Is it politically incorrect to point out that the children of nearly every U.S. President in my lifetime as well as the children of most elected officials in Washington choose to attend private schools? We all know this to be true but no one seems to ask why. Or is the answer so obvious that the question seems irrelevant?
Perhaps it is because unlike Marietta City Schools, the DC schools have not realized that the best place to find the answers to better education lies with empowering the employees closest to the process. Teachers, administrators and staff that do the job day in and day out.
The Professional Learning Community (PLC) process begun over a year ago continues apace at the building and district level. The goal is to seek excellence and duplicate it. Find waste and eliminate it. And in general create a more productive and rewarding educational experience for our students and the community.
Many of our staff invest time and talent to move the process forward. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their desire to move more quickly is understandable. But one does not change a culture over night. And that’s precisely what is happening. A change in culture.
The core concept of PLC is based around four questions. 1. What essentials must all students learn? This addresses curriculum, how it is defined and executed. Are we on the right path in our teaching?
2. How can we be certain students have leaned it? This question goes to assessment. How do we measure the retention and understanding of the material taught?
3. What do we do for those who haven’t learned it? This question addresses the needs of those students whose skills fall beyond standards and require modified teaching methods and equipment.
4. What do we do for those who have already mastered the material? In other words, how can we serve the needs of students for whom the material falls short of their level of interest and ability?
The PLC process was begun last school year under Dr. Baker’s leadership. Several teams traveled to other schools where the concept has been at work successfully. They learned about challenges and successes and brought the information back.
Mr. Young has met authors of books on the subject and worked with the process in other districts. He stated last week his full endorsement and support of carrying the concept forward for the betterment of Marietta City Schools.
Your board understands and endorses the PLC process as the best means of maximizing our resources and offerings to students. We are currently examining non-curriculum areas to determine our status and develop targets for achievement over time.
The model we create may evolve with input from the community and administrators. It is fair to say that our position of being outside the system brings its own value to the table. We don’t know what cannot be done so it’s all possible at this point. We suffer no preconceptions.
Doing this work is taking time and talent and commitment, and not a small dose of faith in the outcome. The larger group that represents all the buildings in the district met last week. There were 23 members present and reports on the activities of each building were given. Good things are happening even though some feel the desire to move more quickly.
New buildings that enable people to communicate more easily with peers would be a big help. That too will come but will have to await approval by the larger community. This group is ready for the future of Marietta City Schools.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Programs vs: Activities
“That was my twenty-first Christmas program.” Those were the words of a long time band parent as she came down the steps of the balcony following last week’s performance by the various choirs and bands of the high school. Sorry if you missed it. It was the best show in town Monday night.
Once again the instrumental and choral groups combined to produce a spectacular musical experience performed by hundreds of students to the delight of hundreds more parents and onlookers. A testament to the growing strength of our music programs.
And programs is what they are. Not just activities. Not just individual groups of performers putting on their best show. A show performed by students who in many cases have been involved with the programs for nearly a decade.
Be it sports or academics or arts or any human endeavor, it takes years to develop skills and learn the best ways to perform an activity. Those years should be spent developing fundamentals and building on them to a point where the time spent in the beginning stages yields dividends in performance in later years.
Your school board recognizes that we need to be investing in and developing programs with a long-range goal in mind. Programs that will yield the best results for the dollars and time invested. And best serve students.
Too often schools find themselves dependent on a strong leader who can run a great program but does not leave a legacy. The successor, unless he/she has the same talents, skill set and devotion often cannot keep the program going at its previous level of performance.
By insisting on the creation of standards and methods in all our endeavors we will free ourselves from the ups and downs resulting from changes in personnel. A new leader should be able to look to an established set of operating criteria and carry on those parts of any program that have served well in the past. And avoid problems already discovered.
Sports and other extra-curricular activities are areas where the benefits of developing and maintaining programming are easy to spot. But the lessons there can cross many areas of curriculum. Which is what defining the program of study is intended to do.
Imagine a football team with coaches who agreed to a long-range plan that began in the early grades teaching foundation skills. Imagine that the plan built on those skills over the whole of the grade school, middle school and high school years. What might be the result?
