“Healthy Pathways to Success” School Nurses Orientation Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center August 24, 2010 Dr. Steven L. Walts Superintendent of Schools

1 Today’s Agenda - Healthy Pathways to Success - 1.Crisis “Du Jour” 2.Changing PWCS Demographics 3.New for Social Media Revolution 5.Providing a World- Class Education 6.Strategic Plan 7.Promoting Student Success 8.Collaboration 9.Closing Thoughts

2 Crisis “Du Jour” in Retrospect Medical Issues –H1N1

3 Crisis “Du Jour” in Retrospect The President’s Welcome Back Speech Today: Obama Web Cast

4 Crisis “Du Jour” in Retrospect Snow Closures –Extra 10 minutes

5 Crisis “Du Jour” in Retrospect Extra 10 Minutes Dear Dr. Walts, I thought you would smile at this – I told my class of 2 nd -graders at Antietam that the school day would be longer by 10 minutes because of the snow days – guess what they did? They clapped, and put a smile on my face! Jeri Condon

6 Crisis “Du Jour” in Retrospect Budget: Cuts, No Raises, & Possible RIFs

7 Embracing Change: PWCS Is a Microcosm of the Nation American School Board Journal January 2010 PWCS Student Demographics White: 39.7% Hispanic: 24.3% Black: 22.9% Asian: 7.7% Other: 5.3%

8 Embracing Change PWCS: The Yin and the Yang One in three PWCS students on free or reduced lunch

9 Embracing Change: Student Growth 89 schools, 10,000 employees, over 78,300 students next year Opened 10 new school buildings, a Governor’s School, and administrative center in five years Four new schools under construction

10 Embracing Change: New for Offers students opportunities to: Explore and engage in original research through mentorships and collaboration with experts; Explore an interest in the environment; Discover new insights and; Pursue their personal goals and aspirations in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

11 Embracing Change: New for

12 Embracing Change: New for Standards-based Focused on continuous improvement Collaborative in design Research-based Outcome oriented to improve instruction and impact student learning 50% Implementation for PPP – Professional Performance Process

13 Embracing Change: Social Media Revolution

14 Our Kids’ Digital Day: Almost Eight Hours

15 PWCS Mission Statement: Providing A World-Class Education What Does This Mean ? 1.The focus is on teaching and learning, enhanced by professional learning communities 2.All students achieve high standards 3.Instruction is engaging and rigorous 4.Reading/writing literacy taught in all content areas 5.There is a sense of belonging – including all students 6.We develop student assets 7.Schools/offices are inviting, welcoming, and customer oriented 8.We will accomplish our Strategic Plan by working together

Strategic Plan 1.All students meet high standards of performance. 2.The teaching, learning, and working environment is caring, safe and healthy, and values human diversity. 3.Family and community engagement create an environment focused on improved student learning and work readiness.

Strategic Plan 4.Faculty, staff, and leaders are qualified, high performing, diverse, and motivated. 5.The organizational system is aligned, integrated, and equitable.

18 The Cost of Dropouts in the USA If half of the 600,000 students who dropped out in 2008 had graduated, they would have generated $4.1 billion more in wages and $536 million in state and local taxes in one average year of the working lives. Education Week December 2, 2009

19 Promoting Student Success Through School Connectedness 1.Create decision-making processes that facilitate student, family, and community engagement; academic achievement; and staff empowerment. 2.Provide education and opportunities to enable families to be actively involved in their children’s academic and school life. [Volunteers in the Classroom] 3.Provide students with the academic, emotional, and social skills necessary to be actively engaged in school. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2009

20 Promoting Student Success Through School Connectedness 4.Use effective classroom management and teaching methods to foster a positive learning environment. 5.Provide professional development and support for teachers and other school staff to enable them to meet the diverse cognitive, emotional, and social needs of children and adolescents. 6.Create trusting and caring relationships that promote open communication among administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and communities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2009

21 Attributes of Successful Learning Environments in PWCS 1.Teach to VA SOLs and PWCS curriculum 2.Emphasize prior learning 3.Apply knowledge in a real life context 4.Provide opportunity for dialogue & debate 5.Use a variety of strategies to assess learning 6.Promote rigor in student work 7.Ask higher order questions of students

22 Collaboration Builds Student Achievement Goal: 76 nurses for 88 schools Two new positions allow us to give six elementary schools a full-time nurse.

23 Collaboration Builds Student Achievement You are an important member of the team that collaborates to develop and implement responsive educational programs that promote the academic, career, social, and emotional development of all students.

24 Collaboration Builds Student Achievement This team includes: –School Counselors –Social Workers –Psychologists –Nurses –Student Assistant Program Specialists –Attendance Officers –Threat Assessment Team

25 Collaboration Builds Student Achievement Your involvement in the decision-making process, awareness of evidence-based programs to enhance student achievement, and use of data to effect change and establish goals positively impacts student success in your school.

26 Collaboration Builds Student Achievement As you reflect on what you learned this morning, take time to consider the importance of all that you do to support and advocate for your students and their families.

27 Collaboration Builds Student Achievement Know that what you do is vitally important to increase the likelihood of students graduating from high school. And know what that means to your students’ physical, social, and economic well being throughout their lives.

28 Collaboration Builds Student Achievement Each and every day, you can change your students’ lives. For this and all of the other things that you do to contribute to the success of all students and their families, I sincerely thank you.

29 “To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.” Eva Young “Do not wait for ideal circumstances, nor the best opportunities; they will never come.” Janet E. Stuart “The best way to get something done is to begin.” Anonymous “Make each student’s success your personal business.” Steve Walts Closing Thoughts

“Healthy Pathways to Success” School Nurses Orientation Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center August 24, 2010 Dr. Steven L. Walts Superintendent of Schools