Conrad/Thomas Jefferson Tribune
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 5-9, 2018
NEW SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MISSION
WE WILL CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP THAT INSPIRES AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT FOR EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS ARE COLLEGE AND CAREER STRONG.
3 SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES
BALANCED LITERACY
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
VISION, MISSION & CORE VALUES
CONRAD/THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PRIORITY GOALS
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Advance teacher effectiveness and improve the quality of instruction through research-based professional learning practices
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION
Close achievement gaps through effective data practices and alignment of core content curriculum.
CLIMATE AND CULTURE
Develop and sustain a positive and supportive climate and culture of high expectations through effective communication, inclusive practices and leadership development.
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Illustrious Leaders,
It is exciting to know that I have had now 2 successful sessions with the AP's thus far. On Thursday, all 16 AP's attended PD with the ED and Math ILC to help Sharpen their Saw! They were able to present their first part of their Capstone Projects and began the book study on The Principal 50. What a great way to end the week with such an enthusiastic group of educators!
It is great to know that Common Assessment two is behind us and we now have the opportunity to compare 1st and 2nd six weeks data thoroughly to ensure that we are targeting 'Good First Instruction' and making the instructional adjustments necessary to reach your year end goals as a campus and as a feeder. Thank you for continuing the process of aggressive monitoring.
In order to assist teachers' in improving their instructional delivery is to ensure effective feedback is occurring on a regular basis and closing the feedback loop.If you provide feedback, remember to return to see if the feedback has been implemented.
All campuses should have spots completed for each teacher; whether DTR or not, you should still be visiting the teachers. Please make ensure that you check your campus' progress on spots on a weekly basis so that you can hold one another accountable to being present in classrooms for 80% of your time during the instructional day.
We have fifteen more instructional days until December EOC's. There are 28 more instructional days until ACP's. THE TIME IS NOW! You should see differentiated instruction. and teachers spiraling in their low SE's from the latest Common Assessment into their instruction aligned with the ACP or EOC in mind.
As Stephen Covey says it best in Habit #4, "Think WIN/WIN" in working effectively with other people. This is the habit of always looking for a solution that benefits you AND the other person or group.
Looking forward to our Network meeting on Thursday. You are in for a real treat!
Here is to a productive week of teaching, learning, growing and leading!
"WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT...GO FOR THE GOLD!!
Ms. Torres
Emmett Conrad/Thomas Jefferson Executive Director
WEEKLY UPDATES
MONDAY, November 5
- Think Tank-Ms. Torres-8:00 a.m.
- Start of 3rd Six Weeks
- Saldivar Campus visit for DDI-8:00 a.m.
- Cigarroa Campus visit for DDI-10:00 a.m.
- Burnet Campus visit for DDI-12:00 p.m.
- Lowe Campus visit for DDI-3:45 p.m.
- Deputy Chief/ED Campus visitation @ Cigarroa-8:00 a.m.
- Deputy Chief/ED Campus visitation @ Stephen Foster-9:30 a.m.
- United 2 Learn Partner Meeting 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.-Ms. Torres
- Stephen Foster Campus visit for DDI-12:00 p.m.
- MCShan Campus visit for DDI-2:00 p.m.
- Joe May Campus visit for DDI-8:00 a.m.
- Walnut Hill Campus visit for DDI-9:30 a.m.
- Tom Field Campus visit for DDI-12:00 p.m.
- Jill Stone Campus visit for DDI-2:00 p.m.
THURSDAY, November 8
- DTR Round 1 Applications due @ noon
- Northwest Network Meeting 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.-NCX Rm. #580-big conference room
- TBSI deadline for campuses
- Teacher Job Fair for campuses with vacancies
- Deadline for Texas Behavior Support Initiative Team Training (see Aug. 23rd WAIP)
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY MS. BARRIOS!
- CAMPUS EMERGENCY DRILL DUE TODAY!
- Polk Campus visit for DDI-8:00 a.m.
- Highland Meadows Campus visit for DDI-10:00 a.m.
- Technology deadline TODAY!
