Personalized Learning Elements Threaded Throughout Quarterly Reviews

On the cusp of another snowfall in our area, we have much to celebrate as a school district with our Quarterly Reviews this week. Each Principal reported out progress in the areas mentioned in my blog last week. They affirmed meeting several goals from their school's first 100-day plans and we have asked Principals to continue to narrow their focus for the next 100 days.

We know the importance of identifying a few focus areas and keeping these at the forefront of everything we do. The "good to great" schools have three or fewer areas in which staff receive practice, feedback and coaching in vast amounts over time in order to help improve student learning. This on ramp is demonstrated by one of our schools here. Any high leverage practice that we are asking to be implemented, must be put on the ramp with proper theory, demonstration and most importantly reps over time, in which our staff can get good at something, get proper feedback and coaching, because teacher success equals student success.

We also heard common threads throughout our quarterly reviews of personalized learning elements that are directly tied to the honeycomb.
PLC's are the number one structure focused on student data as a linchpin for Educator Collaboration and student success. Learner Profiles continue to permeate our system as we understand more and more the importance of Personal Learning Goals and really knowing each unique learner. The use of our continuums for Math and Reading show Proficiency-Based Progress as teachers are helping facilitate Customized Learning Paths according to each learner's areas of growth. Our focus on cultural proficiency is a strong reflection of our Cultural Responsiveness as a system as we strive for equitable learning opportunities for each set of eyes that walks into our schools each and every day.

The phases of the change process take time. We recognize that and honor the growth and commitment that each of you is making daily for the students in the School District of Waukesha. Take time this weekend to give yourself a "shout-out" or a "bumps" as you compliment yourself on helping to impact the lives of others!

#Knowthyimpact










 

Leadership Quarterly Reviews

Next week, we will be conducting our December Quarterly Reviews with all Principals and Coordinators. 

The areas upon which we are asking for evidence of growth coincides with our SAIL improvement processes. 

The leadership areas we are asking them to present on are as follows: 

L1: Vision and Goal Alignment- evidence of ongoing communication around their Theory of Action to all staff/stakeholders.

L2: Cultivating High Leverage Practices- identifying the key, foundational, instructional practices that are in development for all teachers.

L3: Professional Learning- evidence of action and adjustments to teacher feedback, coaching and support based on performance data.

L4: Ensuring Excellence- analyze progress monitoring tools and how to continually grow student learning.

L5: Communicating Data and Results- ongoing communication of data and resulting revisions with staff and stakeholders.

This is a great chance for us to hear about our continuous improvement growth as a system. 

Celebrating SAIL school teams first 100-day plans

This week, every school team and district SAIL team celebrated their first 100 day school improvement plans. Now is the time when we will be re-visiting and refining our action steps focused on each school's Theory of Action. The goal is for each school to have six or fewer school wide areas of focus upon which they are planning their improvement agendas. It is vital that we take ideally 1-3 areas of focus and strategically provide ample teacher learning, practice, feedback and coaching in these areas. This increase of frequency in adult practice, feedback and coaching has a direct positive correlation to student achievement results. We look forward to these next planning steps in our SAIL journey so that our leadership practices, teacher practices and our learner experiences are transformed and breakthrough results are achieved.