Albia Community School District

1. Albia Community School District Welcome!! “Our job is to help you be successful!”

2. Welcome Kevin Crall ACSD Superintendent

3. Kendall Center Kindergarten Grant Center First and Second Lincoln CenterGrades 3 - 6 Albia Jr. High Grades 7&8 Albia High Grades 9-12 Mick Center District Tech Center ACSD School Facilities

4. Rural Communities Six Communities • Albia • Avery • Georgetown • Hiteman • Lovilia • Melrose

5. Based on 2005/06 data 1251.2 students K-12 - Down 45 students 367 Low SES 293 - Free 138 - Reduced 34%- SES Very Homogeneous 96% White DropoutPercentage Low - 6 Drop-outs AT Risk 25 K., 22 G., 30 L., 15 Jr. High, 38 High School School Of Success – 17 students ACSD Student Profile

6. 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

7. Student Harassment • Did you ever experience significant harassment from other students? • 72.6% No • 27.4% Yes

8. Learning Experiences • Did you have a positive learning experience at Albia High School? • 79% Yes • 21% No

9. 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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

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

15. County Comparison

16. County Population • Current Populations • Albia-3,706 • Avery-85 * • Georgetown-15* • Hiteman-60* • Lovilia- 583 • Melrose-130 • *estimated

17. District Demographics

18. Restructuring A NEW DISTRICT • Entering our eighth year • Closed outlying buildings • Reorganized attendance centers

19. Positives of Restructuring

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

21. Our Mission • The ACSD is committed to providing quality educational opportunities for each student. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

22. 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

23. Operating Principles Decisions in the ACSD are based on the following principles: • Priority • High Expectations • Accountability • Integrity • Open Communication • Professionalism

24. 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

25. CSIP Goals • Improve student academic achievement in grades K-12 • Improve learning environment in the Albia Community School District • Improve communication with students, staff and community • Improve Technology in the ACSD

26. 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

27. 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

28. Student Accomplishments • 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!

29. Student Accomplishments • 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!

30. 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 Block and Flex Schedules

31. Staff Development • 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

32. Student Activities

33. 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!

34. 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-Hammond Education Week, 3/04

35. Effective Schools School leaders know there are three critical parts of the system: • Curriculum • Instruction • Assessment

36. Performance-Based Classroom • Both teachers and students know the standards. • Instruction and assessment are directly related to the standards students are ready to learn.

37. 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

38. 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)

39. 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

40. 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.

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

42. 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

43. Framework/Recipe for Success!!!

44. Whitaker’s Themes • Todd Whitaker outlines 14 things/traits that great teachers do differently ! • 14 things matter most in his eyes!

45. 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!

46. 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!

47. Number 3: Prevention vs. Revenge • Goal of discipline - Keep behavior from happening again! • Focus on things you can change,not the past! • Remain professional!

48. Number 4: Set High Expectations for Yourself • Faculty Meetings

49. Number 5: Strive for Improvement • Great teachers constantly want to improve! • Focus on your own behavior! • Accept Responsibility

50. 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!