Creating connections for all Students through LINKS Student advisement Program

1. Creating connections for all Students through LINKS Student advisement Program Barbara Ashcraft, MA, LPC School Counseling Coordinator

2. Students need to know…. Who they are… Where they want to go… And how they are going to get there!

3. LINKS Student Advisement… • 21st century students need more than reading, writing, and arithmetic; they must be able to solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively, and work in teams. • The advisor/advisee curriculum will bridge the gap between what is taught in the core curriculum and the skills necessary in the work place by addressing five major Skills Areas: Self-Knowledge, Life Skills, Educational Development, Work Ethics, and Career Planning.

4. A System of Support…

5. 21st century Reality “In an ever-changing global environment where interdependency abounds, the best and highest quality of education is a necessity no longer reserved for the few, but demanded for all. ” ~Breaking Ranks: Changing an American Institution

6. Global Prosperity Means… “In an ever-changing global environment where interdependency abounds, the best and highest quality of education is a necessity no longer reserved for the few, but demanded for all. ” ~Breaking Ranks: Changing an American Institution

7. 21st century Reality Success in a world of change requires schools to ensure that all students have: • the capacity to be autonomous, lifelong learners • the ability to solve problems and create new solutions • the ability to collaboratively work with others

8. National Trends…Then and Now U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

9. 2007 Pawley’s Group Report • Commissioned by 2006 Senate “Taking Career and Technical Education to the Next Level in West Virginia” Overriding finding: • West Virginia does not have a “system” of career and technical education, at all

10. 2007 Pawley’s Group Report • West Virginia must move from “random acts of progress” to a system based on the 4 Ss – • Strategic • Synergistic • Sustainable • Scalable

11. 2007 Pawley’s Group Report • recommended that West Virginia develop a systematic way to help students with career exploration. Recommendation # 6 is to • Enhance seamless alignment and rigor by developing Career Pathways. • Accepting the status quo or making small, incremental changes will fall short of preparing West Virginia and its citizens to compete effectively in the global marketplace.

12. 2007 Pawley’s Group Report • Recommendation 7 – Develop a new model for career counseling, student support and academic advising.

13. We must face brutal facts…  Only 77of every 100 9th graders in West Virginia earn a high school diploma (our best data) Only 16 of these graduates earn a four year degree within six years of graduation At least 8,000 students drop out of high school each year in West Virginia  55% of West Virginia students qualify for free or reduced price meals West Virginia employers report that West Virginia graduates do not have adequate work place readiness skills. 2007 Pawley’s Group Report

14. Opportunity Gap Are some students provided more opportunities than others? • Access to quality teachers • Access to rigorous curriculum (AP Courses) • Access to home computer • Knowledgeable parents to support student learning and career exploration • Participation in Support Services • Tutoring, Mentoring, ESL Classes • Participation in Extra / Co curricular programs • Special Needs Accommodations • Test Prep Programs • Dual Credit Programs • Early enrollment in college courses

15. Contributors to Student Success • Career goal • Connection with caring adult • Connection with post secondary institution

16. Introducing LINKS… Individualized Needs, Knowledge and Skills The purpose of a LINKS Advisement Program is to advance student learning and development in a proactive, deliberate manner to encourage individual success involving a personal relationship with at least one adult serving as an advocate for the student.

17. Expected Outcomes • Greater student satisfaction with the high school experience • Improved school attendance • Fewer behavior problems • Increased achievement (measured by grades and test scores) • Lower drop-out rate • Higher graduation rate • More informed career decision making

18. Expected Outcomes • Better interpersonal skills • More informed about the vast array of post-secondary opportunities • Better prepared to enter the work force • Better prepared to enter relevant and appropriate post secondary institutions • More students completing post secondary education programs

19. LINKS is • Standards based • Fluid (can be adapted to fit needs of school) • Systematic and sequential • Framework and curriculum • Web based (under development) • “Linked” to every educational component of the school • A system’s change that prepares all students for the 21st Century Global Market • Relational and Self directional

20. Relationships • If students know you care you can push even more • Who is most vulnerable? • Malcolm Smith “Why are kids so Angry and What Can We Do About It?” • Over 300 students who had murdered • No relationship with a caring adult

