Engage, Inspire, Empower – Our Motto – part of our Mission

As we bid a fond farewell to an amazing year (2013-2014), it’s time to prepare for the next, even more amazing year to come! In 7 weeks, or 56 days, School Year 2014-2015 begins for faculty, staff, and administration! We don’t waste too much time around here … we have already begun planning in earnest for the next school year. So while the pools are fill, the weather is warm (or rainy) we are constructing (literally and figuratively) the next learning experiences for our students and staff and community!

Our Vision:

District 109 students will excel and contribute when they have the knowledge and skills to be: 

 • Lifelong, self-directed learners, • Critical and creative thinkers, • Effective communicators, • Collaborative team members,  & • Respectful and responsible members of society

 

 

Here at the District Center we spend a great deal of time, energy, and passion on planning, teaching, training, and implementing that which impacts student and staff learning. We are committed to the Big 5; and in this beginning of year post, I’ll comment briefly on what the next school year has in store in relation to our guiding Big 5 principles.

 

The Big 5 have been and will continue to be as follows:

1. Common Core State Standards – ELA=English Language Arts, Math, and NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

In addition to reviewing current instructional practices and discovering areas in need of improvement and greater rigor, the work around CCSS involves curriculum maps (or scope and sequence planning) for all grade levels. Many teacher teams have spent a lot of time and energy putting into place aligned plans with greater rigor and closer alignment with the CCSS across the board. With respect to NGSS, much has been shared in this blog about our focus on science transformation already.

2. Teacher Evaluation – DPS109 STEP (Successor Teacher Evaluation Plan)

This will mark year 2 of the District’s focus on instructional excellence via a research based, state approved teacher evaluation process, format, and instrument. The in-district, joint administrator-teacher committee will continue to review implementation of the plan with the overall aim of improving teacher efficacy, performance and instructional impact. Our aim is to coach, guide, and counsel our teachers towards excellence in all four domains of the Danielson Frameworks. Proficiency is a high mark to attain, and excellence is even higher! For those in our faculty who need improvement, we will be there to scaffold like we do for our students in support of our mission and growth and learning.

 

3. Technology

This year all of our students in grades K-8 will experience modern day transformative learning environments as a result of the 1:1 initiative! All students in grades K-2 will learn with the support of iPad devices; and students in grades 3-8 will learn with the support of Chromebook devices. Like the high school district and the neighboring elementary school district, local efforts toward shared professional development and research are geared towards increasing student learning and achievement. We are working with a partner in the research/measurement of the impacts and effects of the 1:1 transformation. Throughout the year we will collect and report data regarding learning impacts, engagement impacts, and impacts on the home/school partnership. Extensive training and support opportunities are ongoing this summer, started last year with the 1:1 Pilot, and will continue this school year. All children can and will learn; all teachers can and will transform their learning environments in support of current day learning and teaching! We’ll put the theories and research into practice so our amazing students will thrive and exceed all standards and expectations using the best tools in public education!

On August 14, we are proud to participate in a joint 1:1 professional development conference with our District and Districts 112 and 113. In community partnership, with an eye toward shared services, and in support of excellence for all we are working in concert with other local educators and leaders to bring forth the highest quality professional development opportunities.

4. Organizational Culture

We will be repeating last year’s INSIGHTeX culture survey and we will be administering an all stakeholder climate survey this year! In addition, we are rolling out Let’s Talk, a new ongoing “temperature check” of climate and key issues and topics. Our communication plans will be “metricized” to show and report and track those issues most relevant to our community and issues and trends most relevant to our leadership teams. Relationships are the foundation upon which effective and trusting relationships are built!

 

The 5th of the Big 5 is the Superintendent’s Task Force on Middle Level Education

During the 2014-2015 school year we will see a transformation of the exploratory programs with the construction of the new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and CMA (Communication Media Arts) laboratory classes for all sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. In addition, we are going to explore enhanced Rachel’s Challenge opportunities at our middle schools as part of our ongoing commitment to social emotional learning. We will begin planning for band and orchestra (and possibly chorus) into the school day, an enhanced, modernized art and music course offering sequence, and other fine arts enhancements for implementation in the 2015-2016 school year. In addition, French and Spanish remain as our District’s world language programming and this year we’ll engage our staff to see if our current practices are the best or should we make changes to best reflect best practices.

 

What I have shared here represents a brief look at our current plans! Throughout the year I’ll be updating the blog with expanded detail on the Big 5, the District news, and leadership and transformative change in general. Thank you for your continued support and thank you for reading!

If you are a part of DPS109 – hang on for the ride because this year is going to Engage, Inspire, Empower in ways you have only imagined!

The Future is now and our work is an honor and a privilege!