Our scores on state tests are not great. Overall, about 65% of our students are proficient in reading and writing and fewer than 40% are proficient in math. These are based on scores on state tests, sure. I will be the first to point out to parents, staff, and colleagues that state tests present a very narrow, very short-sighted view of what our students know and are able to do. While they may not be everything, it’s tough to dismiss data like this as nothing.
In my vast 19 months of experience as a school principal, I have made an observation. Many schools, when placed (or even faced with the prospect of being placed) on an “Improvement Plan”1, go into full-on panic/fight or flight mode. In that mode, some teachers and leaders will do anything to get above whatever “magic line” means that they will be off watch2. We pay ridiculous fees to textbook and content providers for intervention curricula and software. We remove kids from classes they love like band and art and “double-dip” them in classes they dislike and perform poorly in.
Strategies like these, in my opinion, are short-sighted. They focus on the specific goal of no longer being on an Improvement Plan.
I want more for my students and my school.
A few weeks ago, I blogged about what I called “Academic Alignment.” I want to put into place a long-range, sustainable plan for my school that goes far beyond playing the state-testing numbers game. In order to do this, we need a plan. This plan, however, cannot come from only me. There are too many highly intelligent and committed educators in my school who want to be involved in the process of making things better. I did not bring a “rescue plan” to my staff. Instead, I tried to lay out a vision for what this school can become. I shared that I want our school culture to be one of learning and high-level academics — a place that is 100% about kids and ensuring that they have the tools at their disposal to be successful in school and in life.
Our approach to this has been to establish a “Professional Study Group.” On Monday, we had about a dozen teachers come together to talk about what we want to give our students. With that as a baseline, we will move forward over the coming months and establish a plan to bring that to reality. I framed three critical areas and posed a couple of essential questions under each. At our first meeting, participants brainstormed “world cafe” style, in each of the three areas. Moving forward, I imagine having participants become more specialized into one of the areas.
How will it go? I don’t know. But at the very least I am hoping to harness the power of a motivated group of colleagues to help get this moving and spread the word.
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Hello again Mr. Scott Elias. Since the time that I read your “PhocuseD 3: I’m doing this, why?” blog post a couple weeks ago,I have been at work trying to further understand my class. I read that you’re a principle? That’s nice! I bet it must be a lot of hard work! I enjoyed reading the 2 articles of yours that I had to read. I am going to post a summary of what I got from them at my blog at . I hope you read it and please comment back! I know you’re busy and I wish the best of luck to you, sir, in achieving success with your program and students!
Mr. Elias, I am a student at The University of South Alabama, majoring in Education. I am currently taking the course EDM 310, where we visit blogs of other educators to gain further knowledge in our field. I do believe that you have a great plan in the works. I, for one, am not a fan of standardized testing. I just do not agree that a test be given in the same manner to all takers. These tests are administered and scored in a consistent, or “standard” manner. They designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures and interpretations are consistent, and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. No two children are the same, so why should they be tested the same? Although, I know that being an Administrator, this is a reflection upon you and your staff. Therefore, I understand your actions. I would love to know how it is working out for you. Thank You!
Hi my name is Jasmine Stevens. I’m a student at the University of South Alabama. In my EDM 310 class we are required to read other blogs and comment on them. Your blog was very interesting. I would actually like to know what happen with your plan for your school and your students. I liked the way you presented your idea to your faculty at your school. You did not force them with a plan, but instead you presented your ideas and developed a plan from there. I agree with the dislike for standerized testing, but it is something at the moment that we must deal with. Your plan to try and improve this instead of criticizing the obvious is amazing as a principal. Thanks, Jasmine Stevens
Hi Mr. Elias, I am Alison Stacey, an elementary education major at the University of South Alabama. My EDM 310 class requires me to follow your blog and leave comments. Later, I will be summarizing my visits to your blog with a post on my blog http://staceyalisonedm310.blogspot.com/. Also, you can visit our class blog at http://www.edm310.blogspot.com/. I am inspired by your dedication to your students and their achievement. I think it is fantastic that you want your teachers to be involved in this process. I agree that standardized tests are not the best way to determine what students know, but that is the way it is. We must prepare our students the best we can. I wish you success and would love to know how it turns out.