PKM HIGHLIGHTS
June 8-12, 2020
Dear Bill, Darin, Michelle, Todd & Pat
Online Learning Professional Development Update
Berkeley County Schools is offering Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced leveled Online Learning PD courses for teachers and staff this summer. Course content includes using Schoology, BCS's learning management system, video creation, screen recording, and video conferencing and more. In the first week, 550 teachers and staff enrolled in the courses. Through the Berkeley County Schools tuition assistance/reimbursement program, graduate credits through Shepherd University is provided for teachers who complete all three courses levels. Right now, we have 400 teachers who are taking advantage of earning the graduate credit and the full 3 course menu. I have taken a few comments that capture the enthusiasm and positive reactions from our teachers.
- Bethany Miller: I've enjoyed these Schoology courses a lot. I like the self-paced nature and lots of videos that help guide us. I also enjoyed that there was more creation involved and less discussion threads, as I very much learn through creating and doing what I'm learning about. I enjoyed the content very much, especially MyVRSpot and getting to know a little more about Microsoft Teams.
- John Carper: These courses were incredible! This is precisely the style of professional learning that I find to be helpful. It encompasses so many learning styles and actually has us applying the material! I have been blown away at how little I actually knew about Schoology, even after using it for two years.
- Anthony Wilt: I am amazed by the number of technological skills I have acquired from participating in these courses. I had enough prior knowledge of Schoology to survive during this fourth quarter, but now I feel as though I can teach online just as effectively as I can in a classroom.
The courses are asynchronous and self-paced. A big thank you to Sharon Dove, Derek Oldfield and Sharon Collins in creating this timely training opportunity preparing our teaches for the fall in the event we need to continue remote learning practices.
Service and Professional Staff Weekly Conference Calls
Sr. Staff Plus Pandemic Meeting - June 10th
Wednesday marked the weekly meeting of the Senior Staff Pandemic Meeting. A most important topic of discussion was the tentative plan set forth by the WVDOE for re-entry to school in August. Dr. Murphy reported the WVDOE Advisory Council has laid out plans for several models that will allow districts flexibility and choice based on individual need. This fluid process will account for districts to create a detailed re-entry plan with support from the WVDOE. The plan may include face to face attendance and remote learning. The Pandemic Committee and the Advanced Planning Team will continue to work on a process for the safe return of students and staff. A staged re-entry for central office employees began this week with the return of senior staff and concluded with Directors and Assistant Directors by the end of the week. All staff will return to work on June 15. Precautions are set for health screening, social distancing, occupancy and gatherings of staff. Close to 1000 kindergarten students have been enrolled remotely and registration continues. The first remote summer school program begins this week with high school. Additional programs are scheduled for July. The instructional technology department has created a 3-credit college course focused on our learning management system Schoology. We are pleased that over 400 teachers have enrolled in this class. Technology reports the quality of the assignments that teachers are completing is outstanding. This will provide teachers with skills needed to provide quality remote instruction to students.
WEPM Radio Interview
I joined Mike McCullough and Marsha Kavalek on Panhandle Live on Tuesday morning to provide update on plans and activities across BCS. The top of mind topic is how are we planning to open schools in August. I walked through many of plans and work being done by the BCS Advance Team, Sr. Staff planning and West Virginia Department of Education Re-Entry planning. In addition, the steps we are taking with teachers and staff to be prepared to offer lessons remotely by offering summer professional learning with Online Learning (see above). We also shared an update on providing meals for students during the school year and plans for summer feeding which started this past week at 4 schools sites: Mill Creek Intermediate, South, Middle Hedgesville Elementary and Spring Mills Primary. I also thanked and recognized our recent graduates and their families for our successful graduation celebrations and the positive sentiments from all who participated. I noted the leadership at our schools and thanked principals and staff for making this special opportunity happen. Finally, I wrapped up the conversation reporting how we are progressively going to be bringing back student athletes for training this summer.
Orton Gillingham Literacy Training Ideas
The school district is providing professional development training for Orton Gillingham literacy certification. The Orton-Gillingham approach is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia. We have heard from teachers, principals and staff the benefits of the training to deepen their understanding and teaching of reading. Recently with the increase of funding from the CARES act and the current Pre-K 3 Literacy Grant – Campaign for Early Literacy that we receive annually we wanted to look at how we could provide the certification training to more of our classroom teachers, aides and teachers in specialized services areas. Dave Banks, Bev Hoffmaster, Penny Cave, Betty Anne Powell and I met with the current training group we are working with to see how we might provide more opportunities for teachers and aides to earn this certification during the summer and with the start of the school year. The courses range from 12, 18 and 30 hours ranging from introductory to full course certification of 30 hours. Right now, we are exploring how we might provide the training virtually live and on-demand. We are exploring an menu of options so this training can reach as many of our professionals as possible especially over the summer months. Look for more information to be forthcoming and please speak with us about ideas about how we can best provide this opportunity with a focus Pre-K through the intermediate level.
