Pam's Pages
Week of April 25-29
DISTRICT NEWS
Missed School Day Waiver
Flooding across the Houston area occurred on Monday April 18 and April 19 resulting in the closure of schools across the area. As a result of the wide-spread impact of the floods, Commissioner Mike Morath granted affected school districts waives for two days of missed classes.
SBISD was already out of school for a scheduled student/staff vacation day on Monday the 18th. Given poor travel conditions in the area, the district decided to cancel school on Tuesday April 19.
The district will request a waiver for the April 19 missed school day. The Commissioner’s decision to approve waivers for these days means that SBISD will not be required to use one of the scheduled bad weather makeup days in June for students.
Board approval for this waiver will be requested at the April 25 Board meeting.
It has yet to be determined how we will proceed with teacher and paraprofessional days.
Teacher Leadership Opportunity - Lead Mentor
The newest layer of the district mentoring plan also intends to strengthen our leadership pipeline. Last year principals, iCoaches, or APs ran the campus mentoring program as SITE COORDINATORS. This year Site Coordinators will be called “LEAD MENTORS” and this leadership opportunity will be available to teacher leaders.
Teachers may apply to run this newly-improved teacher mentoring program on their campus as the Lead Mentor. This can also be a position shared by two teachers.
The Lead Mentor would be responsible for "onboarding" new staff.
There will be training as a layer of support for these teacher leaders as a part of the Teacher Leadership Pipeline. The School Performance team, with input from the System of Care team, will develop and deliver the trainings.
The Lead Mentor Job Description is available below. Applications will be in Shirley's office. She will also have a copy that she can email to you.
Applications are due back to me by May 3rd, with a turnaround selection deadline for me of May 5th.
Lead Mentor Job Description
If you feel you have the characteristics of a leader and are willing to assume the responsibilities of a Lead Mentor, please fill out an application and email it to your principal by May 3rd. If you are selected, you will be notified about a mandatory 90 minute training which will occur in mid to late May. We will have several training dates to choose from.
The CHARACTERISTICS of a Lead Mentor should include:
A desire to move into a leadership role (i.e. Team Leader, Department Chairman, iCoach, AP, Principal) in the future
3+years of teaching experience and proven student achievement
A desire to cultivate leadership skills in others
Enthusiasm, self-efficacy, and professionalism
Competent in social and public relations
Success in working with and teaching other adults & ability to empower others to reach their full potential
Skilled in oral and written communication
Ability to work collaboratively, confidentially, and positively
The RESPONSIBILITIES of a Lead Mentor (under direction of the Principal) include, but are not limited to:
Match Mentors with NOVICE+1 Mentees and communicate contact information
Match Buddy Teachers to experienced teachers new to the campus.
Communicate Mentor/Mentee assignments with HR and update as needed
Train all campus NOVICE+1 Teacher Mentors (including use of the website)
Set expectations for Buddy Teachers/Mentees.
Attend district provided leadership training to learn how to run the program and leadership practice skills.
Promote personal and professional well-being of Mentors and Mentees through an intentional, interactive, and dynamic mentoring process which fosters a campus culture of mentoring in daily practice.
Recommended practices include, but are not limited to:
****Plan campus on-boarding activities to orient Mentees with the campus and their classroom
****Plan and implement monthly meetings (or as needed) with NOVICE+1 teachers that provide support, opportunities for sharing, and professional learning.
****Plan and implement regular training and observation cycles for NOVICE+1 teachers and/or for mentors
****Oversee mentor/mentee relationships regularly
****Coach NOVICE+1 teachers and/or mentors
****Mentor a NOVICE+1 if possible
Communicate needs/progress with principal and with the District Support Team
Its Learning - Learning Management System for Students and Teachers
Its Learning is a Learning Management System that will be available for both Students and teachers. A link to a slide show will be sent to you in an email.
Below is information about how the system will be rolled out.
Phase I - Summer/Fall 2016
Curriculum Framework
Pieces to be in ItsLearning no later than July 1, 2016
Priority standards for grade level and/or course; Bundling of the balance of standards, 100% of TEKS will be identified; Vertical alignment across grade levels per content; Key Academic Vocabulary including:
- Guaranteed-30 words maximum across priority standards
- Supporting – additional words that support learning but aren’t critical
- Cognitive – Verbs tied to skills identified in the Priority Standard (observe, record, analyze, etc.…)
- Key Vocabulary for ELL and Special Ed Basic and Advanced (from above)
Quad sheets-updated to support Priority standards
Units of study-updated to match Priority standards
Migration of existing curriculum and lessons from curriculum dashboard/ SharePoint (Hopefully to be completed but prepare teachers for ducal platform….)
Staff Development - Summer/Early Fall 2016
(We may not offer as many content sessions as in the last few years due to work above as a priority.)
ItsLearning Basics - online and Workshops Wednesdays - May/June/July
Accessing the Curriculum - online and F2F - Teacher Summer U/New Teacher / Curriculum PL Day - Late July/August/September 2016
( relies on Phase I Curriculum Framework migration completion)
Phase II - Summer/Fall 2017 (work commencing Fall 2016)
All initiatives in Phase I are a priority to completed before beginning below: Pieces to be in ItsLearning no later than July 1, 2017
- Proficiency scales/rubric
- Assessments
Blended Learning resource courses/lessons for students (from Directors, Vanguard teachers, and early adopters)
Teacher Training for Summer School (does not include 5th grade SSI summer school)
Training for summer school teachers who will be teaching grades 1, 2, 3, or 4, from July 11 - August 2 will be held on Wednesday June 1, 2016 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at the Administration Building in Room 275 and the Board Room OR on Thursday June 23, 2016 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at the Administration Building in Room 275 and the Board Room.
Registration is available in Eduphoria
2016 Summer School Curriculum Training Grades 1-2-Session 1- 6/1/2016
2016 Summer School Curriculum Training Grades 1-2-Session 2- 6/23/2016
2016 Summer School Curriculum Training Grades 3-4-Session 1- 6/1/2016
2016 Summer School Curriculum Training Grades 3-4-Session 2- 6/23/2016
CAMPUS NEWS
Staffing Updates
- PPCD units in SBISD will be moved to PreK campuses.
- Students zoned to MWE for PPCD will now attend Wildcat Way for PPCD
- The AIM unit (for students with autism who are high functioning) will be moved from Rummel Creek to MWE. (Rummel Creek had Life Skills, an Apple Unit (students with autism who are low functioning) and AIM.
- Specific information about staffing for next year will be shared at the May faculty meeting, when hopefully most of the moves have been finalized.
Meadow Wood Elementary
Email: pamela.redd@springbranchisd.com
Website: mwe.springbranchisd.com
Location: 14230 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079
Phone: 713-251-6200
Facebook: facebook.com/meadowwoodelementarysbisd
Twitter: @pam_redd