21. Two Variables to Successful Schools • Culture • Sense of inclusiveness • Shared responsibilities…It’s everyone’s job to help students succeed • Understanding individual backgrounds • Assessing attitudes • Willingness to take advice • Desire to learn • Measuring motivation • Leadership • Institutional Mission • The belief that all students can succeed Freedman Hrabowski, III

22. Must Read Books • A Whole New Mind – Daniel Pink • Right and left brain • “Good to Great” – Jim Collins Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done” Larry Bossidy

23. How will you get buy in? • Leadership is key • Building Principal Must… • Be chief promoter of LINKS • Actively monitor program • Hold everyone accountable • Solution focused… not problem focused • Don’t get caught up admiring the problem • Provide ongoing professional development • See Do’s and Don’t

24. How will you get buy in?Clearly define roles: GuidanceversusCounselingversus Advising Guidance The help all students receive from teachers, parents, community members, and others to assist with educational and career development. Counseling The help some students receive from credentialed professional to overcome personal and social barriers to learning. Advisement A process to help each student improve his/her chances for long-term employment. A comprehensive system to provide students with skills and background to make decisions about his/her education and career. A plan to aid students in developing self-awareness, option awareness, and decision-making skills.

25. CHANGE LEADERSHIP American Student Achievement Institute VISION LEADER TRANSITION COMMITMENT

26. American Student Achievement Institute VISION A lofty, bold statement of the way our school will be if all of our dreams for kids come true.

27. American Student Achievement Institute THE VALUE OF VISIONING Without a common vision, the school becomes a “collection of cottage industries operating in isolation under the same roof.” Source: Jerry Bamburg, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory

28. American Student Achievement Institute BUILDING COMMITMENT • Trust • Passion / Excitement • Clear Communications • High Expectations • Low Ego / High Results • Toughness

29. American Student Achievement Institute MANAGING TRANSITION • Systemic Change • Rate of Change • Value All People • Embrace the Resistance • Don’t Need the Credit • Don’t Take It Personally • TRUST THE PROCESS

30. E VISION DATA F CURRENT DATA American Student Achievement Institute THE BALANCE OF TENSION Peter Senge TENSION

31. American Student Achievement Institute Asa Hilliard – Deep Restructuring Fundamental change will occur in an environment supportive of change • Collaborative discussion, dialog, critique, and research • Everyone is a learner and a leader • Commitment to core convictions Source: Hilliard, A. (1991). Do we have the will to educate all children?, Educational Leadership, 49(1), 31-36.

32. American Student Achievement Institute Collegiality VS Congeniality Norm of Collegiality • Spirit of inquiry • Talk about practice • Observe each other • Work on curriculum • Teach one another Norm of Congeniality • Avoid conflict • Isolation • Little team learning

33. American Student Achievement Institute STAGES OF CHANGE

34. American Student Achievement Institute RESISTANCE is the outward expression of thefear of losing something

35. American Student Achievement Institute RESISTANCE • What FEAR might betriggeringthe resistance? “Fear of losing _____.” • How can wehelpsomeone who has this fear?

36. Relieve fears by… • Keeping positive • Remember your vision… or BHAG Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal A lofty, bold statement of the way our school will be if all of our dreams for kids come true.

37. Relieve fears by… Helping teachers create a vision for their classroom

38. Relieve fears by… • Helping teachers understand their role of advisor • “go to” person for a few students • ‘facilitator’ not traditional teacher • Lessons are prepared for them • Will have everything they need • Can ‘team’ teach

39. American Student Achievement Institute RESISTANCE TIPS Triggered by fear Don’t take it personally Listen to the message Struggle = Engagement

40. RESISTANCE TIPS • Web communications forum • Facilitators’ log…opportunity to vent … and get results • WVDE Coordinators • ARCC

41. Speak with… One Vision… One Voice

42. Questions??? Barbara Brady Ashcraft School Counseling Coordinator WV Department of Education Bldg. 6, Room 221 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East Charleston, WV 25305-0330 Phone: 304-558-2348 Fax: 304-558-3946 bashcraft@access.k12.wv.us