Continuing Our Journey…..

1. Continuing Our Journey….. Steve Walts, Superintendent of Schools Leadership SummitAugust 10, 2006

2. PWCS Mission Statement Providing A World-Class Education

3. Vision • Building Our World-Class School Division • Every student receives a quality education • Instruction is engaging, constructivist, and rigorous • There is a sense of belonging • Students and staff work in a safe and orderly environment • English/language arts is evident in all content areas

4. Vision • Focusing on Teaching and Learning • Principals are the instructional leaders of our schools • All staff work to support the learning process • Leaders are visible in our classrooms

5. Vision • Focusing on Teaching and Learning • Successful learning environments include… • Teaching to the SOLs and PWCS’ curriculum • Emphasizing prior learning • Applying knowledge in a real life context • Providing opportunity for dialogue and debate • Providing ongoing opportunities (using a variety of strategies to assess student learning) • Promoting rigor in student work • Asking higher order questions of students

6. Vision • Focusing on Teaching and Learning • The Price of Inequity – High School Dropouts (Research from the 2005 Teachers College Symposium) • Earnings are about $260,000 less over a lifetime • In excess of $50 billion in federal and state income taxes lost annually • Life expectancy is 9.2 years shorter • One year increase of schooling would reduce murder/assaults by approximately 30% and burglary/larceny by about 6%

7. Vision • Collaborating • Develop professional learning communities • Build our community of learners • Increase collaboration between and among all stakeholders • Work to eliminate isolation • Work together as a team to accomplish our Strategic Plan • Work to make schools and offices inviting, welcoming, and customer oriented

8. Vision • Being Proactive with Communication • We are all ambassadors for Prince William County Schools • Each of us must promote the School Division • Share the good news of our schools and offices • Own your decisions • Share what works in your school • Share how problems/issues were solved

9. Strategic Plan GoalsOur Continuing Successes • All students meet high standards of performance. • Implementing full-day kindergarten ahead of schedule • Piloting pre-kindergarten and Primary IB • Enhancing SAT preparations • Exploring HS smaller learning communities • Studying middle school grading

35. Preliminary Data Algebra II 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 84.79% 87.50% 81.04% % Passing

43. Strategic Plan GoalsOur Continuing Successes • The teaching, learning, and working environment is caring, safe and healthy, and values human diversity. • Accommodating for a 274% increase in ESOL student membership over the past five years • Implementing Safe Schools Task Force recommendations • Expanding nursing services • Implementing Healthy Communities Healthy Youth

44. Strategic Plan GoalsOur Continuing Successes • Family and community engagement are focused upon improved student achievement and work readiness. • Operating at least one business partnership at every school Divisionwide • Improving communications (e.g., new Web site, publications like Elementary Calendar, Spanish translations)

45. Strategic Plan GoalsOur Continuing Successes • Faculty, staff, and leaders are qualified, high performing, diverse, and motivated. • Improving employee compensation to close the gap with competing Northern VA divisions • Increasing career opportunities for aspiring leaders – RECRUITMENT • Increasing tuition reimbursement • Expanding leadership for the arts, library media, and social services

46. Strategic Plan GoalsOur Continuing Successes • The organizational system is aligned, integrated, and equitable. • Completing major renewals – at 16 schools over the last five years • Building new schools – 14 over the last five years, with three opening this September • Utilizing self-insured health insurance, managing costs and saving millions of dollars • Expanding the use of technology

47. 2006-07 Instructional Focus • Literacy:  Building background knowledge and academic vocabulary and a constructivist approach to mathematics • Inclusion:  A continuum of collaboration • A healthy and safe environment that promotes equity • Professional learning communities

48. Literacy • The acquisition and application of concepts, processes, skills, and strategies across disciplines • Requires skill in spoken, aural, written, and visual communication for a variety of purposes and audiences

49. A Literate Person • Applies reading, writing, oral language and other print and non-print processes to gain understanding and insight across content areas • Adapts to changing literacy standards and increasingly complex information systems • Solves problems, communicates effectively, and makes sound, well-reasoned decisions

50. Foundation for the Literacy Initiative • Framework for Understanding Poverty – Ruby Payne • Instructional Strategies – Robert Marzano • Reading in the Content Area – Janet Allen • Closing the Achievement Gap presentations • Math Investigations