Moving Forward!

Let’s C.H.A.T.(Children, High Expectations, Academic Achievement, Teacher Growth)

Missouri School Boards’ Association Annual Conference

September 26, 2014

Introductions

• Dr. Grayling Tobias–Superintendent, Hazelwood School

District

• Mr. Karlton Thornton, Master CBM*–Secretary, Hazelwood Board of

Education

Learning Targets

• We will be able to:– define “chatting” with stakeholders– explain the purpose for conducting

“chats”– analyze the connection between all

levels

The Hazelwood School District

• 32 schools– 3 high schools– 6 middle schools– 20 elementary schools– 3 early childhood centers

• Approximately 2400 employees• 18,183 students• 1441 teachers

– 65.1% with advanced degrees

The Hazelwood School District

• 23.9% Caucasian population• 75.1% Minority population

– 71.9 % African American– 2.1% Hispanic– 1.1% Asian

• 57.8% Students eligible for free/reduced lunch

• 2.8% Dropout rate• 92.8% Graduate and attend higher

education

Compelling Conversations

Let’s C.H.A.T.

THEY ARE…• Monitored frequently• In-time staff

development• Based on authentic

evidence• Student-centered

measures• Predictive of state

outcomes

THEY ARE NOT…

• End of year

• Final/one shot only

• Terminal diagnoses

• Surprising outcomes

• A “gotcha”

• One size fits all

• Optional

Why C.H.A.T.?

• Schools can’t keep starting over every school year!

• Discussions, with fidelity, results in learning that is measurable

• LEARNING, for students and teachers, is what CHANGES student achievement

Embracing Accountability

• Conversations (“chats”) are trusted• Focus is student-centered• Capable of guiding instructional

decisions• Based on researched principles• Intentional about students’

progress and learning

Let’s C.H.A.T.

Instruction

Professional Developmen

t

Frequent Progress

Monitoring

Student Achievemen

t

Purpose

• Helps all take ownership of student growth

• Increases accountability• Increases expectations of student

learning• Monitors what is working and not

working• Provides structured time for reflection on

student learning and the effects of instruction on student learning

• Strengthens relationships

One Community

One District

One School

One GradeOne

ClassOne Child with the

Support of their

Family

YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT

Levels of Accountability

District Level

Assistant Superintendent

Superintendent

School Building Level

Principal

AssistantSuperintendent

Classroom Level

Students Teachers Principals

Let’s C.H.A.T. with Students

• Goal setting opportunities• Ongoing feedback for students

– I know where I am.– I know where I want to be.– I know how I want to get there.

• Students create visual for progress monitoring

• Focused on classroom and district assessments

Examples of Questions

Teacher with Students• Let’s look at your graph; what did

you score on your last math test?• Where are you right now in math?• Where do you want to be with

learning your multiplication facts?• How are you going to learn your

9’s?• Let’s set a goal to help you

master your 9’s.

Let’s C.H.A.T. with Teachers• Connection to progress monitoring• Focuses on progress of each student in reading

and math– Diagnostic Reading Assessment– Scholastic Reading Inventory– AIMSweb– eValuate– Missouri Assessment Program/End of Course

Exam– USA Test Prep

• Monitoring tool• Instructional strategies• Professional Growth Plan

Elementary School Monitoring Tool

Examples of Questions

Principal with Teacher• What does the data indicate in regards to the progress

of your students as a classroom and/or as individuals?– What evidence do you have to illustrate this progress?– What patterns or trends are evident in the data?

• What instructional practices were most effective for you? Least effective?

• What is your plan to address the needs of our Tier 1 students and challenge them academically?

• What should I look for as indicators of this when I visit your classroom?

• Review your current professional growth goal and share progress towards meetingyour goal.

Let’s C.H.A.T. with Principals

• Topics:– Level of delivery of instruction by

teachers– Students one or more years below grade

level– Patterns, trends and/or building structures

hindering academic progress– Instructional interventions and

effectiveness– Proof to support what is discussed– Leadership strategies to move staff

forward

Examples of Questions

Assistant Superintendent with Principal• What is your process for identifying and

providing support for students who struggle?

• Are there students that are not on track to make a minimum of a year’s growth?

• What are you doing specifically to ensure that students on grade level and above are also making a minimum of a year’s growth?

Let’s C.H.A.T. with Asst. Superintendent

• Topics– Instructional focus of school– Academic results/trends– Structures in place for principal

and/or staff– Research-based strategies and

practices in place– Monitoring process

Examples of Questions

Superintendent with Assistant Superintendent• Are students learning? How do you know? What

is the evidence?• What is going to make the difference this month

at this school?• What are the interim benchmarks?• What structures do you have in place

for principals who need more support?• What specific research-based strategies

or practices are responsible for the improvement?

Connections with Achievement

Student Achievement

State Data

Let’s C.H.A.T. Data

District Data

Let’s C.H.A.T.Principal & Student

Lessons Learned

• Begin slow; better to do it right than fast

• Share questions prior to meeting• Use questions that build upon previous

“chats”• What gets monitored gets done• It’s not an easy challenge, but a

worthwhile one• It’s about moving teachers forward,

who then move our kids above and beyond

Results

2013 District Highlights• Four schools earned between

70% – 79% of the points • Ten schools earned between 80% – 89% of the points• Seven schools earned between

90% – 98.6% of the points***Three schools earned 100% of the points ***District: 82.9%

Review of Learning Targets

• Define “chatting” with stakeholders• Explain the purpose for conducting

“chats”• Analyze the connection between

all levels

Questions

• Ms. Desiree D. Whitlock, Master CBM*, President

• Dr. Brenda C. Youngblood Ph.D., Advanced CBM*, Vice President

• Mr. Karlton Thornton, Master CBM*, Secretary

• Mr. Mark Behlmann, Master CBM*, Treasurer

• Mrs. Ann Gibbons, Master CBM*, Director• Mrs. Cheryl Latham, Advanced CBM*,

Director• Mr. Chuck Woods, Master CBM*, Director

Let’s C.H.A.T.(Children, High Expectations, Academic Achievement, Teacher Growth)

Missouri School Boards’ Association Annual Conference

September 26, 2014

Moving Forward!