Summit 2011 a Success - Thank you!

I consider myself lucky to work in a school district where so many people willingly collaborate and go above and beyond to support student achievement.  Each presenter prepared a session which showcased the talent, professionalism, and dedication that supports our students everyday.  Thank you.

It's Superstar Time!

This is a challenging time of year for school districts as we search for ways to meet the needs of our students with smaller budgets and less resources. The School Improvement Superstars Summit will be a positive, encouraging, and learning filled day for all attendees!  I am very excited for the 100+ attendees, as well as for the presenters who have all donated their time to present information in support of student achievement.  The fact that enrollment was at capacity, with a waiting list established, is a solid demonstration of the passion that people have for school improvement and disadvantaged students!

Many of the Session PowerPoints are now available on the website http://sites.google.com/site/schoolimprovementsuperstars .  You can also view the Summit schedule in the "Attendee Information" attachment.

I encourage attendees to arrive early for coffee and bagels, and then stay for the whole day!  Don't miss out on valuable information and collaboration by sneaking out early!

Again, I am excited for this Summit.  I look forward to building relationships with colleagues from all around our beautiful state of Washington!

It is What It is

A few weeks ago, I was explaining to someone why I decided to plan the first Summit in March 2009, and why I decided not only do it again this year, but to expand it.  I told this person that the Superstar Summit was something exciting to look forward to amidst all of the punitive sanctions of NCLB.  They asked me, “It isn’t a lot of extra work plan a big event like this in addition to your regular job?”

I considered this question.  I realized that what we define as “work” is determined by our values, beliefs and passions.  I do not consider this Summit “work”.  I find it inspiring to be able to design a valuable, collaborative opportunity for Title 1 leaders from all around the state.  I am inspired because what does or does not happen for our students matters to me.  Establishing supportive professional networks, so that all of us can learn and share ideas, matters to me.

Why does it matter?  I am motherless daughter.  There have been many times when my “motherlessness” made me feel like I didn’t quite fit in.  There have been hard days where I really wanted to call my mom to talk things out and get her advice.  But I couldn’t.  As a result of this, I became fairly tough and stubborn, but I also learned the importance of applying this to my professional life.  I know that everyone needs a supportive network where they can share ideas and challenges.  Everyone needs to know that they fit in somewhere.  These types of opportunities help us to grow professionally and to increase the caliber of our work.  The end result is beneficial to our students. 

No, I don’t agree with all of the components of NCLB.  But it is what it is until the law is changed.  I am committed to 100% compliance, fueled by innovation and collaboration.  NCLB is not an easy mandate.  But my life experience has taught me that if we collaborate we can accomplish amazing things.

Perseverance and Inspiration

I recently attended the National Title 1 Conference.  It was four days filled with informative and inspiring speakers and sessions.  I found myself feeling like I really could achieve anything.  And then…I had to return to the real world.…

How do we maintain the momentum and inspiration that we gain from events like this?  I found myself going over this question in my head.  Then, I happened to read an article in the Seattle Times about a Seattle University basketball player who was suspended by the NCAA.  She was the team’s best player in the 2008-2009 school year, but was subsequently declared permanently ineligible.  She is still holding onto her dream of playing professional women’s basketball.  But that is not the inspiring part of this story.  This person, in spite of not being allowed to play in a single game during the past two years, has shown up for every early morning practice and even stays late working on her skills.  This level of dedication is quite rare and very inspiring.  I think this is an example that all of us can use.  Our jobs are challenging.  Budget crisis and federal requirements add to the pressure of our workload.  But here is my thinking- if that girl showed up every single morning for two years, without anything other than a goal and her dedication- all of us can persevere and succeed in the jobs that we do every day!

Coming up:  The plans for the 2011 School Improvement Superstar Summit have come together and I am very much looking forward to this powerful day of learning and collaboration!

Brush Yourself Off and Keep Going

Remember a time when you worked really hard?  Did you go all out, do everything that you could do? Did you come early, stay late, accomplish something amazing, and then…. no one noticed?  Unfortunately, I think this happens every day in a Title 1 school somewhere.  Teachers and principals at schools impacted by poverty arguably work ten times harder to overcome obstacles and achieve results for their students compared to many other schools with different socioeconomic statistics.  And unfortunately, their work and achievements can disappear into the ‘Twilight Zone’ of No Child Left Behind, Steps of Improvement, compliance reporting, poverty, and high mobility.  I myself have had my proud moments of “Wow, did anyone else see that?!”  And then I realize that if anyone did see, they didn’t say anything.  Let me take this moment to acknowledge that it is an awful feeling when this happens.  You feel like you are completely on your own and that you don’t have any support from anyone.  But somehow, perhaps through pure stubbornness, you brush yourself off and keep going.  You persevere.  Do you know who does know how you feel?  Do you know who has also felt like no one is on their side, but brushes themselves off and perseveres despite the odds?  Many of the students in our Title 1 schools.  What if each one of us took the time to nominate one of the people who dedicate themselves to working in the most challenging schools and positions, or to acknowledge them in a special way?  How would this extra encouragement spill over onto the students in these schools?  Please visit http://www.k12.wa.us/EducationAwards/default.aspx  to learn about Education Awards and also specific awards for Title 1 schools.

