FAR WEST PROJECT GREAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. FAR WEST PROJECT GREAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE March 10, 2009 Clint I. S. D.Central Administration Offices

2. AGENDA • Our Mission and Vision Statements • Review of Recent Activities • Upcoming Activities • Report from State Advisory Council Rep. • State Initiatives • Adult Education Collaboration with Workforce Development • Topic of the Quarter: I-BEST Discussion • Location for next meeting

3. RECENT ACTIVITIES • El Paso ISD ESL Beginning Literacy Academy • Follow up held on Feb. 20th • 12 Instructors completed training • GED Academy: Integrating Technology into Content Areas • Follow up held on Feb. 20th • 13 Instructors completed training • New Teacher Academy • Last session held on March 7th • 7 Instructors completed training • 4 Mentors participated

4. VISION STATEMENT Preparing adult teachers and administrators to help adults learn and succeed

5. MISSION STATEMENT The Far West GREAT Center is committed to providing high quality, intensive, customized professional development to adult education teachers and technical support to all adult education programs in its service area for the purpose of improving the basic skills of all adult students and supporting their employment and continuing education and training goals. The Far West GREAT Center achieves these objectives by: • Continually assessing the needs of its stakeholders including students, teachers and program administrators. • Developing effective research-based professional development opportunities that address the greatest needs in terms of student performance and program success. • Effectively communicating and implementing statewide adult education initiatives designed to improve program performance. • Providing a forum for adult education programs in our region to share ideas and collaborate in the development of creative solutions to the problems that confront adult education. • Fostering partnerships with other organizations to collaborate in the achievement of student goals after they leave the adult education system.

6. RECENT ACTIVITIES • Ysleta Excellence Academy • Last session will be held on May 6th • 16 Instructors participating in training • GED Academy: Math and Science • First session held on Feb. 27 – 28 • Last session on May 8 - 9 • 8 Instructors participating in training • Project Based Learning Academy • First session held on Feb. 6 – 7 • Last session on May 1 – 2 • 11 Instructors participating in training

7. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES • Data Detective • Understanding TEAMS data for program improvement • Helen Mills (Harris County Department of Education) • @Ysleta Community Learning Center (8:30-3:30) • ESL Summer Institute • Effective Pair and Group Work • July 28 – 30 presented by Heide Wrigley and Klaudia Rivera • Classroom Management Academy • Focus on effective instructional strategies that require less preparation time (ESL and ABE) • Laurel Pollard (EPALL keynote speaker) • June 9-11 • Special Learning Needs training • Four 12-hour sessions and 12 of homework • June 24-25, Sep. 11-12, Nov. 20-21, Jan. 29-30 • Attendees will obtain Resource Specialist Certificate • Stacey Milberger (Certified trainer)

8. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES • Workforce Literacy I Academy • I-BEST “Summit” • Invite Ad. Ed., EPCC, Workforce Solutions, Vocational Training Providers • August 2009 • Pre-Transition Academy • September 2009 • What do you think the focus should be? • Best Plus Training • We have a request for a Best Plus training for March. Are there any other programs that need to have somebody trained?

9. TOPIC OF THE QUARTER: I-BEST • I-BEST: Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training • Pairs ESL/ABE instructors and professional-technical instructors in the classroom to concurrently provide students with literacy education and workforce skills. • The model requires a 50% overlap in instructional time. • Both the content and basic skills instructor must be present in the classroom for at least half of the total time of instruction. • At the remaining time the instructors are teaching solo.

10. TOPIC OF THE QUARTER: I-BEST • Would this topic be of interest for the Workforce Literacy I Academy? • 2 day session for explanation of model and facilitation of planning

11. STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL • Update from Council Representative - Blanca Andrade

12. STATE INITIATIVES • Teacher and Administrator Credential • Online PDPW for Teacher Credential will become available on April 1 • Should facilitate the enrollment process • Administrator Credential now available to all online • ESL Beginning Literacy Initiative • Training of Trainers scheduled on July 14th during the Summer Administrator’s Institute • Module training is 6 hours with 3 hour follow up

13. STATE INITIATIVES • Math Institute • Training of Trainers scheduled for July 15 – 16 during the Summer Administrator’s Institute • Special Learning Needs Institute • Texas LEARNS will evaluate status and determine whether a new cohort of specialists is needed next year • Currently there are 9 state trainers available

14. ADULT EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT • Two training sessions to Workforce Center staff were provided • 56 staff members trained • Workforce Referrals received and enrolled (Jan. to present): • San Jacinto ALC: 10 • Socorro CLC: 6 • Ysleta CLC: 8 • Issues with Referral Forms • ROTO’s are still being used along with Referral form • Not completed correctly • Confusion among Case Managers contacted

15. ADULT EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT • Update on whether AE Program information is available to Workforce staff via intranet • Meeting with Workforce Solutions postponed to April • Date? • Topics for discussion?

16. NEXT ADVISORY MEETING • Upcoming meeting: • Tuesday, June 9, 2009 • Location for next meeting? • Possible program-related agenda items?