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 [email protected] Boley [email protected]
Sandy Vincent [email protected]