not to worry about until later. I always scream in my head when I hear that. Well, glad my overachiever, Type-A personality NEVER falls for that one, so I had answers, copius answers, to every question....even those things I was told not to worry about...lucky me.
The second day they spent the day writing their reports while another group visited classrooms. Meanwhile, me and members of my leadership team were at a "training" with a "school improvement group" who has had success working with schools in our area and is now going to "fix" us. They reminded us, however, that if we had certain cultural issues in our school we were DOOMED TO FAILURE. Visit, another visit, school improvement plan, 2 training sessions, 4 other meetings....and yesterday was only day 10 of what will prove to be a very short school year.
This morning, however, as I read the article, I cried. Cried, not because I am sad or depressed, but because it confirmed for me that I, we, are definitely on the right track. While I wish there was a way to measure the impact we are having on children outside of "THE TEST" there is not. Cried because of the number of new graduates from last year, my first year at the school, who ran to me, hugged me, said thank you and reassured me they were doing well and taking care of themselves. Cried because, even while a disgruntled former employee, removed by a state mandate, attempted to glean attention by heckling and talking loudly, teachers and administrators, even from other schools made contact, late into the night, to voice support for the very difficult choices that must be made for growth. Choices that are not always understood but made plain only by actions...time reveals true charcater. Cried because regardless how impossible it really seems we are working to do whatever it takes to benefit our students.
I think my soul needed release this morning. I was so overwhelmed with emotion last night while watching my school, the school I lead, play on the field of my alma mater. MY ALMA MATER--a school where my home engrained charcater was cultivated......a school where I learned to study and be the best I could be.....a school where my teachers would not even THINK about letting me give less than best effort......a school that also faces the stringent penalty of closure because of being in intervene status. Two schools dualing, but not just with each other on the football field.
If anyone has done it then you know it can be done....however, if it has never been done, then we must end that comment with a resounding, "YET." None of our high schools have done what we must do this school year, yet!!!
As I prepare for a workday that I did not plan to start until 11:00 a.m. today...and yes the date does show that it's Saturday, I feel a lightness. I feel refreshed. I feel ready!
I come across an email sent by one of my former teachers who is now an administrator (I taught her well) with a link to an article titled A Lousiana School Leader Answers the Call of Duty. I knew it had to be read worthy if she sent it to me, so at 5:45 a.m. I am reading the article.
See this week has been filled with reminders of how great the task of turning our school around really is. My school has dipped into intervene status with the DOE. Therefore "THE STATE" has carte blanche to come into our building whenever they want. Trust me, they are exercising that right! Last week, the first week of school, they were there for 2 hours reviewing with me what "the monitoring" would be for the year. This week, they spent 2 days in the building as a large group and another one came back yesterday. One day, one group visited all content area classrooms while the "Director" grilled me about many things I was told not to worry about until later. I always scream in my head when I hear that. Well, glad my overachiever, Type-A personality NEVER falls for that one, so I had answers, copius answers, to every question....even those things I was told not to worry about...lucky me.
The second day they spent the day writing their reports while another group visited classrooms. Meanwhile, me and members of my leadership team were at a "training" with a "school improvement group" who has had success working with schools in our area and is now going to "fix" us. They reminded us, however, that if we had certain cultural issues in our school we were DOOMED TO FAILURE. Visit, another visit, school improvement plan, 2 training sessions, 4 other meetings....and yesterday was only day 10 of what will prove to be a very short school year.
This morning, however, as I read the article, I cried. Cried, not because I am sad or depressed, but because it confirmed for me that I, we, are definitely on the right track. While I wish there was a way to measure the impact we are having on children outside of "THE TEST" there is not. Cried because of the number of new graduates from last year, my first year at the school, who ran to me, hugged me, said thank you and reassured me they were doing well and taking care of themselves. Cried because, even while a disgruntled former employee, removed by a state mandate, attempted to glean attention by heckling and talking loudly, teachers and administrators, even from other schools made contact, late into the night, to voice support for the very difficult choices that must be made for growth. Choices that are not always understood but made plain only by actions...time reveals true charcater. Cried because regardless how impossible it really seems we are working to do whatever it takes to benefit our students.
I think my soul needed release this morning. I was so overwhelmed with emotion last night while watching my school, the school I lead, play on the field of my alma mater. MY ALMA MATER--a school where my home engrained charcater was cultivated......a school where I learned to study and be the best I could be.....a school where my teachers would not even THINK about letting me give less than best effort......a school that also faces the stringent penalty of closure because of being in intervene status. Two schools dualing, but not just with each other on the football field.
