CLASSROOM WALKTHOUGH 3.0.1

Teachscape, the company that produces and maintains the Classroom Walkthrough tool and database, has updated to Classroom Walkthrough 3.0.1 (CWT 3.0.1) and is currently available at www.teachscape.com.

As of 09/30/2010, all Florida districts should use the CWT Florida Standard Look Fors-DA. The CWT 2.0 workspaces are still visible to administrators. All walks captured should be done with the new Data Collection Tool and CWT 3.0. Once this is activated, the current tool in use will be removed from your access, however, you can still run reports on data collected against these surveys/tools.

If you use a hand-held device, Teachscape recommends that you delete the 2.0 software first before downloading 3.0. You will find installation instructions in the Using the Data Collection Tool module in the Classroom Walkthrough Resource Library workspace. The Look Fors tool will be posted on the HRD website and is also available on the Teachscape website (www.teachscape.com) on the Resource Library tab: Introduction to CWT.

Please feel free to share this information with your leadership teams conducting Classroom Walkthroughs. CWT 3.0.1 courses are offered regularly. Dates, times and locations are available on ESS by searching for CWT 3.0.1 2-Day Training. For further information please contact Camille Spence, Coordinator, Teacher Development/HRD, at (754) 321-5013.

To download the memo with the updated 2-page CWT Florida Look Fors – Differentiated Accountability document, click here.

FPMS UPDATE

All school based administrators are required to complete an FPMS Update by September 30, 2010. The only exceptions are the Principals who attended and signed into the Evaluation Coordinators' Summer Leadership Training, and any new Assistant Principal who completed FPMS training within the last 12 months.

Please log onto the link below, complete the Update,and you are done! The Update will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Contact either Dr. Cathy Kirk or Heather Thompson-Parente if you have any questions or need additional information.

FPMS Update: http://www.quia.com/quiz/2515815.html

Reflections on Summer Leadership Academy 2010

This year's Summer Leadership Academy was once again an outstanding opportunity for administrators in Broward County Public Schools to attend new professional learning sessions, networking opportunities, see long-time friends and colleagues and to meet new friends.

Below are some reflections for attendees of this year's Summer Leadership Academy. Please take a few moments and add your favorite memory to this list.

"The variety of training sessions and trainers were amazing!"
"HRD was extremely organized and proactive in putting this event together under the leadership of Ms. Sherry Rose" "The materials provided will help all Administrators be more effective in their current positions"

Cindy Pluim Coordinator,
Interim Assistant Principal Program
Leadership and Non-Instructional Development, HRD


Great effort by HRD running another successful event. Networking with our fellow administrators was great!

Brad A. Schmidt
Intern Principal
Dolphin Bay Elementary School


This year's leadership academy provided clarity on Zero Tolerance legislation, Policy 5006 and how they directly impact the way we deal with and approach our students at the school level. One cannot begin to create a positive learning environment if the sole objective of managing student misconduct is punishment; we must work together to provide resources and tools for students to learn constructive behavior leading them to academic and social success.

Karen Birke
Assistant Principal
Bair Middle School


Truly a spectacular learning experience! I am proud to work with such outstanding professionals.

John Vetter
Intern Principal
Pompano Beach Middle School


I truly believe my experience during the training will assist me with my interpersonal skills, time management and ability to create a culture conducive for learning.

Ms. Keietta L. Givens
Intern Principal
Deerfield Beach Middle School


I enjoyed my Summer Leadership Academy experience tremendously! The workshop that I attended was called "Implementing Change". I can say that this was the most active workshop I have attended in a while. Everyone was participatory and had great input. I am looking forward to utilizing the things that I learned from the workshop within my school, when I get one of course. The trainers were a perfect fit for the workshop, because they were both retired principals who have been there, done that, and got a t-shirt!!! Their leadership during the workshop was awesome!! I am looking forward to next year!

Trials make us think; thinking makes us wise; wisdom makes life profitable.

Wylie L. Howard Jr.
Assistant Director
McFatter Technical Center


Growth demands a temporary surrender of security
Gail Sheehy
and...
~ The only failure is not to try ~

Sharon Boyd
Intern Principal
Boulevard Heights Elementary


Informative and captivating
In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
Bill Cosby

Channale Williams
Assistant Principal
Coral Springs Middle


"The PowerPoint and handouts from the SREB Prioritizing, Mapping, and Monitoring the Curriculum session will be utilized as reference materials for the Sheridan Technical Center's Cosmetology and Health Science Professional Learning Community activities during the 2010-2011 school year to increase student achievement."

Ellen Albano
Assistant Director
Sheridan Technical Center


The 2010 Leadership Academy was an opportunity to network with colleagues and provided me with resources for this school year.

