Accelerated SchoolsAccelerated Schools

Will the Missouri Accelerated Schools Will the Missouri Accelerated Schools project suit Central Middle School project suit Central Middle School

to ato a

??

What is the Missouri Accelerated What is the Missouri Accelerated Schools project?Schools project?

What did we think?What did we think? At the conference, I learned many things. At the conference, I learned many things.

However, I did not learn much to help us in our However, I did not learn much to help us in our decision on whether or not to adopt the decision on whether or not to adopt the Accelerated Schools Program. The conference Accelerated Schools Program. The conference seemed geared towards the schools already seemed geared towards the schools already participating. -- Amanda Laneparticipating. -- Amanda Lane

I learned from talking to teachers of Accelerated I learned from talking to teachers of Accelerated Schools, that they work together making Schools, that they work together making decisions, etc. decisions, etc.

I definitely think the biggest asset of the program I definitely think the biggest asset of the program would be for unifying the staff and consistency!would be for unifying the staff and consistency!

-- Vickie Howard-- Vickie Howard

Things I liked about the Things I liked about the Accelerated Schools project:Accelerated Schools project:

The potential for an infra structure for the decision making process The potential for an infra structure for the decision making process in our school.in our school.

The chunk of the decision process I really like is data driven The chunk of the decision process I really like is data driven decisions.decisions.

The excellent strategies and techniques which are shared.The excellent strategies and techniques which are shared. Through this model, our staff has the opportunity to be one of the Through this model, our staff has the opportunity to be one of the

leading schools in our area.leading schools in our area. The time to move on this is now, not in a few years.The time to move on this is now, not in a few years. In my opinion, with the state cut of funds which will most likely In my opinion, with the state cut of funds which will most likely

occur no later than next year, I really believe this is one of the few occur no later than next year, I really believe this is one of the few projects the state will financially give support to because it works.projects the state will financially give support to because it works.

The belief this process holds educators accountable for outcomes The belief this process holds educators accountable for outcomes in their schools.in their schools.

As educators, many of us have griped and complained for years As educators, many of us have griped and complained for years about not having any say in the decision making process. This is about not having any say in the decision making process. This is our opportunity to have some direct control over issues which our opportunity to have some direct control over issues which affect us and the students.affect us and the students.

The challengesThe challenges

The challenge of our staff letting go of our The challenge of our staff letting go of our individual differences and working as a individual differences and working as a cohesive unit. cohesive unit.

This will require a great deal of time and This will require a great deal of time and effort (but I believe we could rise to the effort (but I believe we could rise to the level needed to accomplish the tasks.)level needed to accomplish the tasks.)

Focusing our complete attention at future Focusing our complete attention at future training sessions.training sessions.

----Cathy Kapfer----Cathy Kapfer

A Bright Light – Frank EllisA Bright Light – Frank Ellis I really enjoyed the session on school governance. I I really enjoyed the session on school governance. I

learned about the process and how the basic set up learned about the process and how the basic set up is structured. I learned that it really does take your is structured. I learned that it really does take your teachers to make this a success. I am looking teachers to make this a success. I am looking forward to groups of people to help with the forward to groups of people to help with the process of educating kids. This is an organized process of educating kids. This is an organized process that will help CMS do things better.process that will help CMS do things better.

I also like to take it very slow when trying to I also like to take it very slow when trying to implement something this sophisticated. It reminds implement something this sophisticated. It reminds me of Madeline Hunter’s Steps in the teaching me of Madeline Hunter’s Steps in the teaching process. It is something that we are already doing; process. It is something that we are already doing; however, not effectively. Therefore, we need this however, not effectively. Therefore, we need this process to help the entire staff remain focused. process to help the entire staff remain focused. Also, we would be one of the first to spear head this Also, we would be one of the first to spear head this project in the district. What a bright light!project in the district. What a bright light!

Students, Parents, Teachers, and Students, Parents, Teachers, and CommunityCommunity

Parents and students and the community will be Parents and students and the community will be involved and trusting.involved and trusting.

The powerful learning teams are of great The powerful learning teams are of great importance. They work on student achievement. importance. They work on student achievement. This is our primary focus. When we write our new This is our primary focus. When we write our new vision statement, we will lock in student vision statement, we will lock in student achievement. – Frank Ellisachievement. – Frank Ellis

I believe that the Accelerated Schools project I believe that the Accelerated Schools project would fit perfectly with my teaching. My dream would fit perfectly with my teaching. My dream when I came to CMS was to engage in when I came to CMS was to engage in interdisciplinary teaching. This process would interdisciplinary teaching. This process would facilitate that while focusing the instruction on facilitate that while focusing the instruction on our student’s weakest skills.our student’s weakest skills.

