Vanessa Stuart finished reading two books, Mindset and Mindset in the Classroom and was finishing the book, How Children Succeed. During the summer, the staff divided into two groups to engage in a book study with the two books. She took six staff members in February to No Excuses University (NEU) Institute. In June she planned to send eight more staff to NEU training. She was working with the school design team to begin their journey on a deeper understanding of poverty and mindset. Stuart plans to apply to become a NEU school. Funds from The Principal as a Leader of Professional Learning Scholarship provide materials and a coach to help move the school forward in their work.
Developing close reading and written response routines with elementary students
During year one, a professional learning community was developed among four neighboring schools. A summative report was provided by Susan O’Neil, which included specific goals of the project and current status.
- Goal 1: Increase student scores on district reading comprehension and writing assessments as measured by assessment data that will show growth of at least 200%. Status: Schools A, B, and C indicate an average student growth beyond the projected 200% in year one by using the pre and post Self Regulated Strategy Development scales.
- Goal 2: Increase student scores by at least 20% on average on state literacy assessments related to Close Reading and Writing to Sources as measured by state assessment data.
Status: Data not available yet. - Goal 3: Increase teacher learning about and usage of effective practices for teaching Close Reading and Write to Sources.
Status: Data collection between schools was insufficient. - Goal 4: Increase student enjoyment of Close Reading/Write to Sources and teacher enjoyment of teaching this.
Status: Data collection was insufficient. - Goal 5: Draw from lessons learned during the pilot to strengthen how this work is expanded in four of the 32 elementary schools with a long-term view of expanding to all.
Status: Lessons drawn from year one – issues of communication between schools relating to implementation and data collection and schedule needing modification.
Funds from the Learning Forward Team Grant provide assistance from Vicki Duff (lead) and Linda Munger (ambassador) in providing requested resources to support in year two.
Problem of Practice: Use of student voice to become more of a practice for teachers
Year one was a pilot year to let teachers decide what kind of student feedback they wanted. As a result, teachers were seeking different kinds of information for the first time (e.g. learning atmosphere). A student survey was developed as a means of trying to develop a standard process for students to give feedback on when their learning is working or not working so well. Suzanne Newell facilitated meetings with the pilot group and communicated with teachers when giving student surveys and interpreting data. She has at least 25 teachers committed to participate in the project during year two. The Patsy Hochman Academy Scholarship continues to support Suzanne’s work in her school.
Foundation award recipients
Learning Forward Foundation Academy Scholarship
- Katharine Cottrell, Bogota, Colombia – 2018
- Katoria Gaston, Suwanee, GA – 2018
- Shannon Bogle, Tampa, FL – 2017
- Ronnie Edwards, Houston, TX – 2017
- Anna Jackson, Lubbock, TX – 2016
- Leslie Holtkamp, Bryan, TX – 2015
- Calandra Davis, Greenville, SC – 2015
Chidley Fund Academy Scholarship
- Andrea Von Biberstein, Atlanta, GA – 2016
- Anna Jackson, Lubbock, TX – 2016
- Molly Cassidy, Nogales, AZ – 2014
- John Willis, Sugar Hill, GA – 2014
- Bethanne Augsbach, Monroe Township, NJ – 2013
- Amy McWhirter, Clarksville-Montgomery County, TN – 2013
- Adrienne Tedesco, Gwinnett County, GA – 2012
- Tonio Verzone, Anchorage, AK – 2012
- Jill Brady, Fort Wayne, IN – 2010
- Karla McAdam, Decatur, IL. – 2010
- Ann Barysh, Randolph, MS – 2009
- A. Clifton Myles, Decatur, GA – 2009
- Takisha Weatherall-Jones, Milwaukee, WI – 2009
- Regina Riley-Turner, Detroit, MI – 2008
- Joanne Jones, Winton, NC – 2008
- Carole Sterry, Eugene, OR – 1995
- Kavitha Mediratta, New York, NY – 1994
- Christina Reynolds, Bel Air, MD – 1994
- Brenda Bridge, Huntington, IN – 1993
- Linda Michael, Fort Wayne, IN – 1993
- Donna Newbombe – 1993
- Leslie Conery, Eugene, OR – 1993
- Terri Peters – 1991
- Dian Castle – 1998
- Fort Morgan School District (Randy Zila & Linda Lowery), Fort Morgan, CO – 1986/1987
Patsy Hochman Academy Scholarship
- Susan Cole, Leander, TX – 2018
- Tammy Chambers, Los Fresnos, TX – 2017
- Shannon Terry, Arlington, Texas – 2016
- Susan Carmody, Phoenix, Ariz. – 2015
- Suzanne Newell, Grapevine, Texas – 2014
- Jeff Fox, Corpus Christi, Texas – 2013
- Susan Jones, Clarksville-Montgomery County, Tenn. – 2012
Learning Forward Foundation Dale Hair Affiliate Grant
- Learning Forward Illinois – 2018
Learning Forward Foundation Affiliate Grant
- Learning Forward Oklahoma – 2018
- Learning Forward Nebraska – 2016
- Learning Forward Kansas – 2015
- Learning Forward Louisiana – 2014
- Learning Forward Michigan – 2014
- New York Affiliate – 2012
- Colorado Affiliate – 2011
- Indiana Affiliate – 2010
The Principal as a Leader of Professional Learning Scholarship
- Tara Dedeaux, Aberdeen, MD – 2018
- Kim Honnick, Newark, NJ – 2017
- Kelly Hastings, Arlington, TX – 2016
- Tammy Bosley, Hartford County, MD – 2015
- Vanessa Stuart, Lewisville, TX – 2014
- Darlene Miller, Knoxville, TN – 2013
- Laurie Haynie, Prince Frederick, MD – 2010
- Stephen Duch, Jamaica Estates, NY – 2008
Learning Forward Foundation System Grant
- Hartford Public Schools, Hartford, CT – 2016
