Where Innovation Is Tradition

Project SPARK toPatriot Innovation Academy

George Mason University & Fairfax County Public Schools

Jack DaleSuperintendent, FCPS

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Mission

To provide a problem-based, rigorous, and comprehensive education for a diverse and changing learning community. At Patriot Innovation Academy (PIA), pre-service and in-service teachers will employ new and innovative teaching strategies in an effort to research, understand, and scale them to support all learners.

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Vision• Utilize the “4C’s” of critical thinking,

collaboration, communication, and creativity

• Leverage technology as a tool to support learning in a seamless fashion

• Incubate innovative and high yield pedagogy to support the teaching profession

• Provide an interdisciplinary curriculum that supports the integration of concepts and mirror real life experiences

• Cultivate a passion for excellence in academics that fosters a sense of personal and community responsibility

• Serve as a model program for the State of Virginia and the Department of Education

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Partnerships & Key Stakeholders

• George Mason University

• Fairfax County Public Schools

• Corporate/Public Sector

• Students/Families/Community

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Major Features of PIA

• Organizational Features Based on Strong Partnership

• Unique Aspects of Lab School vs. Charter Schools

• Proposed as co-located within a FCPS Secondary School (for up to 5 years)

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Status of Planning & Implementation

• Team Structure• Oversight and Leadership (Gold)• Governance (Purple)• Operations/Communication

(Orange/Yellow)• Educational Programming (Green, Blue,

Red)• Curriculum and Instruction• Professional Development• Pre-service• In-service

Where Innovation Is Tradition

“If we knew then what we know now….”

“Giving shape to something that does not exist requires constant deliberate attention to imagining possibilities in balance with practical potential.”

“The curriculum drives everything. The best part of this process is watching how all the other teams are following the lead of the Curriculum Team which has enabled us to focus on the student and what’s best for him/her.”

Quotes from various team meetings about the process.

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Where Are We Currently:

October 22, 2012: Submitted Lab School Application to Virginia BOE

November 2, 2012: Received notice from VBOE that our request to be considered for Opening in 2013 is approved; will be under review and negotiations for the next 6-8 weeks

November 6, 2012: Submitted final report for Planning Grant funding period with Request for No Cost Extension and Projected Funds/Resources needed during Start-up Phase between now and September 2013