Staying Connected
Join Dr. Muri on his 2016-17 Campus Visit Tour
An Exciting Month for the Spring Branch Family (9/2016)
What a busy month we've had in SBISD! I hope that 2016 is off to a great start for you. I am excited to share what I've been up to and where I've visited on my Staying Connected visits this first full month of school. These visits are a way to share information about important issues related to our collective work. From updates on the upcoming legislative session to challenges and opportunities related to school finance, to the critical work of our new strategic plan, The Learner's Journey, I hope you'll leave these sessions feeling engaged, empowered and equipped to positively influence our work.
A new year is always a time for reflection, but it is also a time to set new goals and to focus on the tasks ahead with renewed vigor. I've seen this vigor as I've toured campuses this month. Thank you for their enthusiasm and learner's mindset! It's been a pleasure seeing, and more importantly, hearing from our educators. A big 'thank you' for your support of our COLLECTIVE work for the children of Spring Branch.
Campus Highlights from September 2016 Staying Connected Visits
Connected @The Guthrie Center (9/21)
Be Brave
- The Guthrie Center’s programs strive to embody and integrate blended learning into courses, and all its programs are centered on the personalization of student learning.
- In Animation, instructors Christopher Olson and Alan Yip Choy are helping interested students move into video games and gaming, and creating a video game that is the Guthrie Campus. In addition, students may create educational animations in areas like pharmacy tech.
Be Proud
- In May, the Navy Jr. ROTC program led by Ret. Commander Jerry Coufal and Master Chief Mark Heuser was designated a Navy Jr. ROTC Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors by the U.S. Dept. of the Navy. This distinction is only awarded to programs ranked in the top 30 percent regionally.
Be a Learner
- Culinary instructors Erin Land, Jonathan Alford and Melissa Manske are focusing students this year on the “business” as well as “art” of cooking and hospitality. Courses are being revamped to include costing and cost/analysis skills. In the Cafe, Guthrie students are now asked to make maximum profit decisions.
- Technology students use a blended learning model for instruction, and advance to “technician” positions where they assist staff with related tech issues and also learn “soft skills” like correct eye contact and use of handshakes and professional greetings. Some assist SBISD’s Help Desk. This area is led by instructors Peter Prelli and Alfredo Gonzales (Alfredo moved up from a district technology position to instructor this year)
Connected @Hunters Creek (9/22)
Be Brave
- Hunter Creek’s third-grade team has begun personalizing their classroom learning environments with ball-type, soft and “wiggly” seating options. Tables will replace desks in all third-grade classrooms.
- Fifth-grade teachers have applied for an ambitious $5,000 grant through the Spring Branch Education Foundation. In addition, the campus PTA Annual Fund and its annual PTA Auction helps sponsor field trips, author visits, specialists, instructional materials and staff development. The annual fund goal this year is $145,000. Projects are funded through a Donors Choose crowdsourcing site, too.
Be Proud
- The 5th grade class of 2016 showed exceptional progress from 2nd grade to 5th grade in reading and math as measured by norm-referenced tests (Stanford and IOWA). In second grade (2012-2013), Hunters Creek students performing at or above the top 40 percent nationally in math and reading were 58 percent and 46 percent, respectively. This is an improvement of 11 points in math and 19 points in reading!
- Hunters Creek Elementary has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the First Tee National School Program for kindergarten through fifth grade. First Tee develops interest in golf as a hobby and physical activity by engaging students in a structured golf curriculum while promoting personal character development.
Be a Learner
- Fifth-grade math and language arts teams are dipping into the practice and use of blended learning models. Many agree that fourth-grade teacher Ann Martin is one of the best models of blended learning practice and instruction on campus right now.
- The Hunter’s Creek library now has a remarkable Maker Space. This new learning concept supports a space where students gather to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover by using a variety of tools and materials. Students collaborate as they engage in science, engineering, computer coding and more. The campus PTA has funded this innovative learning space!
