Along the Road to Rigor, Relevance and Relationships: West High Improvement Plan for 07-08

1. Along the Road to Rigor, Relevance and Relationships: West High Improvement Plan for 07-08 Mike Ashurst / CRA Ed Jones / Principal RED COACHES

2. Bill Gates – National Governor’s Conference - 2005 By obsolete, I mean that our high schools -- even when they're working exactly as designed -- cannot teach our kids what they need to know today. Training the workforce of tomorrow with the high schools of today is like trying to teach kids about today's computers on a 50-year-old mainframe. It's the wrong tool for the times.”

3. OLDMission Every Student Can Learn Assessment of Learning (Summative) Select and Sort Students Winners and Losers Focus on Teaching NEW Mission Every Student Will Learn Assessment for Learning (Formative) Differentiate Failure is Not an Option Focus on Learning The Mission Changed…

4. West High’s Goal: Rigor/Relevance For All

5. Our Responsibility: Create a curriculum driven by data from two categories: • Academic Skills that are rigorous and which students must master in our test driven education system • Essential Skills and knowledge that employees need to succeed in our technology and information infused economy

6. The WhatAn Evolution not a Revolution • Building capacity throughout the school / CRA • District Leadership Support • Red Coaches development and leadership • Principal Role

7. Year One- Goals Aligned to our best practices strategic plan. • Create and implement a framework for rigorous and relevant secondary curriculum. • Create multiple career-focused pathways. • Provide effective leadership development opportunities for administrators, teachers, parents and the community focused on instructional practices and strategies . • Provide opportunities that include a caring adult relationship with each student.

8. Resources for Strategic Plan

9. Resources for Strategic Plan

10. Secondary Design – An Evolution not a Revolution It may seem obvious, but the first step is to have a clear mission and vision for what you are trying to create. “Having agreement on the key elements allows schools to establish as non-negotiable the practices and philosophies that will be held sacred among the group.” “Getting Off the Hamster Wheel” by Grace Sammon

11. Secondary Design: West High The Guiding Principles - The Backbone of What We Believe

12. West High Priority Components

13. District Initiatives Support Resources School Initiatives Data Analysis Small Learning Communities RED Collaborative Analysis Teams Flexible Scheduling Priority Secondary Reform Components High Expectations with Rigor and Relevance

14. School Initiatives Freshman Transition Program Community Learning Culture / Climate Priority Secondary Reform Components Grade Level Transitions

15. School Initiatives Mini Grant (12) Walk thru data Develop 20 minute walk – thru instrument that is analytical Coaches that work PD for technology Priority West High Reform Components Sustained and Supported Staff Development

16. District Initiatives Red Coach training Red Coach supplement Support team members School Initiatives Culture ESS PT conferences Teacher Web sites Discipline Teacher Support Priority West High Reform Components Supportive Student / Teacher Relationships

17. Best Practices Redesign Rubric • All new and on-going programs will be evaluated in light of their rating on the Best Practices Indicators Rubric. • New Programs will be approved, based on the rating. • Existing programs will be continued, modified or cancelled based, on the rating.

19. Best Practices Indicator Area Rating Core Academic Rigor Acceleration Mechanism/ Stretch Learning Progress Monitoring for Continuous Improvement Student Engagement/ Relevancy Personal Skills Development-Character & Citizenship Best Practices Rubric Rating

20. Secondary Redesign Timelinefor 2007-08 West High School • Action Planning – This four-phase process will be used by West High School in the formulation/review /refinement/approval and ongoing implementation of the school’s secondary redesign action plan for 2007-08

21. West design Timeline-2007-08 • Phase 1: July 2005 – July 14, 2006 • New Administration Retreats • Academies • Phase One Action Plan due and reviewed by West Support leadership team • Phase 2: August – September 2007 • West Culture Shock / New ways / New days at West • Red Coaches in place / Support team reviews • Awareness for Professional Learning Communities • Principal Academy – Lexington, Berea • Successful OD and Plan testing sessions • Phase 3: October 2006 – November 2007 • Red Coaches training • PLC Conference - Atlanta • Data Analysis / School Improvement Plans created • Pilot Professional Learning Communities • Phase 4: November – May 2008 • Create a “Whatever it Takes Culture” for West High

22. Next Steps: Racing to Proficiency • Focus on the New Goals • Ensure quality implementation of district and school- based programs • Increase monitoring of school and student progress • Increase the opportunities for acceleration with support • ESS that works • Design an intervention system with multiple strategies and options. • Continue the culture improvement • Create SIP’s that can be monitored and measured

23. Next Steps • Focus on Strategic Implementation of Professional Learning Communities • Establish a working PLC • Provide District-wide training on a staff development day. • Provide on-going training at Faculty Meetings when appropriate

24. Next Steps Red Coaches monitoring and continued implementation of goals • Teams of departments meeting to improve / meeting to train and be trained / modeling and monitoring • School Support team meets bimonthly to discuss progress and provide strategic support. • Plan of Coaches given by timeline for support teams