superintendent conference day #1

Superintendent Superintendent Conference DayConference DaySuperintendent Superintendent Conference DayConference Day

October 24, 2008October 24, 2008

“Wall Street Woes Doom State Aid Plan”

• Billion$ Lost• Thousands of jobs gone• Next year’s budget?

Increased Competition• SUNY officials seek rural charter

schools.– “We should seriously reach out to

experienced charter school organizers to take a look at rural areas.” – SUNY Board of Trustee, Edward Cox

Long-Term Erosion of Support

• Vouchers and Charters are our Competition.

• UAW, Steelworkers – China.• Our response(s) today will have an

impact for years to come.• Let’s not over-defend tradition.

Losing Local Control• Mandates severely limit local

Board Control.• School takeovers by Government

State Education Department.

We Are Under Attack – Don’t Be Fooled

• Massive testing• More rules & mandates• More reporting• More comparison of schools

Our Community• Support projects• Positive visibility• Show you care• Be realistic• Know what others are experiencing• Be involved

Our Students• Family Support Center• Understand / Compassion for their

difficulties• Develop new skills to help them

succeed

What Can Each of Us Do Now?

• Responsibilities versus Accountabilities.• Go beyond the contract.• Provide opportunities for students after school.• Offer opportunities to retake tests.• Present opportunities to dig out of holes and

improve grades.• Give opportunities for kids to try again.• Lecturing will not improve student

connectedness – this method is not regarded as highly effective.

Reflection

• What made you become a teacher?• What do you really enjoy about the

profession?• Those special teaching moments• Individual kids you really helped• How are you seeking personal

improvement?

Strategies to Connect With Learners?

Go the extra step! Beyond Responsibility –

• Re-teach a concept– Use assessment to inform instruction

• Provide after school help / enrichment• Establish positive contact with families• Utilize the Family Support Center

Current Learning Principles

• Engage students• Support instruction with technology• Small group participation – build dialogue• Assessments rather than tests• Use successful reading strategies in every class –

vocabulary instruction, teach comprehension strategies, provide opportunities for students to discuss and interpret texts, increase engagement in literacy.

• Experiential learning• Hands on opportunities

Source: Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices, August 2008.

Future Practices: Key Principles to Guide Learning

• Curriculum mapping – begin to keep a good record of your lessons.

• Seek to align your curriculum with New York State curriculum – in fairness to our children.

• Use positive learning strategies and assessments to increase depth of learning as opposed to simply “covering” material.

The Curriculum• A textbook is a single source of

curriculum and may not be well aligned to our State curriculum and assessments.– A well defined and aligned curriculum is

created from multiple sources and is flexible and responsive to the various learning styles and needs of students.

• Minimally, we must follow the State curriculum. Ideally, we can deliver much more.

Teaching Time is Precious

• Beginning and end of class• Pet topics NOT in the curriculum• Are we summarizing at the end?

Student Achievement• Know where all children are at!• Everyone is proficient in curriculum• Reteach instruction – Relearn

material – Retake tests.– Not fair?

Assessment• Modifications – small blackboards,

clickers, technology, etc.• Student understanding

Teachers are Life Long Learners

• Enroll yourself in new approaches.• We grow as an organization by growing as

individuals.• Continuously develop new strategies, skill sets,

competencies.• Analysis of the results / change in your behavior.• Be part of the change process – join in dialogue.

– Curriculum mapping– Seek ways to increase student engagement– Take the risk now! Be a leader!!!

Summary• Tough Budget• Tough Contract• Maintain High Level of Professionalism• Community of Compassion and Concern• Our children’s future success depends

on us!• Thank you!!!