EMINENCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLSSCHOOL ON F.I.R.E.

Framework of Innovation for Reinventing Education

Woven throughout all we do is the concept of Surprise and Delight. We want each student, staff, and stakeholder to be continually amazed and engaged each and every day. We want to create and

foster an environment where creativity and customer service abound in all aspects of our school. Whether great or small, the element of “Surprise and Delight” is the essence of our organization.

Surprise and Delight

Eminence Independent Schools Mission/Vision Statement

My Voice SurveyAspirations Team

Student VOICE TeamTeacher VOICE TeamParent VOICE Team

Re-Designed Interviews ProcessStudent Led PD / Classes / Etc.

Advisor / Advisee Ownership (9-12)Personalized Learning Plans (K-12) CHETL Aligned Digital Walkthrough

SOF Master Schedule/I.C.E. (T/R)Standards Based Report Cards

Skills-Flexible GroupingB or Better” Grading Policy

Bellarmine-Eminence “B.E. Ready”Core Qualities of Every Lesson

MAP / Benchmark Class PlacementContent Congruent PBL Electives

Student Career InternshipsCommunity Based Problem Solving

Next Generation Skills CurriculumA.C.E.S. 1:1 Program (9-12)

Tech-E Student Technicians (3-12)Weekly F.I.R.E. Lessons

Re-Defined Concept of PDWifi Equipped Bus

Model Based on CCSSO Core-6INextGen Building Design

Eminence Independent Schools desires to create a cooperative community where students and educators strive for academic excellence within a safe, structured, and supportive environment.

Eminence Schools purposes to value diversity, foster responsible behavior, and to teach the academic and social skills which will empower students to realize their potential while becoming

lifelong learners and WORLD CLASS WARRIORS! Expect Eminence Excellence!

Eminence Independent SchoolsContact Information291 West BroadwayEminence, KY 40019

www.eminence.kyschools.usPhone: (502) 845-4788

Fax: (502) 845-2339

CORE BELIEFS OF INNOVATIVE EXCELLENCEANY TIME, ANYWHERE LEARNING

✦All High School students will be issued a MacBook Pro✦Traditional, blended, online and on-campus instruction✦Wifi equipped bus

PERSONALIZED LEARNING✦Student choice in electives✦Personalized student goals✦Personalized Learning Environment in all classes✦ ICE (Interventions, Connections, and Enrichments) Model

(K-12)

COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT✦Schedule allows for core, intervention, enrichments and

electives based on student need✦Advisor/Advisee mentoring program✦MAP Testing with growth and goal monitoring

WORLD CLASS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS✦“B or Better” grading policy✦21st Century report card with Certificates of Mastery✦7th Highest District ACT Scores in KY!✦College and Career Readiness Plan✦30+ Hours of College Credit opportunities in Early College

Program✦All classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art instructional

technologies

STUDENT AGENCY✦Student Voice Team are active participants in all district

decision making.✦MyVoice Survey/Student Aspirations Team✦Core belief of Surprise and Delight

PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT✦Standards based grading

✦Project Based Learning

✦Panel Reviews for graduation of each school

EIS is an independent school district celebrating over 100 years of educational excellence to this community. Small class sizes and the unique setting of all schools

located on the same campus provide a friendly, close-knit family environment that fosters success

at every step.

EIS is on a quest to be the most innovative school district in

Kentucky. EIS is also preparing all learners for college and career readiness while equipping them

with all necessary next generation skills. EIS has helped Eminence Alumni become leaders

of most occupational fields.

EIS offers a complete array of clubs, sports, and service

opportunities for our students. EIS has always enjoyed a rich

tradition of academic and athletic success. EIS students have successfully competed at the

regional, state, and national level.

Eminence Independent Schools

EMINENCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

EMINENCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLSKEY BACKGROUND INFORMATION

✤ EIS were founded in 1901.

