Teachers F.I.R.S.T. “ Framework for Inducting, Retaining, and Supporting Teachers” Welcome to the School Year August 24, 2010 Dr. Steven L. Walts Superintendent of Schools

3 Meet the School Board Members

4 Today’s Agenda Welcome, SPARK, and, a Little Humor Changing PWCS Demographics Social Media Revolution Providing a World- Class Education Strategic Plan Promoting Student Success Preliminary SOL Data Celebrating Success Closing Thoughts

5 SPARK

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

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

9 Embracing Change and growing a little older “I had a flat-screen when I was a kid. It was called an “Etch-A-Sketch.” Kappan

10 Embracing Change: Social Media Revolution

11 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.

14 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

15 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

16 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

17 Met elementary SOL targets in reading and math Met middle school SOL targets in reading and grade 8 math, continuing to make progress in grades 6 and 7 math Met End-of-Course SOL targets in reading and math (except Geometry, which is improving) Many schools showed improvement in subgroup performance, particularly in mathematics. All schools fully accredited 2010 Divisionwide Results

18 Teachers Make Schools Great Letter to the Editor in the “Washington Post” dated April 11, 2010

19 Celebrating Success, Including… All 10 high schools in the top six percent nationwide Nine elementary schools ranked in the Northern Virginia Top % of graduates had a qualifying score in AP, IB, or AICE, exceeding national average of 15%.

20 Celebrating Success Four schools under construction: Patriot HS, “Silver Lake” MS, and “Linton Hall Road” ES and T. Clay Wood ES Governor’s Innovation Park opens in September

21 Celebrating Success VSBA Certified Green School Division for 2009 Second place in the nation in the Digital School Districts Survey 41 Schools of Excellence… increase of 12

22 Every Once in a While…

23 Every Once in a While…

24 September Is Right Around the Corner

Teachers F.I.R.S.T. Framework for Inducting, Retaining, and Supporting Teachers Welcome to the School Year August 24, 2010 Dr. Steven L. Walts Superintendent of Schools