Wolcott's Weekly "What's Up"
Office of Teaching & Learning 2.12.2015
Quote of Note
Teaching and Learning Updates
Special Education Audit Update
In order to ensure individual student growth and college and career readiness, we have been systematically auditing our programs as part of our Academic Transformation Plan. Audits completed over the past several years have included the Gifted Audit, the Bilingual Audit and now the Special Education Audit.
Special Education Audit
The first step in the auditing process was to have an external evaluator come in to inspect our current delivery systems, budget, and allocation of services. This step was completed in the early fall and a final report was made to the Board of Education in December.
The second step, currently underway, calls for us to utilize an outside special education consultant to delve deeper into the identified areas of need brought forth from the initial inspection. Pam Harris, former special education director in Elgin, second largest school district in Illinois, has been contracted as our lead consultant. Pam has been spending time over the last month meeting with district special education leaders as well as district administrators to develop a plan of action. This stage has been incredibly enlightening and identified several areas already that will benefit not only students but staff as we move forward as a district.
As the process continues, staff interviews and visitations by the consultant will occur as will training to implement new processes and procedures necessary to meet individual student IEP needs and better match our outcomes to intended IDEA legislation.
School Board Presentation- Teaching & Learning Mid-Year Update
On Monday evening (February 2nd), I had the opportunity to make my annual mid-year presentation to the Board of Education on all the great things going on in our classrooms. During the presentation I spoke about the implementation of the Calkins Writing Curriculum, Genius Hour/Passion Periods held at individual school, our progress with the Math Curriculum, our new curriculum website, utilization of Chrome books and iPads in the classroom, and much more. IF you are interested in seeing the presentation, it can be found on the District 68 website under Board Briefs.
Additionally, members of the Goodrich staff (under the guidance of Paul Scaletta) shared information on Kagan Cooperative Learning. They showed videos and gave descriptions on how these strategies are being utilized in the building to implement our district's F.O.C.U.S.
PARCC Security Agreement
All staff administering the PARCC assessments this spring will need to sign a "security agreement". This document outlines what staff can and cannot do during test administration.
Principals will be collecting these signed documents and keeping them on file for the Illinois State Board of Education.
IMPORTANT: Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS)
Starting January 1, 2015, any professional development hours and/or CPDUs received must be entered into ELIS within 60 days of the event.
- Example: February 27 County Institute Day- credits must be entered by April 27, 2015
February 27 County Institute Day
The annual DuPage County Institute Day is Friday, February 27th. A large number of district staff are out of district to learn with colleagues from around northern Illinois. Staff staying in district will include classroom teachers, title 1 teaching assistants, and PE staff.
Building principals are responsible for communicating specific directions to staff.
PARCC Headphones
All students will need headphones for PARCC administration. The IT Department will be sending 40 of the high tech headphones to each building for use with IEP students needing the microphones for text to speech accommodations.
These headphones can be stored at individual buildings until the end of May but will be recollected for next year.
Special thanks to Kelly Harrigan for organizing this process.
Leadership and Learning Resources
Three Things All Teachers Need
Principal To Do List
- Communicate February 27 County Wide Institute Day plans and agenda to all building staff.
- PARCC Checklist
- Set up after school PARCC training for staff
- Schedule 60 minute meeting with Greg to discuss building level special education service delivery during week of March 2nd. See Greg's Shared Calendar for openings.
- Send PARCC Security Agreements to Greg when collected from all staff.
- Enjoy the 3 day weekend!
On the Radar
- District Administrators' Meeting 2/17
- RTI Conversations with Tom Hierck/Chris Weber 2/25 & 2/26
- County Wide Institute Day 2/27
- District Battle of the Books Competition 3/3
- PARCC Test Administration 3/9-3/27
- Spring Break 3/28- 4/5
Stay strong and F.O.C.U.S.ed!
Greg Wolcott
Email: wolcottg@woodridge68.org
Website: www.woodridge68.org
Location: 7925 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, IL, United States
Phone: 630.967.2035
Twitter: @TeachLearn68