"Super" Spruce Scoop
Volume 1 Edition 9
November 10, 2014
Campus Professional Development
As you lead your team through a meaningful day of professional development, I wish you a productive day. Each campus has a different need and a specific focus to support the work of our teachers and students. I know each of you has been thoughtful in planning out the day whether it be planning for the upcoming six weeks, professional development on engagement, data analysis or supporting culture and climate. Have a wonderful day and be sure to let your teachers know how much we appreciate them for their hard work and dedication to our students. We are making a difference in the "Super" Spruce feeder pattern!
By the way, now is a nice time to utilize Bambrick's Data Driven Instruction Implementation Rubric with your teachers to assess progress on implementation. See this link.
Nancy Moseley Elementary School
Ms. Ambriz
Ms. Fernandez
Ms. Hardwick
Effective Instruction Observed...We Are Making Progress!
During campus coaching visits, much of our time is spent observing instruction conducting calibrated Spot Observations. Thank you for allowing your leadership team members to join our learning. When assistant principals and instructional coaches participate in the observations, it helps all of us.
As we walked campuses this week, several campuses exhibited really good instruction and / or instruction showed progress. Beyond the Big 4, the leadership teams and I were observing instruction to look for strong implementation of Guided Reading in our elementary schools. Several campuses demonstrated really nice progress to ensure students receive reading instruction at the instructional level of students. In particular, Richard Lagow Elementary School consistently had teachers engaging students in Guided Reading with meaningful center activities for the rest of the students. Also, Nancy Moseley Elementary School had classroom after classroom with teachers implementing Guided Reading with students in small groups. Way to go Mrs. Shelton and Mrs. Bernal and their leadership teams!
Also, William Anderson Elementary School has teachers making progress on effective Guided Reading, but we also observed good instruction in many classes. It is obvious that coaching and professional development is taking place. Thank you so much to Mrs. Garcia and her team for leading the learning.
Finally, Spruce High School is demonstrating progress toward effective instruction. As Ms. Aguilar and I visited several classrooms, teachers are working hard to provide good instruction. She and her leadership team have worked hard to create the environment and expectations of how students are to operate. You can see a distinct improvement in student behavior.
Richard Lagow Elementary School
Ms. Garcia
Ms. Young
Leadership Team
B. H. Macon Elementary School
Assistant Principal Meeting Rescheduled
We were slated to have feeder pattern professional development with assistant principals last week, but due to the fact they were pulled off your campus the previous week, we cancelled. However, a new date has been determined with specific topics for their learning. We are going to break the groups up into elementary and secondary. Jolee Healey, E. D. for Bryan Adams feeder pattern, and I have decided to collaborate and join our groups. This should make the conversation richer and allow for good exchange of ideas.
The locations have not been determined, but secondary assistant principals will meet on November 20th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and elementary assistant principals will meet on November 18th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The learning for elementary assistant principals will be focused on the components of the balanced literacy block to included guided reading, the math block and effective feedback. Our secondary leaders will deepen their learning on feedback among other ideas.
All elementary assistant principals are to attend and secondary schools should send a majority of their assistant principals. We were purposeful in scheduling late in the day to help avoid the difficulties with team members off of your campus.
Leadership Quote of the Week!
Events for the Week
- Monday, November 10 - Campus professional development - No school for students
- Tuesday, November 11 - Third six weeks begins, Entry deadline to participate in Math Olympiad
- Wednesday, November 12 -
- Thursday, November 13
- Friday, November 14 - Elementary Data Meetings - See calendar invites for times.