Why It Really Matters

In the Clover Park School District last week, the main reader board at the district office proudly displayed an announcement about teachers who have earned National Board Certification.  We need to do more to appreciate the teachers and principals who devote their time, attention, and patience to our kids every day.  When I tell a principal that I think they deserve an award, I sincerely and truly mean it.  There is no award too big or generous for dedicated principals and teachers.  I wonder how much of a difference it might make if we took a moment each day to remember a teacher who made a difference for us?  A teacher who took the time to reach out to that rough kid that didn’t fit in?  Teachers are second only to my mom in terms of what I owe to them.  There was Mrs. Liner, my first grade teacher who put up with the surveys that I insisted on giving to each student in the class as I tried to figure out why I was the only one who knew that Santa Claus was just for fun.  In third grade, Mrs. Pearson gave me individualized math assignments and saved me from horrid boredom.  In tenth grade, Mr. Brown noticed that I had lost my Geometry protractor and gave me a new one.  These are only minor examples of a teacher doing something to encourage me.  I remember them still.  And why does it matter?  Because in a Title 1 school, these small acts can make the difference between a child who falls through the cracks, and one who goes on to excel. 

What if a poor girl came to school from a farm way out in the country (the boonies)?  Her parents can’t come to school to help and don’t have time to help her at home.  She has a lot of siblings so that’s not a big surprise.  She never has new clothes or the money to pay for her ticket for class field trips.  She’s a free lunch kid who might get on your nerves because she asks tons of questions and always needs something to do.  Yes, the story includes one of her parents eventually dying from an illness.  How will this story end?  Will we have high expectations for her?  Will she drop out of school?  Or will she go on to earn straight A’ in college and a masters degree? Are we supporting our teachers and principals so that they will be ready for her?  I hope so because that little girl was me.  Thank you Mrs. Liner, Mrs. Pearson, and Mr. Brown!  (I miss you every day mom.)

Stay tuned for information about awards that Title 1 schools can apply for.  They deserve all the awards they can get!

P.S. I spent several weeks debating on whether or not to share a personal story like this.  I came to the decision that sharing our stories about why we are passionate about our work can help all of us to become more dedicated and focused in our efforts to improve student achievement. 

Update on School Improvement Superstars Summit

I am really excited for the School Improvement Superstars Summit on March 11^th.   Talented and amazing people are scheduled to present.  It is shaping up to be a truly worthwhile event!

Our Keynote speaker is the 2010 Milken Educator Award Winner, Kelly Aramaki.  The breakout sessions planned so far include:

·       We Made AYP!  A Title 1 Success Story from Dr. Norma Zavala, principal of Concord International Elementary School

·       Transformation and Reinvention:  One School's Journey, presented by Vicki Sacco, principal of West Seattle Elementary School

·       English Language Learners: Strategies that work, presented by Martin O’Callaghan, principal of Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center

·       The Seattle Family Engagement Team: This team received a national award from John Hopkins University, Bernardo Ruiz, Manager

·       Unheard Voices:  The Native American Achievement Gap presented by Arlie Neskahi, manager of Indian Education for Seattle Schools

·       I'll Take the Combo Please:  Combining school improvement plans and schoolwide plans, presented by Rachel Osborn

·       Let's Chat: Small group discussion sessions for problem solving and collaboration with your colleagues, facilitated by Rachel Osborn

·       Providers, Invoices, and Learning Plans...Oh My! Learn how to design a more efficient SES program (one of many small group discussion topics)

·       Got Data? Use AYP, Safe Harbor, Uniform Bar, Steps of Improvement to plan and target instruction  

·       Paperwork Panic? Forms, Checklists, and other record keeping ideas for Title 1 compliance

I will post additional updates about the Summit as they become available.  Please share this information with your colleagues!

A New Year's Resolution to Focus on What Works

Happy New Year!  I have been reading inspirational stories about schools from around the country that are succeeding in their work with historically low achieving schools.  I hope you will visit http://neapriorityschools.org and be inspired yourself.  In our work, there is much talk about what does not work, and what we should not or cannot do.  What would happen if we each resolved to focus on what DOES work, to collaborate and share ideas with our colleagues in an ongoing, intentional manner?  How would our day to day perspectives change?  Could our work become even more efficient, impacting larger numbers of students in a significant way?  Here are a few of my goals for the New Year: 

Focus on what works.  Do not dwell on what does not.

Collaborate.  Intentionally.  Continually.  Purposefully.

As I come across articles, ideas, and websites that are relevant to our work, and am adding links to the Summit website, and talking about them on this blog.  I am also using the Summit web site to share examples of successful Professional Development sessions that I have done, as well as other artifacts I have created or used in my work to increase compliance and efficiency.

I sincerely look forward to seeing you at the Summit on March 11^th. 

Happy New Year once again!