We just might have teams that would rival those of the late 1950’s that were known statewide for their success. Now translate that to any curriculum subject you like. Math, science, reading or English. The results could be the same.
Programs that built on the strengths of the best teachers/coaches that produced the best results. Programs that would continue to operate at a high level producing great results no matter who was at the helm. Programs that have determined the best methods to produce the best results and have shared those methods.
It is just those kinds of results across the whole of our education system that this board seeks to achieve. It is this result that the Professional Learning Community process can produce as it moves ahead in its work to build on the programs and activities that produce the best results.
Admission to last week’s musical program was free. But at $10 a ticket it would have been a bargain. Do yourself a favor. Plan to see it next year, even if they do charge.
Once again the instrumental and choral groups combined to produce a spectacular musical experience performed by hundreds of students to the delight of hundreds more parents and onlookers. A testament to the growing strength of our music programs.
And programs is what they are. Not just activities. Not just individual groups of performers putting on their best show. A show performed by students who in many cases have been involved with the programs for nearly a decade.
Be it sports or academics or arts or any human endeavor, it takes years to develop skills and learn the best ways to perform an activity. Those years should be spent developing fundamentals and building on them to a point where the time spent in the beginning stages yields dividends in performance in later years.
Your school board recognizes that we need to be investing in and developing programs with a long-range goal in mind. Programs that will yield the best results for the dollars and time invested. And best serve students.
Too often schools find themselves dependent on a strong leader who can run a great program but does not leave a legacy. The successor, unless he/she has the same talents, skill set and devotion often cannot keep the program going at its previous level of performance.
By insisting on the creation of standards and methods in all our endeavors we will free ourselves from the ups and downs resulting from changes in personnel. A new leader should be able to look to an established set of operating criteria and carry on those parts of any program that have served well in the past. And avoid problems already discovered.
Sports and other extra-curricular activities are areas where the benefits of developing and maintaining programming are easy to spot. But the lessons there can cross many areas of curriculum. Which is what defining the program of study is intended to do.
Imagine a football team with coaches who agreed to a long-range plan that began in the early grades teaching foundation skills. Imagine that the plan built on those skills over the whole of the grade school, middle school and high school years. What might be the result?
We just might have teams that would rival those of the late 1950’s that were known statewide for their success. Now translate that to any curriculum subject you like. Math, science, reading or English. The results could be the same.
Programs that built on the strengths of the best teachers/coaches that produced the best results. Programs that would continue to operate at a high level producing great results no matter who was at the helm. Programs that have determined the best methods to produce the best results and have shared those methods.
It is just those kinds of results across the whole of our education system that this board seeks to achieve. It is this result that the Professional Learning Community process can produce as it moves ahead in its work to build on the programs and activities that produce the best results.
Admission to last week’s musical program was free. But at $10 a ticket it would have been a bargain. Do yourself a favor. Plan to see it next year, even if they do charge.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Winter
It’s 3:30 in the morning. Do you know where your school superintendent is? Winter has arrived and with it, the first day of delayed classes for many area schools.
Last Tuesday brought snow to some areas of the county and ice to many roads. And it left other areas with not a trace of the wintry white stuff. Therein lies the problem of winter weather and transportation decisions.
Most superintendents and/or their transportation managers are out and about in the middle of the night when snow or bad roads are predicted. They are trying to make the best decision possible based on first hand information about the safety of the morning trips to schools.
Last Tuesday, for many, the snow meant a more leisurely breakfast for teachers. A reprieve for students who didn’t study quite enough for that early morning test. And for parents who had to stay home with their youngsters an extra two hours it meant their work day schedules were disrupted. Fun for some, not for others.
The bottom line in making the decision to delay classes, or even close schools for the day is always student safety. And it’s not just the buses to consider as many students drive to school for various reasons. For many of these drivers these are first experiences with snowy or icy roads. An extra measure of caution is required.
There aren’t any easy answers. Some weather phenomena make a very hazardous situation in one or a few spots leaving others totally safe. At other times broad areas are affected and the decision is clearer, if not easier.