✤ EIS are located evenly between I-64 and I-71 in Henry County, KY

✤ EIS are located in Eminence, KY (Population: 2200)

✤ EIS serve 600 students ranging from Pre-School to 12th grade

✤ EIS serve a diverse community of learners

✤ EIS have 64% of students in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program

✤ EIS have approximately 90% of students from 1st generation college families

✤ EIS have a strong history of academic achievement (7th Highest ACTs - KY)

✤ EIS has a long history of academic innovations (1st B or Better Policy - US)

EMINENCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLSSCHOOL ON F.I.R.E.

Framework of Innovation for Reinventing Education

Key Concepts:

✤ BE READY! INITIATIVE:•EIS are partnering with Bellarmine University to offer the most innovative early college model in the state.•All EIS juniors and seniors who have met ACT benchmarks outlined by the Kentucky Department of Education and ACT will have the opportunity to travel to Bellarmine University on Tuesdays and Thursdays to take up to seven hours of classes per semester.•A student staying in the program for two full years will earn up to 29 hours of college credit through Bellarmine.•Students will travel to and from Bellarmine on EIS’ wifi-equipped bus.•Bellarmine will allow all Eminence students to participate in their Pioneer Program designed for first generation college students.•Eminence students will participate in Bellarmine Clubs, Student Organizations, and Student Opportunities during the school’s Open Period.•Bellarmine will allow core classes to revolve around student interests such as English 101 in a Pop Culture format.•Bellarmine is offering the classes at $100 per hour which makes for an approximate discount of 92% off the regular tuition. •The EIS Board of Education has committed to paying the remaining costs of the college classes.

✤ SCHOOL ON F.I.R.E. MASTER SCHEDULE•EIS will have a course schedule that reflects the college model of Monday / Wednesday / Friday (MWF) and Tuesday / Thursday (TR) classes.•EIS will assign each student to Advisor-Advisee (AA) sections in which the assigned teacher will be chiefly responsible for the students success, progress monitoring, goal setting, and interventions. •MWF classes will consist of five - 1 Hour and 13 Minute Classes.

•TR classes will consist of AA followed by three - 1 Hour and 44 Minute Classes.•MWF will be primarily focused on Core Content and Core Credits.•TR will be based upon the Eminence ICE model of Interventions, Connections, and Enrichments.•Interventions will be fluid and based upon content mastered. •Connections will be cutting edge electives, many of which will be project based, congruent with Core Content and College and Career Readiness.•Enrichments will be the BE READY! Initiative•Career Internships at local businesses in most major industries

✤ NEXT GENERATION SKILLS CURRICULUM •Weekly F.I.R.E. Lessons•“Tech-E” Student Technician Program (Grades 3-12)•Next Generation skills curriculum with a continuum of mastery ranging from Kindergarten to Senior Year (including blogging, social presence, collaborative docs, backchannelling, presentation skills, Keynote, iMovie, web publishing, digital journalism, digital media, interactive e-publications among countless others. •Partnering with top ranked Crystal Harris Palace Academy, one of the United Kingdoms top schools, located in London, England for virtual group projects, lessons, and discussions. (Grades K-12)•Trainings that occur on a monthly basis at the Apple Store in the Oxmoor Mall for students and staff•Student led classes, professional development, and leadership opportunities•Teacher VOICE (Vision of Innovative Classroom Excellence) Team that consists of teachers that were selected through an application process. The VOICE team meets monthly, and continually virtually, to discuss instructional integration of new NextGen strategies, lead teacher trainings, and take time for exposure to new tools.

✤ STANDARDS BASED REPORT CARD

•Standards Based Report Card (SBRC) for grades K-12 based on the work of Dr. Tom Guskey

•SBRC will incorporate Core Content Mastery, Next Generation Skills Mastery, and Process Indicators (Behavior, Homework, Attendance, Responsibility, etc.) •SBRC will incorporate a cloud based data management system, OTIS (Open-source Tools for Instructional Support) designed by Dr. Gerry Swan

✤ ACES 1:1 LAPTOP INITIATIVE•ACES = Apple Computers for Eminence Students•One MacBook Pro 13” for every student in grades 9-12•1st KY school to partner with Apple Business in their Joint Venture and One to One Program for specialized trainings and priority technical help•Teacher 1:1 program launched in November 2011 with advanced trainings to prepare for student deployment•Teacher commitment to technology incorporation•Student Training for Digital Citizenship•All Classes will utilize a flipped classroom component through Haiku LMS, a digital, cloud-based learning management system•Students will master key Next Generation Web 2.0 tools and skills

