PA LEADS Recognition of SAS Model Classroom Teachers Catasauqua Area School District

PA LEADS In August 2011 PDE selected a small number of school districts to serve as model districts for in-depth implementation of the PA Standards Aligned System (SAS) resource. The districts selected to participate have partnered with PA Department of Education and their local Intermediate Units in an effort to identify, implement, record, and disseminate models of good practice with SAS that clearly lead to improved student performance.

PA LEADS School Districts Catasauqua Area Gateway Haverford Hermitage Mechanicsburg Milton North Schuylkill Palisades Waynesboro Area

Benefits of District Participation: Gain statewide recognition as a model Standards Aligned System (SAS) district and develop district experts in SAS Improve student achievement in all sub-groups Participate in ongoing professional development, with support from expert consultants Become part of a statewide network of other educators working intensively on becoming SAS model districts Share and collaborate with other districts and schools involved in the model project Work with Dr. Grant Wiggins as he shares his expertise in curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices Grant Award - $25,000 each year (3 year commitment)

Core Principles of a Standards Aligned System (SAS) 1.MISSION ALIGNED The organization is mission driven: long-term student performance goals influence all short-term plans, actions, and decisions. 2.STANDARDS BASED The organization is standards based: it assesses against standards, and it has high standards. 3.A SYSTEM The organization is a system: there is consistency and coherence across classrooms and schools; all stakeholders teachers are working in the same direction.

Catasauqua Area School District SAS Model Classroom Mini-Grant Program Purpose To allow individual/pairs of classroom teachers, grade level teams, instructional/specialist teams, or content based teams an opportunity to apply to CASD for funds to implement Standards Aligned Systems (SAS) strategies within the classroom that will ultimately result in increased student achievement.

SAS Model Classroom Teachers Grant Award Recipients Sheckler Elementary Erica Schlamp & Jami Gallo Deb Elek Kristen Zavar Catasauqua Middle School Dawn Fisher & Marie Hallquist DiAnne Galm, Brenda Shahpari, & Dolores Johns Catasauqua High School Alexis Sziy, John Yanek, Robin Rader, & Marge DeMarchi

Sheckler Elementary Project Summaries 2 nd Grade Erica Schlamp & Jami Gallo (Awarded $2000) Firing Up Math Facts with the Kindle Fire 4 th Grade Deb Elek ($2000) Improving Mathematics Achievement through Study Island Implementation Elementary ESL Kristen Zavar (Awarded $1000) Using the iPad to Enhance Understanding of Literary Elements

Sheckler Students

Catasauqua Middle School Project Summaries 5 th Grade Dawn Fisher & Marie Hallquist (Awarded $2000) Using the iPad to Improve Mathematics Achievement 8 th Grade DiAnne Galm, Brenda Shahpari, & Dolores Johns (Awarded $2000) Using Digital Media to Enhance Persuasive Writing

Catasauqua Middle School Students

Catasauqua Middle School

Catasauqua High School Project Summary Alexis Sziy, John Yanek, Robin Rader, & Marge DeMarchi (Awarded $4000) Using Technology & Kindles to Improve Students’ Content Area Literacy Skills

Catasauqua High School

Summary of PA LEADS Activities PA LEADS team attended the October Institute - Keynote Speaker: Grant Wiggins Development of District Action Plan based on information shared at the October Institute Participation in Online SAS Course - 5 Units (3 SAS Principles, Mission, Commitments, Assessment, Action Planning) Creation of District Classroom Mini-Grant Opportunities January PD for Classroom Mini-Grant Recipients March PD (Assessment) for Classroom Mini-Grant Recipients May Classroom Walk Throughs June PA LEADS Institute

Catasauqua High School