Albia Community

School District

Welcome!!

“Our job is to help you be successful!”

Welcome

Kevin Crall

ACSD Superintendent

ACSD School

Facilities•Kendall

Center Kindergarten

•Grant Center First and Second

•Lincoln Center Grades 3 - 6

•Albia Jr. High Grades 7&8

•Albia High Grades 9-12

•Mick Center District Tech

Center

Rural Communitie

sSix

Communities1. Albia2. Avery3. Georgetown4. Hiteman5. Lovilia6. Melrose

ACSD Student Profile

• Based on 2005/06 data

• 1251.2 students K-12 - Down 45 students

• 367 Low SES293 - Free

138 - Reduced 34%- SES

• Very Homogeneous96% White

• Dropout Percentage Low - 6 Drop-outs

• AT Risk25 K., 22 G., 30 L., 15 Jr. High, 38 High School

• School Of Success – 17 students

Class of 2006

Graduate Intentions• 41.9% 4-Year College

• 46.8% 2-Year College• 3.2% Voc/Tech• 17.7% Work Part-Time• 11.3% Work Full-Time• 6.5% Military• 4.8% Other

Student Harassment

• Did you ever experience significant harassment from other students?

–72.6% No

–27.4% Yes

Learning Experiences

• Did you have a positive learning experience at Albia High School?

–79% Yes

–21% No

Safe Learning

Environment • Albia High School provided a

safe learning environment.– 33.9% Excellent– 35.5% Good– 22.6% Average– 3.2% Below Average– 3.1% Needs Improvement

Drug-Free

• Albia High School maintained a drug-free environment.– 22.6% Excellent– 30.7% Good– 30.7% Average– 9.7% Below Average– 6.5% Needs Improvement

Communication

• Students and parents were regularly notified concerning academic progress.– 27.4% Excellent– 27.4% Good– 33.9% Average– 9.7% Below Average

Quality

• Teachers held high standards/demanded quality work.- 27.4% Excellent- 50% Good- 19.4% Average- 1.6% Below Average

Technology

• Albia H.S. provided a strong foundation in the use of technology.- 37.1% Excellent- 46.8% Good- 14.5% Average- 1.6% Below Average

Rigor

• I was challenged to experience academic growth each year.– 25.8% Excellent– 40.3% Good– 29% Average– 4.8% Below Average

County Comparison

County Population

Current Populations

•Albia-3,706

•Avery-85 *

•Georgetown-15*

•Hiteman-60*

•Lovilia- 583

•Melrose-130

*estimated

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0-5 years6-10 years11-15 years16-20 years21+years

District Demographics

Restructuring

A NEW DISTRICT

• Entering our eighth year

• Closed outlying buildings

• Reorganized attendance centers

Positives of Restructuri

ng

Our Vision

• The ACSD’s vision is to prepare students to become responsible citizens, parents, and wage earners who are life-long learners.

Our Mission

• The ACSD is committed to providing quality educational opportunities for each student.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Our Beliefs

• Everyone can learn• Everyone needs to feel safe• Everyone has a right to a free,

appropriate public education• Learning is a life-long process• Education is a shared responsibility• Attitude affects achievement

Operating Principles

Decisions in the ACSD are based on the following principles:

• Priority• High Expectations• Accountability• Integrity• Open Communication• Professionalism

Our District Goals

As a result of their education at the ACSD, all graduates will possess the skills to:

• Communicate effectively in various situations by various means• Use leadership skills to respect and work collaboratively by various

means• Use basic skill competencies to solve problems and make decisions for

life long learning• Build and sustain positive emotional, intellectual, and physical well

being• Make appropriate educational career choices• Use technology appropriately and confidently• Contribute positively to a democratic society• Recognize, understand, and appreciate cultural diversity

CSIP Goals

1. Improve student academic achievement in grades K-12

2. Improve learning environment in the Albia Community School District

3. Improve communication with students, staff and community

4. Improve Technology in the ACSD

District Pride

• ACSD awarded a STAR School Connectivity grant

• Mick Technology Center opened in 1999, including computer labs, CAD instruction, technology modules

• 100% of certified staff have email addresses for improved communication among staff

District Pride

• Committed to improving our facilities– Handicapped Accessible– Fire/Life Safety Grant – Building Improvements made

through SILO Tax funds – Grounds are newly landscaped at

many schools

Student Accomplishme

nts• Approximately 240,000 in

scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors.

• National Honor Society is a strong organization.

• Brianna Wright made the Des Moines Register ALL-STATE ACADEMIC TEAM!

Student Accomplishme

nts• The High School Academic Team placed

second in the conference; team had top individual.

• Elementary students participate in many ISU Extension activities during and after school (Fruits and Vegetable Program)

• Co-curricular programs are strong - our students are active in many areas!

Block and Flex

Schedules•Block

– High School– 4 block-A/B

Days– Seminar

Period is at the end of day

•Flex– Jr. High– Common

Planning Times – Flex and

Exploratory Time

Staff Developmen

t• Each Month - 1:00 Dismissal• Building or District Sessions• Past or Present Initiatives

– Capturing Kids Hearts– Dimensions of Learning– Literacy Development– Career Development Goals– Curriculum Mapping

Student Activities

The Art of Teaching

• What makes “GREAT” Teachers?