- Report Cards Printed
- SSI Forms DUE (2018 June failures of Grade 5, 8, and EOC) (see Oct. 4th WAIP)
Core 4 Family Friendly Climate Campus Visits Tips
The Purpose
The District’s Student Recruitment and Retention Taskforce is announcing a new initiative, The Core 4 Family Friendly Climate Campus Visits. The goal of these visits is to help principals to get feedback on the Core 4 customer service given by their campus staff and to understand a visitor’s experience. Visits will begin taking place in November.
Resources
To make your campus stand out as a shining star and as a campus that is family friendly, please check out the following resources:
- The Principal’s Handbook: Dallas ISD has outlined tips for how to create a welcoming environment for your visitors in the principal’s handbook which is available at this link. Review pages 42-44 from the handbook with your staff.
- Core 4 Podcast: The Communications department has a podcast available at this link. Please send this link to your staff and review the importance of providing excellent customer service and establishing relationships.
- The Five Step Model for Exceptional Customer Service: Meet with your office staff and other personnel who are responsible for welcoming visitors and review the Five Step Model for Exceptional Customer Service. Role play how visitors should be greeted and served.
Preparation
During the next few weeks, we will share various resources and tips for creating a family-friendly environment. Please check out the attached list of suggestions. Also, customer service training is available by reaching out to Tunisia Wallace at core4@dallasisd.org.
DATA ON THE HORIZON
Special Education PEIMS Snapshot Federal Count
(Snapshot date 10/26/2018)
The data displayed in the table below is a snap shot view demonstrating how compliant the campus was with regards to the state’s 100% standard on PEIMS indicators. Congratulations to the campuses below who met the target!
COMMON ASSESSMENT WINDOW
CONRAD/THOMAS JEFFERSON CLUSTER KUDOS!
Ms. Rasmusson 4th Grade Students' Project
Election Season on Conrad and Jefferson Elementary Campuses
CONRAD AND JEFFERSON CICS COLLABORATE TO SUPPORT 3RD SIX WEEKS INSTRUCTION
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Leader in Me Symposium 2019
ALL CAMPUSES SHOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION ATTENDING!
UNITED WAY
The Kick-off for United Way campaign for 2018-19 will be November 1. The window of opportunity to contribute to United Way is Nov. 1-Dec. 14. This year the District goal is $200,000.
Coaching Connection Corner
SCIENCE
Connecting with Science
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1777YTOg8VqaRHSx23isFrtTQ39fBMZDrdhiiYXHNnVc/edit
Science Resources Order Form
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7ikzhyGZlutd0RUM1ljX09obDA/view
Living Resource List
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19_I2nagvT4vFaZznfJx5jIHdWCpZ-lxDHt58EmydA1s/edit
Living Resource Order Form
https://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/96/LMC%20Request%20Form.pdf
Connecting with Math
Connect with Reading/Language Arts
There are several ways to assess writing. The most common method is to use some sort of rubric. Items on the rubric range from state-mandated writing standards to individual items specific to an assignment. Other forms of writing assessment use checklists or rating scales.
A teacher isn't the only one who can assess a writing sample. Students can assess their own writing by working in pairs or small groups. Small groups of students can meet and about one piece or each student can bring a piece to exchange and have reviewed. We encourage campuses to access writing rubrics through class pages per content on Powerschool. https://dallasisd.learning.powerschool.com
NOVEMBER
12-Report Cards issued
19-23-Thanksgiving Break!
DECEMBER
12-19-ACP Testing
14-Last day to contribute to United Way
20-Annual Acknowledgment & Policy Review Due date
JANUARY
14-25-K-5-GT Testing Window (1-5 2nd opportunity to test)
8-22-ACP Make-up window
29-NAEP Test for 4th grade begin-Multiple subtests designated campuses only
8-31-ISIP Reading Inventory (K-2/MOY)
FEBRUARY
1-Registration deadline for CEFA
7-8-The Leader in Me Symposium-Irving Convention Center-All Principals should register to attend
18-22-Common Assessments #4 begin
25-TELPAS teacher online ratings begin
MARCH
4-CEFA testing begins
8-NAEP tests end
23-Northwest Network Super Saturday-Time TBD
APRIL
1-19-STAAR ALT 2
5-Last day to test for CEFA
8-12-Common Assessments #5 begin
9-STAAR 4th Writing/5th Math
10-STAAR Reading 5th
22-26-Student Surveys given
23-26-Terra Nova/Supera-K-2
23-Terra Nova/Supera Testing Reading K-2
24-Terra Nova/Supera Testing Math K-2
25-25-Terra Nova/Supera Testing Make-ups K-2
MAY
1-31-ISIP Reading Inventory K-2
13-STAAR Math-3rd -4th
14-STAAR Reading-3rd -4th & 5th Retest
15-STAAR Science-5th
23-29-ACP Testing
30-ACP Testing Make-ups
MARSHALL MEMO-#709
The Real Challenge of Differentiation
In this article in HaYidion, Matt Williams says that in most classrooms differentiation happens every day, and not always in the best way. “Teachers have only a certain amount of instructional time,” he says, “and it can be monopolized quite quickly. Various studies have shown that extroverts, boys, high achievers, those with learning disabilities, and those whom the teacher simply likes more – all can easily monopolize the bandwidth of even the most well-intentioned educator. In other words, teachers already differentiate based on a variety of criteria.”