✤ CERTIFICATES OF EMINENCE EXCELLENCE•For students that meet annual objectives at premier performance in academics, philanthropy, attendance, behavior, extra curricular, school involvement, health and wellness, presentations, life skills, etc.•Panel Reviews consisting of staff, community leaders, and alumni to serve as a defense for why graduation should occur at 4th, 6th, 8th, and 12th grades•Year-Long Culminating Projects for exit of 4th, 8th, and 12th Grade

✤STUDENT AGENCY•Partnering with Ms. Dawn Haywood of Student Engagement Trust from London, England on Student Aspirations•Students will take the Dr. Russ Quaglia’s “I Know My Class” and “My Voice” Surveys. Teachers and students will then analyze data for goal setting and progress monitoring

•Student VOICE Team that will serve as a lens for district leadership to further view the needs of students and to serve as agents of change for creating solutions to those issues•Student Interest Inventories at all grade levels to design lessons for student interests•Creating authentic instruction and assessments based on real life student issues, needs, and problems•Student focus groups from all grade levels

✤ ADDITIONAL KEYS•Core belief of Surprise and Delight•Complete redesign of school facilities and school addition solely based on creating an environment for Next Generation Skills / Learning•Digital Walkthroughs aligned to CHETL (Characteristics of Highly Effective Teaching and Learning) including “Fun” and “Surprise and Delight”. Administrators meet monthly to discuss data for school growth goals and personal staff professional developments needs•Redefining teacher professional development•Redefining teacher and administrator interviews by requiring sample teaching lessons (live or recorded)•Personalized learning plans for all students with individual learning goals set by a committee consisting of each student, their teachers, and their parents•“B or Better” Grading Policy with Mandated Mastery, Interventions, and Retakes•ICE in daily lessons, units, and courses by maximizing the personalization of content by smaller class/group sizes, virtual learning, and fluid pacing including, but not limited to, Khan Academy, Descartes, Edmodo, Haiku, etc.•24-7 Virtual Professional Learning Community for all staff on Twitter

✤ A FEW RECENT EXAMPLES•Third Grade fractions test by baking pizzas•Fourth grade geometry test over angles and measurement by successful completion of a bird house•Second Graders teaching U.S. History lessons over Abraham Lincoln•A 9 year old led staff Professional Development on Keynote•Kindergarten students creating and presenting Keynotes from iPads•High school students generating digital content

•Extensive K-12 Keynote, iMovie, Back-channeling, Collaborative Docs, etc. •Cemetery Board requests help from students to solve cemetery crisis•Tech 2.0 Tools - Khan Academy, Edmodo, Titan Pad, Today’s Meet, Twitter, etc.•Extensive Twitter use by high school students in classes from mathematics to language arts•First Grade classes using project based learning for fund raising for the tornado victims•High School students led charge to make campus tobacco free•High School students helped a special needs adult regain his hobby of collecting cans after a city ban through a social media campaign•Middle School students participate in flipped classroom English classes•Design Thinking with Kindergarten Students•Middle School participating as Social Activists with the Invisible Children

A Recent Instructional Newsletter

EIS Forms Partnership with Top British Educator Dawn Haywood, the CEO of Student Engagement Trust and one of Britain’s most influential advocates for student voice, visited with staff and students from Eminence Independent Schools for two days last week. In addition to her work with Student Engagement Trust and partnering with schools throughout England, India, Africa and Malaysia, Haywood has spent the past six years working alongside Sebastian Coe, chair of London’s 2012 Olympic Organizing Committee. In large part due to Haywood’s influence the planning for the 2012 London Games has included young people at every step. Haywood was drawn to visit Eminence after meeting Superintendent Buddy Berry and Instructional Supervisor Thom Coffee while she was visiting America as a keynote speaker at the Innovation Summit held in Lexington. “These two had such passion for listening to the voices of young people,” Haywood told the Eminence staff on Thursday, “that I was drawn to the work going on here.” The partnership began when Berry and Coffee along with Steve Frommeyer began a series of Skype sessions with Haywood to collaboratively plan a professional

Continued on page 3

In a historic vote, the Eminence Board of Education unanimously voted to approve the 1:1 laptop initiative for Eminence High. The 2012-13 school year will kick off with students in grades 9-12

receiving a shiny new MacBook Pro laptop.