If anyone has done it then you know it can be done....however, if it has never been done, then we must end that comment with a resounding, "YET." None of our high schools have done what we must do this school year, yet!!!
As I prepare for a workday that I did not plan to start until 11:00 a.m. today...and yes the date does show that it's Saturday, I feel a lightness. I feel refreshed. I feel ready!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Do We Know Our True Worth?
I spent last week at a Florida Educational Leadership Academy is Tampa, Florida. When you become the principal of a challenged school everybody seems to pull out all stops to try to "salvage" you. Like all of a sudden your change in venue effects your competence. While I can find growth in most professional development opportunities, spending Sunday through Friday in this comprehensive academy had my "educational system" on overload. After not seeing my children for almost a week, I decided we would spend Saturday doing some activities since they missed summer camp because I was away.
We started our escapde by going bowling. I don't know who was happier that our "gutters" were protected, me or them. At any rate, MOMMY WON...by one lousy point. While I wanted to go to the movies, they had greater...more exciting plans...GAMESTOP, for a games for the DS and then dinner at Towncenter after a visit to Barnes and Noble. (Their $10 gift cards were burning their little hands). Because Mommy said, "You can have whatever you like," I added our names to the waiting list at P.F. Chans while we made our way to Barnes and Noble and Sephora ( mommy has to get a few minutes out of the deal).
After 2 hours, we sit down for our long awaited meal. They both knew what they wanted, of course I did, so we ordered and the food was on the way. We enjoyed each other's company and discussed our plans for the upcoming weekend. As my younger was telling the waiter we were finished and needed our check, a young lady knealt down beside me. She said, "I know you, you are Ms. Wright." I thought , OK, this is not the time for a kodak moment. I look like I am on my way to the beach, even though it's 9:00 at night. She said, "I remember you. I am a teacher at --- High School and I remember you from you speaking at our new teacher orientation." She went on to say that a waiter from the restaurant next door, who happens to be an education major, told her about this principal he met in the restaurant a few weekend prior. She said she could tell from the physical description and the attitude description "It could only be Iranetta Wright." (Don't even ask) WOW!!! I've only seen this young lady once, and there were 200 other people there so I don't remember her but she seems to know me well.
She said to me, "I just want you to know I think you are the bomb. I appreciated what you said to us and I know several others did as well. I know you have a challenging situation in front of you but there are a lot of people supporting you." Through somewhat startled eyes, I encouraged her to always do her best and wished her much success on her career in this great profession. My eight year old looked at me in amazement and said, "Mommy, she remembered you, WOW."
WOW is right. As leaders in this great profession, it becomes our duty to help others appreciate the job we have to do. We carry the torch and keep it shining so others will pick it up, give it to others and then connect with them so the torch stays aflame.
At a time when the local media is questioning my ability to truly effect change in our FCAT grade, where my Superintendent is being forced to justify his decision not to remove me based on the state's Differentiated Accountability model, I meet a freelance waitress by night, teacher by day, who takes the time to come over to me and affirm for me my worth to her. My true worth is not in the test scores I raise, but in the lives of the people I touch. Even when we don't know it, somebody is watching!
We started our escapde by going bowling. I don't know who was happier that our "gutters" were protected, me or them. At any rate, MOMMY WON...by one lousy point. While I wanted to go to the movies, they had greater...more exciting plans...GAMESTOP, for a games for the DS and then dinner at Towncenter after a visit to Barnes and Noble. (Their $10 gift cards were burning their little hands). Because Mommy said, "You can have whatever you like," I added our names to the waiting list at P.F. Chans while we made our way to Barnes and Noble and Sephora ( mommy has to get a few minutes out of the deal).
After 2 hours, we sit down for our long awaited meal. They both knew what they wanted, of course I did, so we ordered and the food was on the way. We enjoyed each other's company and discussed our plans for the upcoming weekend. As my younger was telling the waiter we were finished and needed our check, a young lady knealt down beside me. She said, "I know you, you are Ms. Wright." I thought , OK, this is not the time for a kodak moment. I look like I am on my way to the beach, even though it's 9:00 at night. She said, "I remember you. I am a teacher at --- High School and I remember you from you speaking at our new teacher orientation." She went on to say that a waiter from the restaurant next door, who happens to be an education major, told her about this principal he met in the restaurant a few weekend prior. She said she could tell from the physical description and the attitude description "It could only be Iranetta Wright." (Don't even ask) WOW!!! I've only seen this young lady once, and there were 200 other people there so I don't remember her but she seems to know me well.
