1. Michael Lubelfeld Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Deerfield Public Schools, District 109 – Lake County ISAL II Cohort Member 2012-2014

2. * Focus area priorities that if attended to would advance the district’s achievement of mission/vision * 1. Communication – what is the mission/vision? Share with stakeholders – all the time. * 2. Decisions are made in alignment and consideration of the mission/vision through review, measurement, and acknowledgement. * 3. Conflict resolution and collaborative negotiation skills become a norm and not a dream.

3. * District goal targets? (Over the next two years) * 1. Improved communication, measured satisfaction of communication by intentionally sharing information/processes and seeking feedback. * 2. Implement a special education services program with coherent and measurable scope, sequence, integration, learner outcomes and growth for students. * 3. Establish the STEM, world language, and exploratory programming for the middle schools in concert with world class high performing school districts.

4. * What must we improve /learn/experience to achieve the desired state? * The importance and value of stakeholder input and alignment with mission/vision/policy and research about effective practices. * High level study of special education service delivery models, programs, and staffing (certified, non-certified, and administrative) * Quality review and student achievement/growth review of middle school changed structure (identify measures, identify desired outputs, check satisfaction). * Conduct a program study of world language, STEM, curriculum and instruction at MS level.

5. Short range – July –December 2013 * By October, 2013, a satisfaction survey (or culture survey) will have been developed and administered to district stakeholders (employees, students, parents) * By December, 2013, a study/report about Middle School organizational and structural designs – especially world languages (French) and STEM offerings will be in presentation form for the Board of Education * Medium range – next year * By June 2014, the strategic plan dashboard will reflect progress in goal areas (plan goes through 2016) * By June 2014, an in-process report on the efficacy of special education services will be prepared and shared * By June 2014 a revised instructional coaching plan will have been developed * Long range – two years and beyond * By June 2015, plans will be developed for a comprehensive Strategic Plan Review (11-16) as well as for 2015-16 Strategic Planning. * By June 2015, a revised organizational chart/leadership structure will be in place to support refined special education service delivery as well as Middle School STEM programming

6. * By December 31, 2013, increase stakeholder satisfaction by responding to analyzed needs, as evidenced by feedback on the satisfaction survey administered in the spring/summer 2013 * This is first run data, so the benchmarking is arbitrary – looking to exceed 75% satisfaction in every measure/index of satisfaction. Ultimate goal is 100% satisfaction! * High Leverage Strategy: a satisfaction survey was developed and administered to district stakeholders (employees, students, parents) – we will re administer survey, compare results year to year – address areas for growth, celebrate areas of growth, communicate openly and clearly to stakeholders

7. By October, 2013 * Form a committee of the exploratory/elective/selective/encore instructional programming with an eye on impacting world languages, STEM programming and 2014-2015 possible instructional changes. * This team will include representatives from the teaching, administrator, student, and community stakeholder groups. In addition, seek involvement of corporate partners to get as much expertise as possible. * The Superintendent’s Task Force on Middle Level Education will address the following six areas: * World Language * Social Emotional * Fine Arts * STEM * Encore/Elective/Selective/Exploratory * Tracking/Gifted Education

8. * Goal: By September 2014, school culture indices, as measured by the INSIGHTeX culture survey will show growth in school defined action plans from 2013 to 2014. Dimensions of Culture measured: Engage-Inspire, Pride, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Innovation, Satisfaction, Talent/Fit, Training & Development, Recognition, Relationships, Career Development, Communication, Mission Conscious, Support Equip, Performance Planning - District Data compared to “N” of more than 10,000 other school personnel from around the country and their results on the same instrument (benchmarking/comparing) * Research shows that school culture increases student learning; defined autonomy allows principals to show leadership and independence with structure, focus, guidance and monitoring; School defined action plans allow for measured growth and empowerment as well as opportunity for collaborative leadership and decision making. High Leverage Strategy * Administer the Culture survey to each school in Aug. 2013, share the un-edited results to each faculty by Oct. 15, and receive principal/school action plans by Nov. 30, 2013. Re-assess culture annually, next in August 2014.

9. * Expand Climate Survey to assess Special Education internal climate * Implement recommendations from Task Force * Plan for 2015-2016 recommendations * Monitor the Big 5 (Common Core, Teacher Evaluation, Technology, Organizational Culture, Task Force for Middle Level Education) * TBD: Community Engagement/Task Force PK-5