Superintendent Buddy Berry described the night as a “game changer” for Eminence Independent. Continued on page 2

EHS Going 1:1-Board Votes 5-0 to Approve Initiative

EMINENCE EXCELLENCEALWAYS FREE ISSUE #6

EMINENCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS/VOLUME 1/ISSUE 6

Berry presents the EIS School Board with the Advancing Student Achievement to Proficiency Award presented by the KSBA.

Board Approves 1:1continued from page 1

“We are literally going to reinvent how school is done,” Berry told the board last night. A big piece of that plan was kicked off last night when the board voted 5-0 to approve. Putting a device in the hands of each student is a “crucial piece” to future initiatives.

The board vote is only the beginning of the process. The leadership team must now begin the process of revising existing policies and creating procedures to address the initiative. What will surely be months of planning for the launch of the program is already underway.

Despite all of the work ahead, many in the EIS family have a real sense of the impact the decision. “Today the lives of the students in the Eminence community will be forever changed,” commented Travis Hernandez on Twitter. This really is a “game changer.”

Continued on page 4

Stephanie Barrows and Jackie Elliott take time to catch up on Twitter during Larry Montgomery’s “Twitter Tasks”

Get on the Bus! Next Gen Learning Taking Off in EIS Would you expect anything less from an Eminence professional development day? Staff loaded the districts newly equipped wifi bus and jumped right in to an Anytime, Anywhere Learning on the

morning of February 20. The first stop was Starbucks, where teachers rotated through three sessions, the highlight of which was EIS third grader Brooke Berry leading staff through a session

Nine year old, Brooke Berry, leads professional development for the EIS staff on the power of Keynote. As a result of Berry’s PD, all staff were able to tackle the scavenger hunt with success.

Steve Metcalfe creates a prototype to help his friend Chris Nethery eat lasagna. The group then kept the creative juices flowing as they dreamed of innovations to improve EIS around the work of the CCSO.

development session modeled after the work Haywood leads with some of England’s top academies. Not long after the second planning session Haywood had an even better offer. She would be in the U.S. in February and could add a stop in Eminence to lead the sessions herself. Thursday and Friday of last week, Haywood did just that. Haywood first met with the Eminence V.O.I.C.E. team, a group of teacher leaders dedicated to innovative practice, to discuss innovative ideas England’s top academies are trying.”Meeting with Ms. Haywood helped Eminence move from focussing on best practice to ‘next practice,’”said Stephanie Barrows.

Haywood led staff through the analysis of data from the MyVoice survey students took in fall in order to pinpoint a few areas the staff felt needed action. She complimented the staff on their courage to ask students what areas needed improvement in the school, but warned them “not to let students off the hook when it comes to solving the issues.” Haywood encouraged the staff to develop leadership and responsibility in students by involving them as partners in school improvement. On Friday, Haywood met with 21 student leaders who will form Eminence’s Student Aspirations Team. Haywood encouraged the students to be both “dreamers and doers.” Students were trained to conduct interviews with their peers and to develop action plans based on the survey data and the interviews. “This is important because it's dealing with major issues in school and it's not the teachers doing it. It’s the students,” said Abbie Stivers. Shelby Dees added, “I feel very excited and inspired to make a positive change in our school system.” As students begin working together to address their action plans they won’t be alone.

“How would you like to partner with academies in London to collaboratively solve problems?” Haywood asked the students. Students will use Skype to partner with students in England to discuss student aspirations and school improvement. Buddy Berry is excited about what the collaboration could mean for the district. “Our work with Ms. Haywood has lead to an international partnership that will enrich all involved. We feel that this makes Eminence more than a regional leader, but an international one as well,” remarked Berry.

