Elementary Leadership Blast 1
Volume 1 Issue 1
Introduction:
Let me begin by thanking you all so much for your patience these last few months as I transitioned from my role in Charlotte. I am honored to be the new Director of Elementary Education, and I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the CCS family.
As a part of my on-boarding experience, I am committed to learning more about our strengths and challenges. In order to learn as much as possible as I get acquainted with Cabarrus County Schools, I plan on using a structured entry plan to guide my work to help better serve each of you. Throughout the course of the next three months, my hope is to share several of these opportunities as well as my learnings with each of you through our “Elementary Leadership Blasts.”
My first priority in my entry plan is to meet with each of you individually over the course of the next month. I am a leader that thrives on feedback. I also know that each of you has an invaluable amount of experience and expertise that will help me to mold and shape the role in order to best support our schools. To help make things as efficient as possible, I created a Sign-Up Genius, listed below under Action Steps, where you can sign up for your preference of a day and time for my visit to your school. In order to capitalize on our time together during this visit, I have specific questions that I will be asking, which are listed at the top of the Sign-Up Genius and will be provided in the Outlook Calendar invite you will receive once you sign up for a time slot. Please know I understand that each of you is remarkably busy as you plan to open your school. If none of the days/times listed work with your schedule, please email me, and we can try to work something out that better fits your schedule in September.
Finally, I know that I had the opportunity to briefly introduce myself in May, but I'd love to share a little bit about me personally and professionally. Over the course of the last five years, I had the honor of being an elementary school principal in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
I grew up all over the country as a military brat. My fun fact growing up included attending 9 schools in 9 years. Needless to say, being the “new girl” was a role that I grappled with the majority of my childhood. The one consistency in my childhood was always school and, as a result, I grew quite fond of many of my elementary school teachers and always aspired to one day be that “constant” for another child.
I attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where I earned a Bachelor's degree in education and mathematics. During my senior year, I had the remarkable opportunity to student teach in South Africa. Throughout my experience student teaching, my eyes were opened to a whole new level of poverty that existed outside the U.S., and I ended up taking time off of school to work at an HIV abandoned baby home just east of Port Elizabeth.
My time in South Africa fundamentally changed my outlook both personally and professionally. After graduating from college, I joined Teach For America and was placed in one of the highest needs Title I elementary schools in Charlotte. After serving in the classroom for several years, I quickly learned the remarkable impact a building leader could have on the culture and thus achievement level within a school. I went on to pursue my Master's in Educational Leadership at Winthrop University. While I miss the classroom every day, I find a great deal of joy serving and supporting our incredible teachers and leaders.
On a personal note, I am married to a fellow educator and school leader. My husband, Courtlyn Reeves, is currently a principal in Charlotte, and we welcomed our first child, Hadley, last July. In my free time I love traveling, running, and spending time with friends and family.
I look forward to learning more about each of you, your schools, and your leadership journey over the next few months.
Sincerely,
Sarah
Action Steps
1. OPTIONAL: Wednesday, July 24th-Sign Teachers Up for Co-teaching PD https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBD0pL1OA5cFCStojhNRis0qQ80nlw3VNXWkHgfosPyvKhiA/viewform
https://worldview.unc.edu/programs/summit-2019/ & Respond to Kathleen Greene about Hill Rap (Per Dr. Hill's Email on Wednesday, July 17th Titled: HillRap Training for SY19-20)
3. Friday, July 26th -Complete Sign Up Genius for "One-on-One School Visits"
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094BAAA823A6FE3-oneonone
& iStation Training https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0icmUMjrWa7vk-f-uYN0o4jzHPJRscLwP-FQNspJpKWzbjQ/viewform
4. OPTIONAL: Monday, July 29th- Complete 2019-2020 Gizmos Purchase Request https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVTw03zpz4ltkfmHCD6_9jg-62SadHrrFtiALkzdh-GqVoUw/viewform
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, August 6th-Principals' Meeting
- Tuesday, August 13th- Co-Teaching PD at Cox Mill High School 8-4pm
- Wednesday, August 14th-LED Train the Trainer & iStation Lunch and Learn Train the Trainer PD 11:30-12:30pm
- Thursday, August 15th-Global Education Summit 2019 at Hickory Ridge High School 8:30-4pm
- Thursday, August 22nd-Elementary School Open House 5:00-7:00pm (Traditional Calendar)
- Monday, August 26th-First Day of School (Traditional Calendar)
- Tuesday, September 3rd-Assistant Principals' Meeting
- September 10-17th--BOG Testing Window (Can now be administered different days)
- September 19-20th-HillRap PD at Education Center 9-3:30pm
Global Education Summit
Co-Teaching PD Information
Launch. Explore. Discuss
Train the Trainer session – August 14th in the Board Room
Teams should consist of 3 people per school
- 1 representative for K-2 (Odell Primary will send two K-2 teacher reps)
- 1 representative for 3-5 (Odell Elementary will send two 3-5 teacher reps)
- 1 representative for administration
Teams will need to bring the black Math in Practice Guide for Teachers companion book to the training
Two stipends will be provided for each school to be used for the K-2 and 3-5 teacher representatives
This team will train their school staff the morning of August 20th using the facilitator notes and Canvas course from the train-the-trainer session. Please Note: It is vital this training occurs the morning of August 20th as there will be a CCS New Teacher Orientation for Experience Teachers.
AP Meeting Dates
- September 3rd 8-12pm
- October 1st 8-12pm
- November 19th 8-12pm
- January 7th 8-12pm
- February 11th 8-12pm
- March 10th 8-12pm
- April 7th 8-12pm
- May 12th 8-12pm