One Small School’s Story: Collaboration, Training and Technology

2. One Small School’s Story:Collaboration, Training and Technology Shelee King George Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology

3. Dedicated To • Bill Ellis • Paul G. Allen Family Foundation • Seattle School District • Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology

4. Table of Contents • TISS Grant • Transforming High Schools • Cleveland High School • Cleveland’s Journey • Lessons Learned • The Road Ahead

5. Chapter OneThe TISS Grant

6. Technology Infusion in Small Schools • a.k.a. TISS • Grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation • Acknowledges the labor intensive tasks transitioning to small schools

7. How can technology be applied to enhance teacher productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in the adoption of engaging instructional practices?

8. The TISS Wish • Greater student engagement and personalization of learning • More project based learning • Increased use of technology to enhance teacher productivity, communication and effectiveness

9. Chapter Two: Transforming High Schools

10. Small Schools Advocate Learning strategies that are • More personal • Relevant • Challenging

11. Size Matters • Too many classes • Not enough rigor • Lack teacher/mentor relationships • Tend to be rigid • Tend to be schedule driven

12. Small Schools • Emphasis on personalized learning • Rigorous achievement • Engaged communities of learning • Professional growth for teachers • Equity

13. Size Alone Does Not Make A Good School

14. Good Schools • Have a common focus • Have high expectations • Are personalized • Value mutual respect

15. Teachers in Good Schools • Have time to collaborate • Have time to strengthen their skills • Integrate technology into the teaching and learning environment • Value student exhibitions, performances, and portfolios

16. Chapter Three: Welcome to Cleveland High School

17. Cleveland High School • Seattle School District • 110 schools • 46,416 students • Part of the Gates Foundation High School Transformation and the Achievers Scholarships Programs

18. Small School Transition • 2003 Small Schools Planning • 2004 Small School Implementation • 2004 TISS grant begins

19. Meet the Students

20. 735 Students • 59% graduate • 59% free/reduced lunch • Culturally diverse • 48% African American • 28% Asian • 11% Latino • 11% Caucasian • 2% American Indian

21. Cleveland Staff Of 44 certificated staff members • 50% are new to Cleveland • Current staff 40% have less than 4 years teaching experience • 75% Caucasian • 14% Asian • 11% African American

22. Theme-based Learning Communities • InfoTech Academy • Global Studies Academy • Health Environment and Life Academy • Arts Conservatory Satellite

23. Student Advisory • 20 students per advisory • Intent • Build relationships • Personalize learning • Culminating project • Reality

24. Achievement • 2nd year program improvement in Math and Reading • Lowest test scores in the district and state • Minimal progress

25. Resources • Gates Foundation • Paul Allen Family Foundation • Social Venture Partners • Global Visionaries • One World Now • Stuart Foundation Many OUTSIDE resources

26. If Good Schools Have • Time for collaboration • Time to strengthen skills • Integration of technology into teaching and learning • Student exhibitions, presentations and portfolios

27. TISS can provide this opportunity

28. Chapter Four: Cleveland’s Journey

29. TISS Journey Year 1 • Grant focused • Advisory formed • Gathered information • Selected tools • Established training model

30. TISS Focus • Personalize and improve learning • Strengthen Web based communication among staff, students and parents • Facilitate collaboration • Provide meaningful professional development

31. TISS Advisory • Interested business community members • Fiscal manager: Alliance4Education • Project manager: Puget Sound Center • District technology representative • Principal • One teacher per academy

32. Gathering Information • Parent Info Meeting • Student Info Meeting • Teacher Info Meeting • Spring Survey 2004

33. Teachers • What makes your job so labor intensive? • What is the most difficult part of personalizing learning for your students?

34. “Keeping track of kids in my advisory; their attendance, their grades in all classes and to keep parents informed”

35. Personalization • Need student information • Need shared responsibility • Connect the fragments

36. Parents • Communication with teachers • Student progress and attendance • School information

37. Students • Working technology • Ability to share files with group members • Grades

38. What do we need to meet the needs of parents, students and staff?

39. Tools • Equipment • Training • Collaboration

40. SharePoint • Collaboration tool • Portals of communication • Shared resources • Widely used in business • Educational application?

41. Online Progress Report • Biweekly progress reports • Paper nightmare • Labor intensive

42. Scheduling Tools • District Student Information System (SIS) • District transition • Building tool

43. Equipment • TISS Mini Grants • Tied to learning unit • Collaborative • Mid year journal reflection • Year end presentation to Advisory

44. Training • New tools • Ongoing training • Onsite support • Monthly by academy

45. Peer Coaches • Build capacity • Opportunity to increase collaboration • Reflect on teacher practice • 8 Session Training

46. Development Team • Meet the needs of staff, students and parents • Honor the teaching and learning process • Build tools

47. Summer Slam • Development team • Attendance and progress report tool • Scheduling tool • Set up SharePoint • Peer Coaching Training • Coaching skills • Engaging teaching practices

48. Conclusion of year 1 • TISS identity • Focus • Tools • PD plan Ready, set, rollout!

49. TISS Journey Year 2

50. TISS Progress Report Tool • Easy Grade Pro • Sync with the SIS • Class lists import • Accessible by all via password • Student driven vs teacher driven • Attendance