As a beginning teacher, Williams realized that his enthusiasm for the subject matter was captivating only a fraction of his students. “On the drive home after a particularly difficult class,” he says, “I asked myself, what if my students’ apathy was not about the subject per se and more about my own inability to understand how they might be able to connect with it? My love of my discipline, on a good day, may have resonated with a quarter of my students. Teaching those students was a joy… What if I was guilty of allowing the love I had for my subject to limit the love my students might develop, if I could only get myself, my ego, out of the way?… While I might be an expert in my subject, I knew I could never be an expert in the many and varied ways in which my students experienced my classroom.”
The real challenge of differentiation, Williams realized, was how he could give ownership and access to all students, how he could “design a classroom that took seriously the fact that students are the ultimate arbiters of their learning experience.” The question he hadn’t answered was, “How do you build a classroom for people who can choose to tune you out anytime they want?”
The essence of differentiation, then, is shifting from reaching curriculum objectives to figuring out experiences that students will opt into. “In a world where students can wait out, tune out, or fake out teachers by ‘doing school’ instead of actually learning,” Williams concludes, “this shift in thinking matters now more than ever.”
EMMETT J. CONRAD/THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
- Jack Lowe Elementary: Principal, Sandra Barrios
- Jill Stone : Principal, Rosalinda Pratt
- Highland Meadows: Principal, Julian Davis
- David G. Burnet Elementary: Principal, Sonia Loskot
- Leonides Cigarroa Elementary : Principal, Douglas Burak
- Tom W. Field Elementary: Principal, Selena Deboskie
- Stephen C. Foster Elementary: Principal, Irma De La Guardia
- Joe May Elementary: Principal, Israel Rivera
- K.B. Polk Elementary: Principal, Kourtnei Billups
- Julian T. Saldivar: Principal, Edgar Jaramillo
- Walnut Hill Elementary: Principal, Robert 'Chase' McLaurin
- McShan Elementary: Principal, Cecilia Criner
MEET OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CONRAD/THOMAS JEFFERSON LEADERSHIP TEAM
JACK LOWE SR. ELEMENTARY
JILL STONE ELEMENTARY
HIGHLAND MEADOWS ELEMENTARY
DAVID G. BURNET ELEMENTARY
LEONIDES CIGARROA ELEMENTARY
TOM FIELD
STEPHEN C. FOSTER
JOSE 'JOE' MAY
K.B. POLK CENTER FOR THE ACADEMICALLY TALENTED & GIFTED
JULIAN T. SALDIVAR
WALNUT HILL DUAL LANGUAGE GIFTED & TALENTED
MCSHAN ELEMENTARY
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP COACH
OUR BOARD TRUSTEES REPRESENTING OUR NETWORK
EDWIN FLORES
DISTRICT # 1, Northwest Dallas, Addison, parts of Carrollton and Farmers Branch
Walnut Hill
DUSTIN MARSHALL
District #2 North and Near East Dallas
K. B. Polk
DAN Micciche
DISTRICT #3 Northeast Dallas
Highland Meadows, Jack Lowe Sr., Lee A. McShan Jr, Jill Stone at Vickery Meadow
MIGUEL SOLIS
DISTRICT # 8 Love Field, Northwest Dallas, and Central Dallas
David G. Burnet, Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa, Tom Field, Stephen C. Foster, Jose "Joe" May, Julian T. Saldivar