Vicky B. Saldala
ESOL & Pre-K-2 Director
Intern Principal Program


During the 2010 Leadership Academy, I participated in the Coaching for Success module. During my training, I gained valuable knowledge on how to further motivate and guide members of my school community towards success. I recommend this professional development course to anyone wanting to move their school or department to the next level.

April Schentrup
Intern Principal
Davie Elementary


CWT 3.0 and Unwrapping the Standards were two great trainings that took administrators back to the heart of teaching in the classroom. I enjoyed the presenters, who found a way to make the trainings educational but entertaining. Thank you, HRD, for another quality event!

Belinda Hope
Intern Principal
Bair Middle School


It was a wonderful opportunity to grow professionally. The training was right on target with the district initiatives and offered real information we could use.

Paul Seay
Intern Principal
Boyd Anderson High School

Summer Leadership Academy 2010

SUPERINTENDENT'S STATE OF THE DISTRICT ADDRESS 2010-2011 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY – AUGUST 2-4, 2010

The 2010 Summer Leadership Academy will begin on August 2, 2010 at Cypress Bay High School. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. Please bring your fully charged, laptop August 2 - 4. Attendees will be able to access PowerPoints and presentation materials via http://www.browardayp.blogspot.com.

To download the agenda for the Monday morning session, click here.

A directory will be posted for participants to find class choices and room number(s).

Tuesday, August 3rd, all school-based administrators please report to the auditorium no later than 7:30 a.m. for a "Zero Tolerance" overview prior to going to classes for that day.

Wednesday, August 4th, all participants should report directly to their scheduled classes by 8:00 a.m.

Reflections on the 2009-2010 Year

The 2009-2010 school year is finished, at least for the students. This has been a very trying year for many in the District. In spite of this being such an unusual year, good things are still going on, at all levels of our schools.

Take a moment to share a successful strategy implemented this year in your school/location. In your post, include what was the previous situation, what initiative/strategy was implemented to alleviate the situation and the known outcomes.

Data Analysis / School Improvement

This month’s blog focus is data analysis. Intern principals Michelle Kefford and Thomas Schroeder have researched and presented information for our blog readers. Please take the time to read the blog below and review the resources and post your thoughts and/or strategies for utilizing data effectively.

Data analysis is nothing new, continuous school improvement is embedded in all aspects of school operations. Being in the “know” regarding student achievement data is critical to school success and has lasting implications on the overall character and reputation of a particular campus.

Everyday as administrators, we are faced with a multitude of data points and information being presented regarding programs, departments, grade levels and individual students. This data can be both qualitative and quantitative in nature and topics vary from school lunch wait times, customer survey satisfaction, to proficiency attainment of standardized assessments. The important aspect to glean regarding data analysis is the need for a systematic process for interpreting and utilizing data sources to make informed and sound judgments. In any process, it is vital that these efforts are both collaborative and reflective. According to the “Guide to Using Data in School Improvement Efforts”, combining these two elements, referred to as reflective collaboration, is a powerful process that occurs among staff and other members of the school community. The guide outlines the importance of designating time and structures for utilizing data. This includes embedding the process throughout all aspects of school operations; in faculty meetings, staff meetings, grade level/department meetings, professional learning community meetings, and parent/community group meetings.

The Florida Continuous Improvement Model begins with data disaggregation which seeks to answer questions such as: “What are the weakest areas?”; “What are the strongest areas?” and “What are patterns/trends?” From this utilization of data, there is the establishment of priorities and the development of an effective plan based on the standards.

One core belief regarding the utilization of data for school improvement is that student learning can and should improve on a continuous basis. It is essential that educators continually reflect on the quality of programs being implemented and interventions being employed. This process should be cyclical and continuous with concentration on the process, not any specific results.

Some basic guiding questions for collecting student achievement data can include:

• What evidence can we collect about our students’ learning?
• What evidence do we have that shows the knowledge, skills, and understandings our students have achieved?
• Which data indicates the degree to which our students show the conceptual understandings and generalizations in our standards?
• What evidence shows which students are meeting or exceeding our achievement expectations and which are not?
• What do we know about how each individual student learns?

Typically, student achievement data is reported for whole populations, or as aggregate data. It is not, however, until the data are disaggregated, that patterns, trends and other important information are uncovered. Disaggregated data simply means looking at test scores by specific subgroups of students.

Here are several different ways to disaggregate data:

• Gender
• Socio-economic status
• Mobility (students moving in an out of the districts at any given time)
• Race and ethnicity
• Special education and disability
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Enrollment patterns in courses like physics or algebra
• Successful completion of specific course such as advanced placement

Each specific campus and school has a process for utilizing data sources, analyzing such information and enacting school reform based on the patterns identified and/or observed. The important common thread noted in a variety of professional materials is the essential element of involving all stakeholders and continually reflecting on whether what is being done is best for our children.