1. Elementary Professional Development Day August 31, 2010 Gar-Field High School Dr. Steven L. Walts Superintendent of Schools

2. 2 Today’s Agenda 1.Welcome and a Little Humor 2.Changing PWCS Demographics 3.Providing a World- Class Education 4.Strategic Plan 5.Promoting Student Success 6. SOL Results 7.PPP – Professional Performance Process -Knowledge of Student -Knowledge of Content 8.“A Vision of K-12 Students Today” Video

3. 3 Changing Demographics: 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.

4. 4 Changing Demographics: 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%

5. 5 Changing Demographics: The Yin and the Yang One in three PWCS students on free or reduced lunch

6. 6 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

7. 7 2011-15 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.

8. 8 2011-15 Strategic Plan 4.Faculty, staff, and leaders are qualified, high performing, diverse, and motivated. 5.The organizational system is aligned, integrated, and equitable.

9. 9 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

10. 10 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

11. 11 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

12. 12 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

13. 13 Grade 3 English: Reading Strategic Plan Target = 81%

14. 14 Grade 3 Math Strategic Plan Target = 79%

15. 15 Grade 3 History

16. 16 Grade 3 Science

17. 17 Grade 4 English: Reading Strategic Plan Target = 81%

18. 18 Grade 4 Math Strategic Plan Target = 79%

19. 19 Grade 4 Virginia Studies

20. 20 Grade 5 English: Reading Strategic Plan Target = 81%

21. 21 Grade 5 English: Writing

22. 22 Grade 5 Math Strategic Plan Target = 79%

23. 23 Grade 5 Science

24. 24 Knowledge of Student Write the largest number you can:

25. 25 The professional educator understands how students learn and develop and provides learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, and personal development. Key Element 1: Uses information regarding students’ prior knowledge, background, interests, and experiences to guide instruction. Key Element 2: Accommodates students’ differences in development, diverse learning styles, and talents. Key Element 3: Acknowledges the language, values, and cultural traditions of students’ families and communities. Key Element 4: Helps students reflect the attitudes and behaviors of good citizenship at school and in the community. PPP Standard: Knowledge of Student

26. 26 Knowledge of Student How my first-grade teacher saved my life.

27. 27 PPP Standard: Knowledge of Content The professional educator understands the central concepts, structures, and processes of the discipline(s) he/she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful to students. Key Element 1: Uses the concepts, essential understandings, essential questions, and essential knowledge to drive instruction and assessment. Key Element 2: Stays abreast of and uses current research, diverse perspectives, and new strategies within the discipline(s) taught. Key Element 3: Creates learning experiences that allow students to integrate the knowledge, skills, and methods of inquiry used in the discipline and link them to prior learning.

28. 28 Knowledge of Content My quest to be a cryogenic surgeon.

29. 29 A Vision of K-12 Students Today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

30. 30 September 7 Is Right Around the Corner

31. Elementary Professional Development Day August 31, 2010 Gar-Field High School Dr. Steven L. Walts Superintendent of Schools