She said to me, "I just want you to know I think you are the bomb. I appreciated what you said to us and I know several others did as well. I know you have a challenging situation in front of you but there are a lot of people supporting you." Through somewhat startled eyes, I encouraged her to always do her best and wished her much success on her career in this great profession. My eight year old looked at me in amazement and said, "Mommy, she remembered you, WOW."
WOW is right. As leaders in this great profession, it becomes our duty to help others appreciate the job we have to do. We carry the torch and keep it shining so others will pick it up, give it to others and then connect with them so the torch stays aflame.
At a time when the local media is questioning my ability to truly effect change in our FCAT grade, where my Superintendent is being forced to justify his decision not to remove me based on the state's Differentiated Accountability model, I meet a freelance waitress by night, teacher by day, who takes the time to come over to me and affirm for me my worth to her. My true worth is not in the test scores I raise, but in the lives of the people I touch. Even when we don't know it, somebody is watching!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
A-type personalities get involved in many things and do most well. Fate would have it, that I was privileged to be a part of the planning committee for my class reunion. While at a "kick-off" function, a young lady entered that was familiar to me. I spoke with her briefly, trying to determine who she was looking for and realized, even though familiar, she was not my classmate.
As the night progressed I tried not to look at her, but it puzzled me where I knew her from. Almost simultaneously, I realized and she shrieked my name, at the same time. She screamed, "Is that Ms. Rayborn?"
You see, this young lady had been one of my high school math students. She was always pleasant, but like many of my students, did not enjoy math at all..until they got to my class. But what she said to me next was not about her long term love affair with math. What she said next took me by surprise.
She said to me, " Ms. Rayborn, I just need to tell you thank you. I was so moved by the work you did with us that I now have a non-profit and I work with a group of 40 girls. The name of the group is The Exquisite Ladies." Time stood still. When I was a high school teacher, completing full math certification while also working on my Master's at the same time and doing a home based business, I saw a need that could not be fulfilled in the classroom alone. I saw a group of young ladies who had so much to give and not necessarily a venue to do it in. Even though it was of great sacrifice, I started a female etiquette group called, The Exquisite Ladies. We did everything from workshops on table decorum and public speaking, to community based volunteer events. I loved them and they loved me. Over the years several of them have found me and said thank you, but this one was truly a chance opportunity.
At the end of our conversation she said, " Ms. Rayborn, I didn't know where to find you, but I have always wanted you to come and speak to the girls, so they could see where it all started." I rubbed my arms. In the middle of enjoying classmates and reminiscing on old times I was given an opportunity to see how I had touched the life of at least "one student." My impact. The chill bumps would not go away and as I pen this post, they still have not.
Love them when they don't know how to love themselves. Take time or make time. Know even when you don't see it or can't sense it you are and will continue to make a difference.
As the night progressed I tried not to look at her, but it puzzled me where I knew her from. Almost simultaneously, I realized and she shrieked my name, at the same time. She screamed, "Is that Ms. Rayborn?"
You see, this young lady had been one of my high school math students. She was always pleasant, but like many of my students, did not enjoy math at all..until they got to my class. But what she said to me next was not about her long term love affair with math. What she said next took me by surprise.
She said to me, " Ms. Rayborn, I just need to tell you thank you. I was so moved by the work you did with us that I now have a non-profit and I work with a group of 40 girls. The name of the group is The Exquisite Ladies." Time stood still. When I was a high school teacher, completing full math certification while also working on my Master's at the same time and doing a home based business, I saw a need that could not be fulfilled in the classroom alone. I saw a group of young ladies who had so much to give and not necessarily a venue to do it in. Even though it was of great sacrifice, I started a female etiquette group called, The Exquisite Ladies. We did everything from workshops on table decorum and public speaking, to community based volunteer events. I loved them and they loved me. Over the years several of them have found me and said thank you, but this one was truly a chance opportunity.
At the end of our conversation she said, " Ms. Rayborn, I didn't know where to find you, but I have always wanted you to come and speak to the girls, so they could see where it all started." I rubbed my arms. In the middle of enjoying classmates and reminiscing on old times I was given an opportunity to see how I had touched the life of at least "one student." My impact. The chill bumps would not go away and as I pen this post, they still have not.
Love them when they don't know how to love themselves. Take time or make time. Know even when you don't see it or can't sense it you are and will continue to make a difference.
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