MSAA Matters
January Edition II
January 31, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
I am so excited to introduce our first School Spotlight edition of MSAA Matters. As I shared in previous newsletters, as often as possible our School Spotlight edition will be published highlighting the work of Principals/Directors across the Commonwealth. Our first spotlight is on Shannon Barca, Principal of the Parmenter Elementary School in Franklin, MA.
On a very cold and blustery Thursday afternoon in January, Shannon was able to take time out of her busy schedule to sit with me to chat about Parmenter and the work the school has been doing with Understanding By Design (UbD) and project-based learning. Before we could sit down Shannon was still with a student when I arrived and as she and the student exited her office, Shannon reassured the student with her kind words, "Now you know we are here to help you." This was the tone and feel of the entire 2 1/2 hours I spent with Shannon, staff, and students, making it clear Parmenter is a special place to be! As a matter of fact the Parmenter community dedicated the past school year to the creation of a motto that best captures what a special place Parmenter is. Their motto is, "Learning is What We Do. Family is Who We Are".
Shannon came to Parmenter as the Assistant Principal in the 2013-2014 school year having been a classroom teacher and Team Leader for 15 years in the Westboro Public Schools. As team leader, Shannon confirmed her love for curriculum development and deepened her commitment to meaningful and authentic learning for all students. Fast forward to her first year as Principal at Parmenter and the beginning of the implementation of UbD. When asked about how she got teachers to support this initiative, Shannon responded, "With data that supported areas for growth, I created a clear Theory of Action plan with alignment to standards and the work we're already doing. From there, we committed to working together to set high, yet attainable expectations (providing necessary scaffolding & personalized learning) and accomplished this work together through training and professional development. We are in year four of our UbD implementation and continue to build on the work that has been done in previous years. Teachers at Parmenter engage in this work because they are skilled and committed educators and they see the results in student engagement and enthusiasm."
On the day of my visit, we were able to visit four classrooms - two in second grade and two in fourth grade. In all of classes the students were seen working diligently and exuberantly. In second grade, students were researching either Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks (student choice) and learning about their lives and impact. To conclude their work they will answer the essential question, "What actions did Dr. King and Rosa Parks take to be leaders of change?". The rigor and relevance of that question speak to the high yet attainable expectations present. I was so moved when a second grader told me how courageous Rosa Parks was.
Next stop, fourth grade! Students were engaging in a timely project-based learning unit answering the essential question" "How do city planners apply math skills and the science of natural disasters to plan a city that ensures the security and safety of its residents and infrastructure?" Large group instruction was underway complete with a video of a compelling real life weather forecast which gave the students a real life application. Next on the agenda for these city planners was to gather in their groups to continue to tackle this important issue!
When I queried how will you keep this initiative fresh and alive, Shannon replied, "It is a way of life at Parmenter, it is not rhetoric, it is what we do, how we plan. These units remain 'alive' because that is the intent. In order to stay current, develop, and grow as educators, it is important to understand that these units are the blueprints that should be reflected on and revised, as necessary, each year." In talking with Franklin Superintendent Dr. Sara Ahern, she confirmed her support for this kind of work and stated she supports principals by, "Supporting them everyday when things arise but also finding ways to protect time and space for big picture thinking and planning." Both Shannon and Sara concluded their interviews by acknowledging how important it is to set boundaries and protect time and space to feed their souls and take care of themselves.
I think the pictures below demonstrate the authentic and inspiring work being done by the Parmenter team! They also show the power of the community that they are building as they work to create a home for students, staff and parents at Parmenter. Parmenter's theme song, Home, by Phillip Phillips is played at all school-wide assemblies to further bring home the message of family. The song is linked below.
In closing, if you would like greater detail on how to launch this work, Shannon can be reached at barcas@franklinps.net. If you would like to meet Shannon and two of her teachers in person, they will be presenting a workshop, titled "Developing UbD Units of Study with Integrated SEL Skills and Objectives" on Friday, March 27th at our annual PK-8 Spring Conference at the Devens Common Center. Register for the conference here.
Warm regards,
Beth
Beth Wittcoff
MSAA Assistant Director
Middle Level and Elementary Committee Liaison
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Upcoming Professional Development, Special Events & Conferences
Special Events/Conferences
Ed Camp Saturday, February 1st Breakfast & Registration at 8:00 AM 8:30 am - 12:00 pm at the MSAA Office Register
PK- 8 Spring Conference, Friday 3/27 at Devens Common Devens , MA Register
Assistant Principals Conference , Monday, 4/06 8:00 AM (Register) 8:30 AM Conference begins at the Doubletree Hotel Milford, MA Register
NAESP Leadership Immersion Institute, Thursday 5/5 - Friday 5/6 in Augusta, Maine
Upcoming Professional Development:
Friday, 1/31 Differentiated Instruction in the Middle School Math Classroom- Part Two Marcie Abramson, Ed.M 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office Register
Monday, 2/3 Executive Function: Implications for Teaching and Learning Jane M. Hardin, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Thursday, 2/13 Legal Aspects of Student Confidentiality Colleen Shea, Esq. 9:00 am - 2:30 pm MSAA Office, Register
Thursday, 2/13 Restorative Justice, Continued: Utilizing Restorative Circles as a Framework for Building School and Classroom Communities Dr. Curtis Bates 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Monday, 2/24 Building Positive Race and Ethnic Relations in the Current Political Climate Richard W. Cole 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Monday, 2/24 With Boys in Mind Tracey Calo 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Tuesday, 2/25 Lead from the Heart Dr. Maureen Cohen and Dr. Paul Vieira 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Thursday, 2/27 Rigorous Discourse: Structures, Cultures and Instruction that Support Rigor Dr. Mary O'Brien Merrigan 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Thursday, 2/27 Social Justice in the Elementary Mathematics Classroom Marcie Abramson 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Friday, 2/28 Hanging in with Challenging Students Jeffrey Benson 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Friday, 2/28 Special Education and Cultural Competency Related to ELL Learners Dr. Cindy Crimmin 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
Friday, 2/28 The Effect of Social Media on Anxiety and Depression Jane M. Hardin 8:30 am - 3:00 pm MSAA Office, Register
NAESP Leadership Immersion Institute
NAESP Leadership Immersion Institute
May 5-6, 2020 | Augusta, ME
This 2-day event is a highly structured, interactive professional learning opportunity that integrates research-based best practices in mentoring and adult learning with educators’ knowledge and experiences. Principals from all grade levels and district personnel are encouraged to participate! Training topics include:
- Mentoring Principals to Lead Learning Communities
- Build Culture: Creating Schools that are Great Places to Teach and Learn
- Empower People: Leading Learning to Bring Out the Best in Teachers and Students
· Optimize Systems: Ensuring School Operations, Processes and Contexts Support Effective Teaching and Learning
The program curriculum has been newly redesigned to align with NAESP’s 2019 edition of Leading Learning Communities: Pillars, Practices, and Priorities for Effective Principals, the 2015 Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, and NAESP’s Mentor Competencies. To register or learn more about the program, visit https://www.naesp.org/mentor.