Connected @SpringShadows (9/27)
Be Brave
- Spring Shadows formed a Blended Learning Cadre last year. Instructors in this group include Miguel Nava, 5th grade; Enrique Navas, special education resources; Maria Luna and Michele Ali, both 3rd grade math; Katie Gentry, reading instructional specialist; and Noe Hernandez, math instructional specialist. The cadre is committed to using blended learning practices as a regular part of classroom instruction and design so that students gain both collaborative and individual learning opportunities. They have also started a Twitter PLC, used QR Codes for videos, and Camtasia for messaging.
- Involvement in Spring Shadows’ Hooves for Hope, the equestrian program hosted the by Magic Moments Stable in Spring Branch, has increased to 57 students in the campus’ after-school program. Hooves for Hope began last year with special funding by Texas Capital Bank through the Spring Branch Education Foundation. An added fundraising partner may be named soon.
Be Proud
- Indexes measuring Student Progress, Closing Performance Gaps and Post-Secondary Readiness among Spring Shadows students are at the highest levels seen since the STAAR program began. Post-Secondary Readiness was most improved, increasing 12 points (20 to 32).
- In 2016, rates of Advanced Performance in 4th grade STAAR Reading and Writing ranked in the top quartile, or Q1, among 40 comparable schools.
- Spring Shadow’s writing program rank, as measured by 4th grade Advanced Performance in Writing compared to 40 similar schools, has improved steadily from the lowest quartile, Q4, in 2014, to third quartile, Q3, in 2015, and to the top quartile, Q1, in 2016.
Be a Learner
- Several faculty are working with Educational Technology to begin a student Robotics Club this fall. Teachers Maria Piralla, 5th grade, and Michele Ali, 3rd grade, and librarian Ann Parsons-Newmann are recruiting Spring Shadows students.
- In June, Principal Rachel Martinez joined several Spring Shadows teachers at the ISTE (International Society of Technical Education) gathering in Denver.
Connected @Spring Oaks Middle (9/29)
- Spring Oaks Middle seventh-grade teacher Edith Lewis and librarian Kari Heitman were among 19 district educators named in May as Cohort I Vanguard Fellows. They will help pioneer a long-term district effort to encourage and support innovative instruction and learning through smart technology integration and curriculum design. Librarian Heitman will provide multiple trainings and on-demand tutorials to assist targeted teachers on educational technologies to personalize learning in the classroom; Lewis’ goals include personalized learning as a key focus, too.
Be Proud
- Spring Oaks Middle has 595 students enrolled this year in band, orchestra or choir. Researchers say that students who enroll in and remain in fine arts programs outperform student peers who do not take part in fine arts on academic tests and measures.
- Across all grades, 350 Spring Oaks Middle students are currently taking Pre-AP courses in social studies, science, English language arts and math.
- More than 200 students are enrolled this year in Principals of Manufacturing, Spanish language and art classes for high school credit.
Be a Learner
- For the first time ever, Spring Oaks Middle has enrolled 144 students across all grades in a new technology class that includes instruction on the foundation, decision-making and applications involved in technology use.
States Principal Paul Suess:
“Spring Oaks Middle faculty and staff at are prime examples of Collective Greatness and of Collaborative Spirit. We have worked to establish a culture and climate of collaboration and support for our students, teachers, parents and community. We have developed a growth mindset for all stake holders through our Professional Learning Communities, our Instructional Leader Development Program and our mentee/mentor programs. We all believe we all need to do what is best for kids and not what is easiest for us!”
Stay Connected All Year Long
I encourage you to continue to CONNECT with me providing input about what we’re doing right and what may need improvement as we aspire to be the best we can be for EVERY CHILD. How? Ask questions during my visit. (Be brave!) Take the post-visit survey. Send me an email. Call me. Whatever it takes, share your feedback and input on what you've heard and what we can do to continue to inspire minds and shape lives at your campus and across the district.
Again, thank you to all the campuses I've visited in September. I look forward to seeing each of you as I continue my tour this school year.