EIS Forms Partnership with Top British Educator Continued from Page 1

DAWN HAYWOOD’S VISITPictured left, Haywood trains 21 student leaders to continue the work of the Aspirations Team. Students are empowered to make real change occur within THEIR school.

Haywood spends time with staff breaking down the MyVoice Survey. “Aspirations means helps kids to become both dreamers and doers,”she tells the group.

Above: Berry surprises and delights Haywood with a personalized Louisville Slugger bat.

“One thing I learned about education at the mall is team learning is a powerful tool when acquiring new skills.”

-Kim Dawson via Twitter

Get On The Bus continued from page 2...

• • •

on Keynote. It is a good thing the group learned because soon they were back on the bus and heading for an innovation scavenger hunt in Oxmoor Mall.

The staff worked in teams of 4-5 to build Keynote presentations highlighting innovation in the mall. Teams finalized the presentations on the bus ride back to school.

The winning Keynote presentation was submitted by Courtney Schirr, Angie Gibson, Lynn Covington and Bill Covington. Each team member will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.

#MALLPD ANYTIME, ANYWHERE LEARNING

#EMINENCE AT WORK

The above picture was tweeted out by a mall goer impressed with the innovative work going on and the Twitter shirts.

TEAM PRIDE: Steve Metcalfe, Jennifer Montgomery, Penny Bland and Travis Hernandez take a break from tweeting and creating to pose for a team picture.

KEYNOTE CHAMPS: Lynn and Bill Covington along with Courtney Schirr and Angie Gibson claimed the Starbucks gift cards winning a very close competition “Getting out of the building seems to bring out the creative side of us,” said Lynn Covington.

TEAM ADMIN: Jill Griebe, Kim Dawson, Donna McClamroch, and Steve Frommeyer talk things over during lunch. Team Admin was quite disappointed they couldn’t convince Brooke Berry to Join them.

by Kim James• • •

       Students  had  spent  the  weeks  prior  to  Mr.  Berry’s  visit  exploring  Southern  Literature  and  Kentucky’s  place  within  the  genre,  focusing  speci?ically  on  several  of  Berry’s  writings:    Sabbaths  (a  collection  of  poetry),  Why  I  Will  Not  Buy  a  Computer,  That  Distant  Land,  and  essays  on  mountaintop  removal  mining  and  living  by  the  gospels.    In  addition,  students  read  the  short  stories  of  other  Kentucky  authors  including  Crystal  Wilkinson  and  Silas  House,  exploring  the  role  of  place,  religion,  community,  family,  and  dialect  in  our  collective  literature.    

       Mr.  Berry  gave  several  insights  into  his  writing  and  the  development  of  many  of  his  characters,  especially  that  of  Hannah  Coulter  who  began  as  a  minor  character  before  telling  her  story  in  the  novel  named  for  her.      “Hannah  spoke  to  me  over  the  years,”  said  Mr.  Berry,  “and  her  voice  became  so  strong  I  could  no  longer  ignore  her.”    Tanya  Berry,  Mr.  Berry’s  wife,  was  integral  in  con?irming  the  authenticity  of  Hannah’s  voice,  however,  “she  very  rarely  made  any  changes  to  my  wording.”  

       Over  the  course  of  three  hours,  students  asked  questions  about  writing,  mountaintop  removal  coal  mining,  religion,  and  life  in  general  to  which  Mr.  Berry  provided  frank  and  insightful  answers.    Many  of  their  questions  gave  him  pause  and  at  the  end  of  the  session,  Mr.  Berry  applauded  the  students  for  their  thought-­‐provoking  insights  and  analyses  of  his  works.    “This  has  been  good  for  me,”  said  Mr.  Berry  with  a  smile  as  he  left  the  building.    It  was  “good”  for  all  of  us,  too.    

