Turning Around Your School

1. Turning Around Your School Quick Wins!

2. West Jessamine Middle School • Failed to make AYP 6 consecutive years~ resulting in Tier 4 status. • Lead Instructional Administrator placed over school in November 2007. • Turn around began… • August 2008~ West Middle celebrated success in making AYP. • September 2009~ West Middle celebrated success in making AYP and ending all Tier Status and consequences. • Total Turn Around time~ 18 months

3. Time Keeps on Spinning… 54Days Until KCCT

4. Making Data Matter • Use school-wide, class, and individual student data to make school-wide decisions • Data Retreat~ Beginning event • Data Reviews~ Monitoring and Follow Up

5. Data Retreat • Purpose of a Data Retreat • Intentional analysis of school-wide assessment information • Identification of target goals • Organization of the Data Retreat • Data compiles into manageable format with target/subgroup information pulled separately • Teams meet with administration to review assessment and to narrow focus from school-wide to individual student data • Students are identified and sorted into groups • Intervention plans are created for individual students • Outcome of the Data Retreat • Teams leave the data review with individual learning plans to move students toward proficiency. • Plans include resources needed/responsible party for each child’s success

6. Data Review • Periodic “check up” based upon new data (probes, scrimmages, PAS, etc.) • Guiding Questions~ • Based upon the plans made for individual interventions during the Data Retreat, what progress has been made? • How will individual interventions be changed? When? Who is responsible for the implementation? Who is responsible for the student’s success? • Based upon new data what are your team numbers? (there, almost there, not there) • What changes need to be made in the assessment plan?

7. Focus On Instruction • Use differentiation strategies in a collaborative setting~ Everyone accepts responsibility for student learning! • Maintain rigorous instruction for all students~ Acceleration not remediation! • Implement goal setting with students that allow them to self monitor their own learning~ Empower your students! • Use of school wide intervention time~ Every child, every minute, every day!

8. Assessment Plan • Develop an intentional schedule • Which student? Which teacher? Where to assess? How does student respond under assessment conditions? • Focus on accommodations • Clear definitions/folders/supports • Training for staff • Clear directions/expectations/test prep • Training for students • Advocating for oneself • Implementation and practice • Practice like it is KCCT • Revision of the plan • Adjust as needed

9. Committed Staff • Mentor teacher assignments • Evaluate effectiveness of team arrangements • Reassign teams as needed based upon expertise • Use evaluations effectively to replace teachers as needed • Relationships with students “all” are “our” kids.

10. High Performance For All • Leaders must lead! (Hang wringing won’t help! Really?!) Teachers are looking for a leader to rise, to take the challenge, to work with them, to participate in the conversations that matter, and to share responsibility for the problems. • Teachers must teach! Eliminate distractions~ Eliminate excuses “Failure is not an option! Learning for all, whatever it takes!” • Students must take ownership for their learning! Students set goals, monitor their own progress, and are empowered, independent advocates for their learning.

11. Questions ?

12. Additional Information • Kathy Fields, Lead Instructional Administrator, Jessamine County Schools. • kathy.fields@jessamine.kyschools.us • 859-885-4179 Webinar~ Turning Around Your School http://www.achievingschoolturnaround.com/?p=156 Blog~ “The State of the School” http://www.achievingschoolturnaround.com/?p=156