Folks from other districts communicate with us on this and other topics. We all share information and make decisions with the best on site observations possible.
A couple hours of warming sun and other traffic can make a world of difference to the condition of a road. As can the snow removal crews who may not have gotten around by school travel time but will be working in a couple more hours.
As townships, municipalities and the state have modified equipment, personnel and salt and sand availability, it has become more difficult to predict with accuracy when clearing efforts will take place. Budgets and or material availability have forced changes that impact service.
Another board member and I were speaking by phone Tuesday and we agreed conditions were not that bad. Then he became delayed in traffic. The reason was a vehicle off the road. Much later that day as I was returning from Vienna and coming through Boaz there were two very slick ice lines about a half mile long where the road was shaded by trees.
Wednesday I spoke with an administrator who travels route 60 from Lowell and he too experienced a vehicle off the road on his way to work Tuesday. Apparently there were good reasons to have made the call for a late start.
There are many ways to address late starting times with the schedule. Granted, it’s an interruption to the process whatever is done. But better that than a preventable accident.
There will always be Monday morning quarterbacks with just the right calls for Sunday’s football games. And it is far easier to look at Tuesday night’s snowfall from the comfort of Wednesday’s lunch discussion. But the decisions have to be made before the vehicles start to roll.
We have had our first taste of winter. It won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last time you can find a lot of local school folks out checking the roads while we sleep. It’s a comfort.
Last Tuesday brought snow to some areas of the county and ice to many roads. And it left other areas with not a trace of the wintry white stuff. Therein lies the problem of winter weather and transportation decisions.
Most superintendents and/or their transportation managers are out and about in the middle of the night when snow or bad roads are predicted. They are trying to make the best decision possible based on first hand information about the safety of the morning trips to schools.
Last Tuesday, for many, the snow meant a more leisurely breakfast for teachers. A reprieve for students who didn’t study quite enough for that early morning test. And for parents who had to stay home with their youngsters an extra two hours it meant their work day schedules were disrupted. Fun for some, not for others.
The bottom line in making the decision to delay classes, or even close schools for the day is always student safety. And it’s not just the buses to consider as many students drive to school for various reasons. For many of these drivers these are first experiences with snowy or icy roads. An extra measure of caution is required.
There aren’t any easy answers. Some weather phenomena make a very hazardous situation in one or a few spots leaving others totally safe. At other times broad areas are affected and the decision is clearer, if not easier.
Folks from other districts communicate with us on this and other topics. We all share information and make decisions with the best on site observations possible.
A couple hours of warming sun and other traffic can make a world of difference to the condition of a road. As can the snow removal crews who may not have gotten around by school travel time but will be working in a couple more hours.
As townships, municipalities and the state have modified equipment, personnel and salt and sand availability, it has become more difficult to predict with accuracy when clearing efforts will take place. Budgets and or material availability have forced changes that impact service.
Another board member and I were speaking by phone Tuesday and we agreed conditions were not that bad. Then he became delayed in traffic. The reason was a vehicle off the road. Much later that day as I was returning from Vienna and coming through Boaz there were two very slick ice lines about a half mile long where the road was shaded by trees.
Wednesday I spoke with an administrator who travels route 60 from Lowell and he too experienced a vehicle off the road on his way to work Tuesday. Apparently there were good reasons to have made the call for a late start.
There are many ways to address late starting times with the schedule. Granted, it’s an interruption to the process whatever is done. But better that than a preventable accident.
There will always be Monday morning quarterbacks with just the right calls for Sunday’s football games. And it is far easier to look at Tuesday night’s snowfall from the comfort of Wednesday’s lunch discussion. But the decisions have to be made before the vehicles start to roll.
We have had our first taste of winter. It won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last time you can find a lot of local school folks out checking the roads while we sleep. It’s a comfort.
Black Olives
Grandma always brought the black olives. But last Tuesday at breakfast there were no black olives. Only an egg/potato casserole, pastries, fruit, orange juice and milk.
And some coffee I was told could dissolve spoons.
Principal Mike Elliott presided over a recognition event for four students, parents of those students, teaching staff and administrators. At 7 in the morning, no less.