       Wendell  Berry  will  be  delivering  the  2012  Jefferson  Lecture  in  the  Humanities  on  April  23 in  Washington,  DC  at  The  John  F.  Kennedy  Center  for  the  Performing  Arts.    The  annual  Jefferson  Lecture,  sponsored  by  the  National  Endowment  for  the  Humanities,  is  the  most  prestigious  honor  the  federal  government  bestows  for  distinguished  intellectual  achievement  in  the  humanities.      In  March  2011,  Berry  was  presented  with  a  National  Humanities  Medal  by  President  Obama.

Kentucky Author, Wendell Berry Visits

SIGNING THE “E”The newest tradition at Eminence Independent Schools is to have our distinguished visitors sign the “E.” If you have a distinguished visitor collaborating with your class, please let us know so we arrange to have the “E” available and take a picture of your guest. We are off to a great start with Wendell Berry and Dawn Haywood being the first two signatures.

CONTACT INFORMATIONEminence Independent Schools

254 West Broadway

Eminence, Kentucky 40019

(502)845-5427

Follow on Twitter: @thomcoffee

EMINENCE EXCELLENCEISSUE No 6VOLUME 01

If you would like to contribute an article, information, or ideas for future

issues of the Eminence Excellence please send them to

thom.coffee@eminence.kyschools.us

EMINENCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLSSCHOOL ON F.I.R.E.

Framework of Innovation for Reinventing EducationKICKOFF PRESS EVENT

9:00AM - 9:55AM Visitor / Guest Sign-In ~ Gymnasium 9:55AM - 10:00AM Seating of Visitors and Guests

10:00AM - 10:30AM School on F.I.R.E. Kickoff

School on F.I.R.E. Welcome / Introduction of BOE / OverviewMr. Buddy Berry ~ Superintendent of Eminence Independent Schools

Introduction of School PrincipalsMr. Michael Doran and Ms. Shannon Treece

Spirit of InnovationMs. Linda France ~ University of Kentucky Director of Next Generation Learning

Student AgencyMs. Dawn Haywood ~ CEO of Student Engagement Trust (London, England)

Next Generation School Re-DesignMr. Herb Shulhafer ~ Studio Kremer Architects

Standards Based Report CardsDr. Gerry Swan ~ University of Kentucky Instructional Systems Design

Next Generation Learning Dr. John Nash ~ University of Kentucky Director of CASTLE

ACES (Apple Computers for Eminence Students) 1:1 Laptop ProgramMr. Nick Sauers ~ University of Kentucky Professor of CASTLE

School on F.I.R.E. Master ScheduleMr. Thom Coffee ~ Instructional Supervisor of Eminence Independent Schools

BE READY! InitiativeDr. Joseph McGowan ~ President of Bellarmine University

Innovation MotivationDr. Terry Holliday ~ Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education

Mr. Jerry Abramson ~ Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Other Guests:Ms. Brenda Chism ~ Chair of the Eminence Board of Education

Mr. Ben Coomes ~ Vice-Chair of the Eminence Board of EducationMr. Tony Adams ~ Eminence Board of EducationMr. Danny Fisher ~ Eminence Board of Education

Ms. Pamela Morehead-Johnson ~ Eminence Board of EducationMr. Bill Scott ~ Director of the Kentucky School Boards Association

Mr. David Baird ~ Executive Director of the Kentucky School Board AssociationDr. Leon Mooneyhan ~ CEO of Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative

Ms. Tina Tipton ~ Chief Academic Officer of the Ohio Valley Educational CooperativeMr. David Cook ~ Director of Innovation for the Kentucky Department of Education

Mr. Tom Price ~ Division Director of District 180 of the Kentucky Department of EducationMr. Rick Rand ~ Commonwealth of Kentucky State Senator Mr. Chris Rose ~ Eminence Speaker Corporation President

Mr. Drane Stephens ~ Mayor of Eminence, KentuckyMr. John Logan Brent ~ County Judge Executive of Henry County

Ms. Jena Collins ~ Apple Manager, Strategic Initiatives Southeast Education Area Ms. Charlotte Chowning ~ Kentucky Department of Education - Office of KIDS

Ms. Penny Peavler and Mr. Joe Argabrite ~ The Weber GroupMr. Stephen Ward ~ Studio Kremer Architect