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From WGSD Human Resources: AST/PBTE/iObservation

From Linda Holliday

This year we will be continuing, as a district, our study of Marzano's "The Art and Science of Teaching." We will also continue to provide professional development surrounding Design Questions 2, 3, 4 and 5. In preparation for this important work, please consider taking some time to review these chapters within your book.

As you also know, we will be implementing Webster Groves School District's new Teacher Evaluation process this school year. There are several things we would like you to do to prepare for the August 9^th professional development. First, please take some time to review the Marzano Teacher Evaluation Scales which can be found at http://www.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/WGSD/Departments/District_Departments/Human_Resources.  These scales, a portion of which were provided to you last year, provide the foundation of the evaluation process we will be using.

In addition to the scales, a new feature of the teacher evaluation process will be an online component called iObservation which will allow teachers and administrators to maintain a dialogue centered on their instruction, create an opportunity for teachers to develop a relevant growth plan to be used during the evaluation process, and provide for online professional development opportunities. It will be important to log into iObservation and set up your profile before we meet on August 9^th. From there you will also be able to start to create your growth plan. The link http://www.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/WGSD/Departments/District_Departments/Human_Resources  provides a series of videos that will explain how to set up your profile and start to develop your Growth Plan by completing the Self-Assessment.

If you choose to move ahead with work on the Self-Assessment and Growth Plan, you may be able to utilize some of the time on August 9^th to work in your classrooms.

 *You must be logged into Edline to view the training videos.

Summer Letter

What might be possible for Hixson Middle School, next year and beyond? How can we strengthen our relationships, with one another and with and among our students? And in what ways might we create a more just and equitable school?

These three questions emerged as themes from the 300 post-it notes I collected from the one-on-one conversations I had with many of you (forty-four, to be precise) last spring. I am excited, energized, and challenged by this feedback, and I used this information to craft our School Improvement Plan. Even with this plan, you might wonder: What are we working on? What are we working toward?

Briefly, we will build on our knowledge of The Art and Science of Teaching as it relates to student learning and to our new teacher observation instrument. We will learn (more) together about our instruction and Response to Intervention as it relates to student learning and about technology as we anticipate a 1:1 computer environment. Several teachers have dedicated their time, work, and vision to supporting these projects.

When I think about what we are working toward, I always think about the learners in the building. I think about our students deserving the best we can offer them and about the power of learning no matter what our role.  I believe that the adults and the children who are a part of our community are excellent and capable people and that taking risks and trying new things will support all of the learners in the building.

In addition to considering these big ideas, the beginning the year always includes administrative tasks. This year, the new WGSD teacher observation instrument is online. You may opt out of a  required faculty meeting on August 9^thif you set up your account, etc., ahead of time.  More details are listed in the “Beginning the Year” post on the Network (hxnetwork.blogspot.com).  There you will find other details affecting next year, including a standard Hixson-wide practice for assessment re-takes and updates for the beginning of school on the Hixson Staff Calendar. Be sure to read this post before Opening Day.

Our newest colleagues to the building will benefit from our support as they engage in the work of Hixson Middle School with us.  I am looking forwarding to introducing the following on August 7^th:

Jessica Warneke, Spanish	Linda Krygiel, SSD
Eric Conners, Drama,	Jamie Wright, School Psychologist
Liz Majino, English-Language Arts,	Jim Griffard, Social Worker
Michael Dunsmoor, Orchestra	Krista Pappert, SSD

It is my hope that learning and the learners we serve provide us with a source of energy and focus as we engage ambitious projects with powerful actions. In this way, with this mission, our results will be remarkable.

With great expectations for all that is possible,

Jason 

Beginning the Year: 2013-2014

There is much to share at the beginning of the school year.  Please give yourself enough time to be thorough as you read and complete the tasks in this post.  You will need to login to your WGcloud account to access the links in this post.

The Hixson Staff Calendar on the Network has dates, times, and other information regarding our opening three days. Click here for more specific information about the meetings on 8/9.

Teacher Observation and The Art and Science of Teaching
This first year with the new observation instrument will require more time on the front end than in subsequent years.  If your Growth Plan is shared with me before 8:30am on 8/9, you will be excused from an hour of the faculty meeting that morning.  Ultimately, your Growth Plan is due to Dr. Heisserer before school begins on 8/13.  Click here to read more.

Click here to read some FAQs about the WGSD Performance Based Teacher Evaluation process and instrument.

Grading and Retake/Redo Practices
Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, Hixson Middle School will implement

• consistent, across-the-school practices for retaking assessments and re-doing homework and other assignments, and
• consistent grade weighting practices.

I made this decision after several thoughtful conversations initiated by teachers and parents.  I also reflected on feedback collected last year with post-its on my wall and on my own beliefs as a leader and educator.  Click here to read more background and to review this expectations.

Other, Year-Long Development Opportunities
Three ongoing learning opportunities are available for faculty this year.

1. Fourth Monday Faculty Meetings will run from 3:30-4:30pm.  You will be able to choose how you use that time.  Please plan to stay for the entire time period.  More details will be published prior to each fourth Monday faculty meeting.
2. A Critical Friends Group designed to provide ongoing collaboration and feedback among faculty members who choose to participate.
3. A justice and equity cohort designed to provide opportunities for ongoing conversation and learning about a variety of identities from a personal (or stance) perspective.

Click here for more information about all three.

A New Room
The shape of our building as changed, somewhat.  A wall has been built upstairs next to the elevator door creating an addition room.  As of right now, I am not quite sure how I will allocate that space; however, for now, it can serve as a much-need conference room.

Required Staff Training
We must engage in required staff training annually around some very specific topics. I rely on you to review this information on your own. The PowerPoint is lengthy, so Mrs. Teter divided it into six sections so you can review it more easily over time.  We will review aspects of this staff training via the Network and at faculty meetings throughout the year.

• Click here for the PowerPoints.
• Click here for the Training Tracker.  The training tracker is due to Mrs. Edwards by October 4th, 2013.  I am giving longer this year given how much time setting up iObservation may take.

Building Hours

The building will be open from 7am to 5pm the week of 8/5-8/9.  On 8/12, the building will close at 3:30pm.

Other Information
Click any of the links below to get more information about that topic:

• Meeting and Release Dates and Topics for 2013-2014
• Discovery Expectations
• Teaming Expectations
• Department Expectations
• Master Schedule
• Student Handbook
• Faculty Handbook (Or click the digital briefcase button on the dock above)
• School Improvement Plan: 2013-2014 (draft)