• There is no “ONE” Answer!• A difference between more

effective teachers and their less effective peers if not what they know, but it is what they do!

Great Teachers Make THE Difference!

All else being equal, students assigned to the most effective teachers for 3 years in a row performed 50 percentile points higher on tests, on a 100-point scale, than did similar students assigned to the least effective teachers.

Linda Darling-HammondEducation Week, 3/04

Effective Schools

School leaders know there are three critical parts of the system:– Curriculum– Instruction– Assessment

Performance-Based

Classroom• Both teachers and students

know the standards.• Instruction and assessment are

directly related to the standards students are ready to learn.

Clarity of Expectations

When students know what they are supposed to learn, their performance, on average, is 27 percentile points higher than students who do not know what they are supposed to learn.

Robert Marzano

Anatomy of an Effective Lesson

• Introduction – frame the lesson by reviewing, making connections, clarifying objective of lesson, tying into previous learning

• Direct Instruction – teacher teaches content• Guided Practice – teacher and students work

together through samples• Independent Practice – each student can complete

assignment with at least 75% accuracy before without assistance (Gradual Release of Responsibility)

Gradual Release of Responsibility

• Highly effective teachers of high-poverty students:- Know exactly what they want students to

learn from the lesson– Enthusiastically introduce the concept in

a way that grabs students’ attention– Provide practice in a way that engages

ALL students in the work and discussion– Independent practice – 75% accuracy

Critical Components of Successful

Interventions • Collaborative teacher planning• Staff-wide focus on student progress on

learning continuum• Continual data analysis; results used

strategically• Groups remain fluid, students move in/out• NOT MORE WORKSHEETS! Ways to ensure

students interact with the content - shared pair discussions, graphic organizers, essential questions, content literacy strategies, etc.

Relationships

“ The most common answer to the question of what students would like to see changed is relationships.”

Tony Wagner

The Bottom Line

Our greatest contribution is to be sure that there is a teacher in every classroom who cares that every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a human being.

The Gallup Organization

Framework/Recipefor

Success!!!

Whitaker’s Themes

• Todd Whitaker outlines 14 things/traits that great teachers do differently !

• 14 things matter most in his eyes!

Number 1: People, Not Programs

• There is no one magical right answer!

• It not what you do - It’s how you do it!

• Recognize the need to keep improving!

Number 2: Clear

Expectations• Expectations vs. Rules vs.

Consequences of Breaking Rules• Key is to establish relationships!• Set tone at the beginning of the

year!• Open House - We are

Undefeated!

Number 3: Prevention vs. Revenge

• Goal of discipline - Keep behavior from happening again!

• Focus on things you can change,not the past!

• Remain professional!

Number 4: Set High

Expectations for Yourself

• Faculty Meetings

Number 5: Strive for

Improvement • Great teachers constantly want

to improve!

• Focus on your own behavior!

• Accept Responsibility

Number 6: Create a Positive

Atmosphere• Treat people with Respect!• Understand the power of praise

- authentic, specific, immediate, and clean!

• Can’t praise too much if it contains all 4 aspects!

Number 7: Attitude is Everything

• Teachers are the filter - stay positive!

• Teachers set the tone for their classroom!

• Great teachers want their students to be more excited about learning tomorrow than today!

Number 8: Keep

Relationships Healthy

• Work hard to keep relationships in good repair!

• Be consistent in your actions!• Repair on your own - Don’t be

afraid to apologize!

Number 9: The Ability to

Ignore• Great teachers have the ability to

ignore trivial disturbances!• Respond to inappropriate behavior

without escalating the situation!• Know the difference when “to go

with the flow” vs. “taking a stand”!

Number 10: Plan, Plan, and Plan!

• Have a purpose for everything; nothing should happen at random!– Classroom Set-up– Instructional Approaches– Time management classroom routines– Assemblies

Number 11: Keep 3

questions in mind

• #1 - What is the purpose?

• #2 - Will this actually accomplish the purpose?

• #3 - What will the best people think?

Number 12: Treat people

as if they were good

• Treat students as if their parents were in the room!

• Group Punishments - effective?

Number 13: Focus on Student Learning

• Keep standardized tests in perspective!

• If focused on student learning, achievement will take care of itself!

• Don’t prepare your kids for the test - prepare them for life!

Number 14: Make it

Cool to Care• Understand the power of emotion!

• Care about your students and they will care about what happens in class!

• Capture their heart, and then you will capture their head!

Be a Part of Our

Winning Team!• We trust in your abilities!

• Beliefs and Operating Principles guide your work!

• Make an impact!• Make a positive difference for

the students you teach!• We are here to help you succeed!

The Fun Never Stops

Resources

• Beds Document: 2004. [Dropout information, graduate intentions, students eligible for free and reduced price meals, student enrollment]. Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Education.

• U.S. Bureau of Census.(1991). Dynamics of economic well-being: Poverty,1920-1990. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

• Whitaker,T. (2004). What great teachers do differently. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education, Inc.