Teachers Working Together: Responding to Mass Educational Change

Barlow-Vincent Elementary School

• Grades K-8 with enrollment of 715 students• 13% of students with disabilities• 35% free and reduced lunch rate• Met 13 out of 15 indicators on local report

card• Did not make AYP with SWD last year• Green value-added for three consecutive

years• Fewer than 30 districts in state spend less

per pupil than Warren Local Schools (reduced 1/3 of staff in 8 years)

Barlow-Vincent Demographics

You must look down field . . .Stay Focused!

• Focus on curriculum and instructional strategies

• Collaboration – teachers as learners

• Strong leadership amongst staff

Best Practices at Barlow-Vincent

High-Yield Strategies◦ Setting objectives/providing feedback◦ Identifying similarities and differences◦ Non-linguistic representations◦ Share through TBT and building leadership highlights

Formative instructional practices◦ Laid foundation with online courses◦ Book study on grading practices◦ Differentiated support based on teacher need◦ Share through TBT and building leadership highlights◦ Grading practices committee

Key #1: Focus on Instructional Strategies

Unpacking the common core and revised standards using Marzano technique

Examining lessons and student work to determine the level of rigor

Key #1: Focus on Curriculum

Monitoring the Work . . .

“I don’t close my door anymore. It’s not about competition.”

Data, data, data – every kid needs a planWalk-to-intervention model Inclusion modelUsing teacher-based teams to collaborate

not “gab” borate!

Key #2: Collaboration

• Accountability for results (monitoring the plan)

• Fostering teamwork

• Self-improvement is non-negotiable – using our evaluations and walkthroughs

Key #2: Strong Teacher Leadership

Support and insist -Monitor the plan

-Hold accountable

-Celebrate and recognize

-Walk the walk

Key #3: Strong Leadership from Administrators

The “Art” is in how you put

them together

Stephanie Starcher wl_sstarcher@warrenlocal.orgAnne Boley wl_aboley@warrenlocal.org

Sandy Vincent wl_svincent@warrenlocal.org