Professional Development for Substitutes and Communication Tips
As part of our summer professional development and training we are providing our substitutes with a training component lead by Amanda Stevens and Peggy Whetzel in coordination with Lewis Mullenax from Human Resources. Amanda contacted me about speaking to the group and sharing some ideas on the topic of communication that might be helpful to our substitutes. As a former principal I thought the best folks to provide advice on this topic were some of our principals and reached out to Holly Kleppner, Tony Ponton and Katie Worthington that represent a nice cross section of programmatic levels and the school district. I want to thank our principals for passing along these ideas. Here are a couple of highlights of the communication practices I passed along – (1) get to know and introduce yourself to the principal and administrators in the school; (2) the safety and well-being of students are your top priority; (3) meet the teachers adjacent to your classroom and/or on your hall; (4) if you have a questions and/or need help ask. All very sound advice and reinforcing – thank you all again.
Here are a couple of additional thoughts that resonated as great reminders.
- Katie Worthington - “Greet students at the door or at the front of the classroom”.
- Tony Ponton - “Keep cool when dealing with a challenging situation”.
- Holly Kleppner - “Proactive communication is best to give you that positive communication to the parent whether it be for good or a concern”.
BCS Literacy Model
Six years ago we created the BCS Literacy Model based on the research of Lucy Calkins and Fountas and Pinnell. This framework provided guidance for K-5 literacy instruction using the reader’s workshop methodology. Initially, the data showed that gains were being made in reading; however, in recent years our “spotlight” has not been shining quite as bright. In January, a small group of district leaders came together to determine what was needed to revitalize the model, and recently this group was joined by a committee of teachers and administrators to move the conversation forward. Critical components discussed were the implementation of Orton Gillingham, online professional development through various media sources, the importance of academic coaching at Prek - 5, and building the capacity of school-based literacy leaders. Administrators shared the importance of consistent implementation of the BCS Literacy Model and doing walkthroughs to monitor the process. Literacy is the foundation of all learning. Our goal is to build a reading life for our students and instill a love of reading.
This is our “WHY” to share with all stakeholders:
Every student deserves the opportunity to receive rich literacy instruction. The way we ensure rich literacy instruction is through a workshop model grounded in research-based best practices, differentiation, and critical thinking. It just happens to foster a love or reading.
BCS Appointments and Announcements
On Friday I introduced my recommendation, Scott Mathis, as the new Executive Director of Facilities to the department on Raleigh and Bulldog Blvd. Donnie Dellinger and I them met with the two assistant principal candidates at Hedgesville Middle, Megan Smith and Musselman High, John Golebieski. All three of these recommendations are being brought forward to the board meeting for Action on Monday, June 15. Congratulations, to the newest members of our leadership team.
Thought for the Week (TOTW) Going on 4-Week Vacation!
Let us take a walk down memory lane and recall the days when traveling out of town to conferences and seminars were part of the menu for professional activities. I remember how difficult it was trying to get out of town between the challenges of getting packed, office organized and ready to go. And, when you finally got there, many of the issues that were priorities and front burner issues all seem to fade away and exist in a far-away land.
It also provided the time to be more reflective, think creatively and generate some new out of the box ideas. That is often how a new and different environment can stimulate and get those creative juices flowing. I wish I could say, we are all getting ready to leave town but probably not going to happen. So in that spirt of reflecting and recharging, TOTW is going on vacation (a line stolen from the Saturday morning radio show on NPR, Car Talk -Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers withTom and Ray Magliozzi. See you in four weeks with some new and even more exciting ideas to ponder!
PKM Calendar for upcoming week: June 15-19, 2020
Mon.June 15th
Sr. Staff Meeting
Principal Evals
Routine Mtgs
Board Meeting
Tues., June 16th
Principal Evals
Randall Reid-Smith
Wed., June 17th
Service/Professional Rep Mtg
BCEA Meeting
Principal Evals
Routine Mtgs
Thurs., June 18th
Principal Evals
County Council Mtg
Fri., June 19th
WV Day Observed: Schools & Offices Closed
Summer Meal Program
June 1: 15,670 (One location)
June 8: 16,930 (4 locations)
MEALS PROVIDED SINCE MARCH 16, 2020 = 254,600
Please view the following attachments and Pat's Picks:
Standard BCS Calendar
SBA Revised TimelinesRe-entry to Recovery 1 pager
Orchard View Intermediate Project photos (5 files)
Patrick K. Murphy, Ed.D., Superintendent
Email: patrick.murphy@k12.wv.us
Phone: 304-582-0880
Twitter: @PKMSupt