Believe!

2009 School OpeningFaculty Meeting

Believe • Every student has the right to

a meaningful education.• Instruction should involve

students in the process of learning.

• Expectations should align with policy.

• Improve the learning environment: HVAC, Lighting, arrangement of classroom

• Expect students to complete assignments

• Treat other staff members and students with respect.

Student SuccessQuality Education

Appropriate Expectations

Optimal Conditions for Learning

Eliminate Failure as an optionConsistent

ExpectationsFairnessEquity

Believe• Make things work for Lee-

Davis.• You don’t have to stand up front

to be a leader.• We need to expand our tool kit

as educators and look to adapt to and embrace change.

• Collectively – 1600+ years of experience here.

• Work to provide students with assistance if failure is imminent.

• Reach out to parents and community leaders.

• Support Athletics and extra curricular activities.

Organization

LeadershipKnowledgeTeamwork

InterventionCommunity

Pride

What has changed?

Generational InfluenceVeteranBaby BoomerGeneration X

Millennial

•What type of learner you are determines the methodology you teach with.•What are your priorities?•What is important to you?•What is important to your students?

Change• As educators, we are often resistant to change:

lesson plans, instructional practices, etc…• Professional Development often viewed as “the

next thing” instead of a continuum.• This year – we will start a “Year of Discovery”

geared to the improvement of instruction:– PLC development: 21st Century Skills and Brain

based Learning – a teacher focus– Math Institute – an instructional focus– Robert Greenleaf: October 12th – student learner

focus

Learning

• Elementary School – classroom looks fun, inviting, they can’t wait to get there!

• Middle School-More Structure, more rows, more rules

• High School – Rigid format, bells ring, rules, rules, rules

• As educators, we need to communicate expectations and goals from day one.– Not Behavioral

• Do we have different expectations in September than in June? Why?

• Communicating with students, parents and each other.

InvitationEnvironment

Expectations & Goals

ConsistencyModeling

Inter-personal relationshipsIntra-personal relationships

Fear of the unknownWhy should we do something

different?

21st Century

• What type of participant are you?

• Understanding strengths & differences of students.

• Engage them in the learning – don’t just tell them what to do.

• What is the purpose of this assignment?

• Focus on the end result – not the teaching.

• Respect & Responsibility – they need to feel they matter!

• Put in context – what they learn relate other knowledge.

• Evaluate what you currently do.

Create ConditionsFrontal Lobe

Millennial Learners

Achievement MattersOptimal

EnvironmentFocus

MissionYear of Discovery

Set Big Goals• We need to set big goals for ourselves and for our

students – not related to SOL scores!• It’s about the learning – which is not linear.

– We need to look at what we can add/delete over the course of the year.

• Today we will all be asked to set goals – personal, professional, departmental.

• THINK BIG!• Importance – not what we teach, or how we teach it

– but the why/where/when we assess what they know that is important – and methodology.

Changes (physical)• New Senior Patio

created.• Faculty Patio/Garden

area created.• 40 classrooms painted• Commons area painted• ISS room painted• Gym Floor refinished• “E” Hall door frames

painted• Aqua Blue – no more!

Change

• AP Assignments: – 9th Grade: Melissa Hilderbrand– 10th Grade: Jennifer Cohodas– 11th Grade: Robert Sargeant– 12th Grade: Ginny Matthews

• Counselors:– Director: Margo-lyn Grant– 9th Grade: Abby Allen– 10th Grade: Amy Coulliard

• Substitute: Marge Cowan

– 11th Grade: Jan Zalewski– 12th Grade: Annie Williams

Organizational

Expectations

• Reach 21st Century learners.• Develop 21st Century Skills–Work creatively with others

• Analyze – arguments, claims, beliefs

• Synthesize Information • Problem Solving• Work Independently• Communicate effectively

– Articulate arguments– Use multi-media technologies

• Work Collaboratively– On projects – assume responsibility

Instructional Change

Expectations• Evaluate and Analyze what we currently do

as teachers:– Assessment created first? Last? Why? Type?– Lesson Plans – same as always?– Activities for students – purpose?– Homework – purpose, expectations?– Syllabus – should contain clear, concise

language for:• Grading Policies• Makeup Work• Expectations for Cited work• Goals for Students to attain

Tear down the Box

• 4 minute mile – experts said it could not be done!– May 1954 – ran 3:59.4– 37 people since then have done

the same thing!

• Lincoln – wanted perfect Generals– Lost battle after battle from 1861-

64– Grant leads Union to victory even

though he has personal problems.

• Message – worst thing we can say is the word “can’t”– Students can learn and it can be

meaningful.– Be willing to do something extra-

ordinary.– We don’t move forward if we keep

using the word “can’t”

We don’t just need to “think

outside the box”, we need to

tear down the box we have, redesign the box, make it useful for the

21st century and make the box

serve a purpose for our students”

Change

• Bell Schedule – 4 daily blocks– Small % of students @ THCTT

• On Line Grading– Teacherease grading program– Gradual Implementation for

parents

• Blackboard– 21st Century learning– Teacherease page linked to BB– Update weekly– Add Principal & AP as TA to your

site.– Pre-conference – show your

stuff!

For StudentsFor FacultyFor Parents

Staffing Changes• New Positions

– Director of Counseling: Margo-lyn Grant– Health & PE DC – David Wilton

• New to Lee-Davis High School– Choral – Jana Martin– Counseling – Abby Allen – Drama: Katherine Facemire– English: John Working– Physical Education: Dana Johnson, Lindsey

Covington– Science: Renee Reisenweaver & Devon Thiel– Social Studies: David Hillgrove & Sarah Farrar– Special Education: Sarah Anton, Eva Hahn, Linda

Hahn, Tim Sanders, Daryl Morris, Wyatt Hicks, Denise Bonovitch, Martin Darby, Elizabeth Knight

Classroom Environment?

Carousel Brain Storm

• You are divided into 1 of 7 groups• When you arrive in commons – listen to

directions from facilitators• Each station contains a statement (open

ended) for you to complete/fill in add to.• Rotate when the music stops• When finished, have a seat at the tables.• Reflection and Report out will take

place.