As Mr. Elliott pointed out, over 1.5 million students across the country are involved in the initial assessment/testing (PSAT) for National Merit scholars. It is an honor for any school to have one student recognized. And here we were with four. There are various levels of recognition and these four are on the course.
The breakfast was held in the library at the high school. Fitting enough for such an event as just outside the doors to the library is a large glass case similar to those outside the gymnasium recognizing sports figures. But this case has a series of pictures of Marietta High School graduates of note who have achieved success in various endeavors beyond school. It’s worth the visit. Quite a display.
Recent weeks have seen a discussion among board and administrators about support of activities beyond the obvious, sports and band and what we do for gifted students. Turns out we do quite a lot. But as with sports and band, none of the activities could be conducted without input (Time help and money) from parents and the community.
Our Gifted Services Coordinator, Tangie Rumbold provided a brief overview of some of what is provided for identified students. The district pays supplemental contracts for teachers who are responsible for Science Olympiad, Future Problem Solving, and Power of the Pen/Pencil. The district also pays for all transportation for the events where travel is involved (Model UN, Future Problem Solving State Bowl, Science Olympiad, Power of the Pen State Bowl). Both the middle and high school principals (from their principal account) provide funding for various activities which involve their identified students.
As with sports and band there are other fees for hotel and meals not covered by the monies the district provides. There are also monies to provide scholarships for those unable to afford the entire fees. We hope that no student who wants to participate is excluded for financial reasons.
One board member held forth that we are not so much an academic institution as a learning institution and as such we provide a wide variety of activities which all involve learning and reach out to the community in various ways and provide experiences for students. Admittedly not much income is derived selling popcorn at spelling bees and science fairs, but there are other means of support for such activities.
I took advantage of being at the school to wander around and take in some of the wall posters about other activities. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) listed a series of activities that included dog walking. Who knew?
The November issue of The Original school newspaper covered recent stock market chaos as well as students involved in the local community theater production of ‘A Christmas Carol.’
And some coffee I was told could dissolve spoons.
Principal Mike Elliott presided over a recognition event for four students, parents of those students, teaching staff and administrators. At 7 in the morning, no less.
As Mr. Elliott pointed out, over 1.5 million students across the country are involved in the initial assessment/testing (PSAT) for National Merit scholars. It is an honor for any school to have one student recognized. And here we were with four. There are various levels of recognition and these four are on the course.
The breakfast was held in the library at the high school. Fitting enough for such an event as just outside the doors to the library is a large glass case similar to those outside the gymnasium recognizing sports figures. But this case has a series of pictures of Marietta High School graduates of note who have achieved success in various endeavors beyond school. It’s worth the visit. Quite a display.
Recent weeks have seen a discussion among board and administrators about support of activities beyond the obvious, sports and band and what we do for gifted students. Turns out we do quite a lot. But as with sports and band, none of the activities could be conducted without input (Time help and money) from parents and the community.
Our Gifted Services Coordinator, Tangie Rumbold provided a brief overview of some of what is provided for identified students. The district pays supplemental contracts for teachers who are responsible for Science Olympiad, Future Problem Solving, and Power of the Pen/Pencil. The district also pays for all transportation for the events where travel is involved (Model UN, Future Problem Solving State Bowl, Science Olympiad, Power of the Pen State Bowl). Both the middle and high school principals (from their principal account) provide funding for various activities which involve their identified students.
As with sports and band there are other fees for hotel and meals not covered by the monies the district provides. There are also monies to provide scholarships for those unable to afford the entire fees. We hope that no student who wants to participate is excluded for financial reasons.
One board member held forth that we are not so much an academic institution as a learning institution and as such we provide a wide variety of activities which all involve learning and reach out to the community in various ways and provide experiences for students. Admittedly not much income is derived selling popcorn at spelling bees and science fairs, but there are other means of support for such activities.
I took advantage of being at the school to wander around and take in some of the wall posters about other activities. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) listed a series of activities that included dog walking. Who knew?
The November issue of The Original school newspaper covered recent stock market chaos as well as students involved in the local community theater production of ‘A Christmas Carol.’
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