Learning Forward Team Grant
- Charles County Public Schools, La Plata, MD – 2018
- Christian County Public Schools, Hopkinsville, KY – 2017
- Northern Valley Regional High School District, Demarest, NJ – 2016
- Benjamin Franklin School, Newark, NJ – 2015
- Worcester Arts Magnet School, Worcester, MS – 2014
- Wayland Public Schools, Wayland, MS – 2013
- Kenosha Unified School District, Kenosha, WI – 2012
- Birmingham Elementary/Wylie ISD, Wylie, TX – 2011
- Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, Fla. – 2011
- Marietta Middle School, Marietta, Ga. – 2010
- Jordan-Elbridge High School, Jordan, N.Y. – 2009
- Newton High School, Newton, Kan. – 2008
Learning Forward Foundation Think Tank Challenge
- Patrick Henry School, Chicago, IL – 2018
- SD#79, Cowichan Valley, Duncan, BC – 2018
- Livingston Park School, North Brunswick, NJ – 2018
- Baltimore Public Schools, Baltimore, MD – 2018
- Legacy High School, Bismarck, ND – 2018
- Patrick Henry School, Chicago, IL – 2017
- SD#79, Cowichan Valley, Duncan, BC – 2017
- Livingston Park School, North Brunswick, NJ – 2017
- Loyola University, Baltimore, MD – 2017
- Legacy High School, Bismarck, ND – 2017
Leading for Learning: Sybil Yastrow Superintendent’s Grant
- Kenneth Hamilton, Monroe Township, N.J. – 2012
- Sam T. King, Conyers, Ga. – 2010
Carmen Nylund Memorial Fund Academy Scholarship
- Carolyn Anderson, Blackville, South Carolina – 2015
- Cynthia Cash-Greene, Orangeburg, S.C. – 2010
What will be your professional learning legacy?
As we begin another school year, this is the perfect time to reflect on what brought us to the profession. What drew you to education? What makes you excited to walk into school buildings every fall? Why do you love learning?
For me, fall is not about the leaves on the ground and the chill in the air. Much like chef and Parts Unknown host Anthony Bourdain, I am baffled by the pumpkin spice craze (if you need a belly-laugh, the thoughts he shared with Willie Geist recently on the Today Show are worth a look). To me, fall is back to school and back to my roots — learning. Coming from a family of educators and readers, my love of learning began early. I am forever grateful for a childhood filled with books that were both wildly fantastic and growth-mindset oriented.
The sheer joy of discovery — the indescribable feeling of taking a risk and trying something new — these are the feelings I associate with the learning process. So when I began looking for an organization to support me in my learning journey, I was happy to find colleagues in learning and community through Learning Forward.
Who are the professional learning leaders you rely on for advice, resources, and inspiration? If you are looking for some ideas, here are some professional learning thought leaders that Learning Forward has brought into my life, and links to some of their work to explore:
- Stephanie Hirsh: Blogs
- Stephanie Hirsh & Tracy Crow: Becoming a Learning Team
- Stephanie Hirsh, Kay Psencik, & Frederick Brown: Becoming a Learning System
- Joellen Killion: Webinars
- Juliet Correll Wright: Frontline Education
- Steve Barkley: PLS 3rd Learning
- Jennifer Abrams: Having Hard Conversations
- Janice Bradley: Give Me Five!: Five Coach–Teacher–Principal Collaborations That Promote Mathematics Success
- Amy Colton: The Collaborative Analysis of Student Learning
- Deborah Jackson
- The Learning Professional: Learning Forward’s Journal
- Tools for Learning Schools: Learning Forward’s Newsletter
- The Learning Forward Academy: Extended learning experience
With the guiding vision of excellent teaching and learning every day and the mission of building the capacity of leaders to establish and sustain highly effective professional learning close to my heart, I soon found myself welcomed into the Learning Forward Foundation.
And as we begin this new school year, I find myself drawn to share and reflect on the Learning Forward Foundation’s norms that are the bedrock of our learning community:
- Love the idea first to embrace its possibilities
- Trust the facilitator
- Invest in the process with full attention
- Honor silence
- Slow down to think and reflect; to puzzle about things
- Proceed with conversations that are slow, deliberate and allow us to go deeper
- Pursue messy conversations that allow us to be curious about each other’s ideas
- Provide respectful behavior in providing feedback by invitation
- Have periodic personal reflection on how each of us has modeled the norm
These are the norms that we use in the Learning Forward Foundation’s learning community, and I use them to guide my personal learning journey as well. May they be a source of inspiration as you write the next chapter of your professional learning journey this year. As Wes Moore recently said, “this is a moment to stand up and step up in learning and in love.” Looking forward to seeing how you will step into learning as a member of the Learning Forward family of learners this school year!
Please share your stories and your journeys with us on Twitter @LFFound
Heather Lageman serves as the Executive Director of Leadership Development for Baltimore County Schools in the Office of Organizational Development. She is President of the Learning Forward Maryland Affiliate and President-Elect of the Learning Forward Foundation.
Unlocking the Secrets of Agency: New Teacher Induction Program Empowers Educator-Centered Growth
By Juliet Correll
Arlington ISD in Texas had developed a New Teacher Induction Program to foster individual agency for each teacher and empower educator-centered growth, intentionally modeling the same kind of learning designs that teachers apply with students in their classroom.
