1 SEC Summer Conference Milwaukee September 8-10, 2008 Idaho’s PRINCIPAL ACADEMY of LEADERSHIP and the SEC Curt Rathburn, Project Manager Scott Smith, State Science Supervisor

2 Started January, 2006 Three year initiative with ongoing support Partnership between Dept of Ed, State Board, and Winston-Salem Systemic Services 19 middle school principals PRINCIPAL ACADEMY of LEADERSHIP

3 Project Areas of Focus Leadership Communication Data Analysis Student Achievement Working Conditions Strategic Planning and Visioning

4 Project Tools Face-to-face meetings School visits Monthly coaching calls Surveys of the Enacted Curriculum Instructional Reviews Seminars Working Conditions Report

5 Surveys of Enacted Curriculum MathELAScience

6 First, why principals? Given overview of the SEC early in the project Establishing the right groups Principals and other leaders take a survey Training on how to administer the survey How principals are trained in the SEC…

7 Review the survey results Training on how to analyze the data Training on how to use the results with their staff How to respond to the difficult questions Another year of surveys How principals are trained in the SEC…

8 Training on the use of the website…how to create their own displays How to handle continuing discussions with their staff How principals are trained in the SEC…

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11 Observed 828 classrooms in 2006, 525 classrooms in 2007 and 462 in Five key areas:  What is the objective?  What is the teacher doing?  What are the students doing?  Is learning being assessed?  What is the overall quality of the lesson? Instructional Reviews

12 Assess the effectiveness of current professional development activities Inform future professional development Used by principals to improve classroom instruction Instructional Reviews, cont’d

13 Following is part of a report and presentation given to principals and state department administrators on the results of Instructional Reviews in schools participating in the Principal Academy of Leadership the past three years.

14 Idaho’s PRINCIPAL ACADEMY of LEADERSHIP Instructional Reviews Boise, Idaho June 13, 2008

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24 Spring 08 Teacher Trained Spring 08 Teacher Not Trained

25 Some results… All of the 19 schools either made AYP or reduced the number of indicators not met At least 9 of the schools made AYP 5 out of 19 principals were promoted to district or state level positions

26 Some comments… “2006 was a difficult year for me. I told Curt and Stan not to schedule their school visit because I didn’t think I was going back. But then my whole outlook got turned around at a regional PAL meeting. If not for PALs I am convinced I would be in a different profession today” Jeff Bengtson Canfield Middle School

27 Some comments… “Three years ago I had nothing! Now I have data, strategies, collaboration at my school and improved student achievement. We have become the district’s showcase school. Every school in my district wants to be part of the next PAL.” Lyndon Oswald Sandcreek Middle School

28 Some comments… “We made AYP. Yes!” Gary Go Priest River Junior High

29 Some comments… “I can’t believe I am receiving this award. I owe it all to my staff and my fellow PAL principals, Jeff, Rene, JoAnne, Gary, Bill and Tony.” Shannon Wilson Orafino Junior High (on being selected as Idaho’s Middle Level Educator of the Year)

30 Next steps in Idaho… PAL I ended June One year sustainability plan began July 1. PAL II began July 1 with 30 schools. Caldwell Academy of Leadership began in January with 14 schools. Coeur d’Alene Academy of Leadership began July 1 with 18 schools.

31 Contact info Curt Rathburn triad.rr.com