This process would help to draw us together as This process would help to draw us together as one faculty. -- Pam Dumeyone faculty. -- Pam Dumey

Accelerated Schools Visit ReportsAccelerated Schools Visit Reports Why become an accelerated school?Why become an accelerated school? Where does the funding come from and Where does the funding come from and

how do we use it?how do we use it? What is the process for writing the grant?What is the process for writing the grant? How do we schedule meetings?How do we schedule meetings? When did the regional coordinator meet When did the regional coordinator meet

with your faculty?with your faculty? How do we prove that accelerated schools How do we prove that accelerated schools

work?work? Who does the work?Who does the work? How much time is involved?How much time is involved? How do we get all teachers participating?How do we get all teachers participating?

Unity of PurposeUnity of Purpose

Accelerated Schools is a PROCESS not a PROGRAM.

Creating the Vision / Taking StockTRAINING

Sharing the Concepts and Processes

Begin the Inquiry ProcessCreate Governance Structures

Setting Priorities

CELEBRATION!

Reflection

Accelerated SchoolsAccelerated Schools

School Governance: School Governance: Making the Process WorkMaking the Process Work

School Governance StructuresSchool Governance Structures Governance in Accelerated Schools is the Governance in Accelerated Schools is the

process for communication and decision process for communication and decision making.making.

Ties to 3 principals: Ties to 3 principals: – 1. 1. Unity of PurposeUnity of Purpose: Vision: Vision– 2. 2. Building on StrengthsBuilding on Strengths: All members : All members

(parents, students, teachers, administrators) (parents, students, teachers, administrators) are included.are included.

– 3. 3. Empowerment with responsibilityEmpowerment with responsibility: The : The responsibility for improvement is at the school responsibility for improvement is at the school site, and they are empowered to make site, and they are empowered to make decisions.decisions.

Primary ResponsibilitiesPrimary Responsibilities Communication Communication Clearing house for informationClearing house for information Communication link between stakeholdersCommunication link between stakeholders Maintain awareness of the visionMaintain awareness of the vision Decision-makingDecision-making School improvementSchool improvement Goal settingGoal setting Other responsibilities such as professional Other responsibilities such as professional

development or allocation of fundsdevelopment or allocation of funds Base decisions on the visionBase decisions on the vision

School Governance ModelSchool Governance Model School as a WholeSchool as a Whole (SAW) includes parents, (SAW) includes parents,

teachers, students and other stakeholdersteachers, students and other stakeholders Steering CommitteeSteering Committee is made up of cadre is made up of cadre

representative, parents, teachers, representative, parents, teachers, students and other stakeholdersstudents and other stakeholders

CadresCadres are groups of teachers, parents are groups of teachers, parents and students that create plans to address and students that create plans to address primary areas of need in the schoolprimary areas of need in the school

Ad hoc committeesAd hoc committees are groups of teachers are groups of teachers that address specific areas in the buildingthat address specific areas in the building

EmpowermentEmpowerment

Inclusion of all stakeholderInclusion of all stakeholder Focus on the visionFocus on the vision Clear responsibilities and tasksClear responsibilities and tasks Decision making abilityDecision making ability Control of resourcesControl of resources

RecruitmentRecruitment ParentsParents Willing to make a commitment Willing to make a commitment Trained to understand the processTrained to understand the process

StudentsStudents Trained to understand the processTrained to understand the process Assistance in understanding terminologyAssistance in understanding terminology

TeachersTeachers Willing to make a commitment Willing to make a commitment Representatives of all sections of the schoolRepresentatives of all sections of the school

AttendanceAttendance

Regularly scheduled meetingsRegularly scheduled meetings Reminder letters to parentsReminder letters to parents Reminder to studentsReminder to students AgendaAgenda Focus on tasksFocus on tasks Celebrate accomplishmentsCelebrate accomplishments

AgendaAgenda

Set ground rules at the beginningSet ground rules at the beginning Assign different tasks to different Assign different tasks to different

peoplepeople Have regular reports from cadresHave regular reports from cadres Work to include all members of the Work to include all members of the

committeecommittee Give time for closureGive time for closure

Follow ThroughFollow Through

Time needed to shift focusTime needed to shift focus Vision needed to give directionVision needed to give direction Meaningful work needed to give purposeMeaningful work needed to give purpose Empowerment needed to give valueEmpowerment needed to give value Responsibility needed to give authorityResponsibility needed to give authority Reflection needed to maintain focusReflection needed to maintain focus Celebration needed to add fun!Celebration needed to add fun!