Board-Meeting-11-05-18-Segment-2
[00:00:00] Well, thank you. Each of you. It's just so heartening to hear when we think about these board goals that we write and they're so lofty and they are compelling. But there's always this question of how do you actualize aboard goal and you get to see it in the classroom and year after year, we describe, you know board goals have this through line to the district work plan, which has the through line to the school work plan, which has through my engine teachers goals interactions in the classroom, which has a connection to student learning and that these high leverage instructional strategies are these ones that we've shared with you that move the dial.
And it can sound lovely on paper or in a report but to hear you Echo back that you're seeing those High leverage strategies that you're hearing about school work plans that align directly to these goals you've created and that you're [00:01:00] hearing students in their own words explain why it's important that they're learning what they're learning in a very student-centered classroom.
Not always a teacher centered classroom, but one were students are engaged in their own learning. They're learning and they have the locus of control in the classroom are all those conditions that we've been working so hard to set in place because we believe that's what moves the dial for students and that will see those outcomes in a variety of ways and sometimes one test measure doesn't tell all the story tells part of the story, but there's a lot of other indicators that tell that high levels of learning is going on.
That students do have a plan for themselves when they finish school and if they want to graduate and what's important for them at school to those panels. So I've asked dr. Pryor if he would share how students experienced you coming to their school comments from teachers and comments from the principles because everybody committed to the this real [00:02:00] in-depth one and a half hours of time together.
And you've clearly expressed what you got out of that and we're really thrilled to hear that but asked him to share some anecdotes and thoughts and themes that emerged from our schools so that you could hear good got to screen for that. Great.
Well, thank you. And first is I know I speak for all of our principles when I just express our incredible appreciation for you taking time out of your regular work day to spend time in schools. We know it was a complex scheduling fast to make that happen across nine schools, but our principles are incredibly hard-working thoughtful people and the work is complex.
Having an opportunity to have more time to unpack that work and share the complexities was a way of showing appreciation for the heart and soul [00:03:00] thoughtfulness that they pour into the work. So thank you since this was a different format than we've done in the last few years. We did take some time to check in with our principles and ask for their and their leadership teams to ask for their Reflections.
And so we're going to be sharing that with you over the next few minutes, and we asked them to share their thoughts in about five different areas. And so the first was just what did they appreciate about this this for mad? And so first of all as I mentioned there was a great appreciation just to have some more time for a deeper conversation.
You know, I've heard that phrase at drinking from a firehose sometimes when principles try to squeeze, you know, a whole Summers worth of planning into about six minutes. And some of them stuck the six minutes and we're all giving each other the eye when someone takes an extra minute because we all want to talk about our work.
So having a more thoughtful, you know time for more often thoughtful conversation was really [00:04:00] appreciated. There was also just having a board member come and meet with your leadership team is if prestigious is it and I think we would all agree a sort of raised our it heightened our desire to kind of finish that plan, you know, that would been mulling over and thinking about it and get it to a place where we could actually carefully communicate it to you that helped us work carefully and clearly communicate it to our staffs and move forward to so that was appreciated.
There is many principles mission that they appreciated having a board member as a strong thought partner. The questions that you ask the lenses that you brought the classroom observations, it was a different lens than we might bring to it. But yet a really important one because you know while we're all thinking about the same board goals, we do so from different perspectives and your perspectives nudged us to to adapt and change our work plans based on what you saw and talked about.
And they [00:05:00] really appreciated the positive presumption that you brought our principles and our leaders really wanted to authentically share. A real school day and open their practice so you could not see a staged event. The let's go into some classrooms. Let's actually see what we see and the positive perception that you brought me those really clear from your welcoming smile when you came in the door, and then we open conversations that you believe in our principles and that liberated them to really talk about the real work.
And then there was an appreciation for the push to more closely linked what happens if you think about a kindergarten classroom of five-year-olds to these really lofty board goals. We think about it all the time and as you might guess you could most carefully laid plans don't always if ever roll out as expected in a classroom or five six seven, you know all the way through high school.
So appreciation for. With you thinking about how do we create those really clear links so that you know, when our public [00:06:00] ask us, how are you reaching these board goals? We can all have have some really similar answers.
The next question that we asked them was how does this meeting influence your leadership and this some of these are similar to what we talked about in the previous slide again the opportunity to well twofold one present a more robust work plan was one of the language that our principles use is hard to go deeply when you have a limited amount of time but there was also the understanding that even though we had an hour and a half with you it went really quickly and I think each.
Leadership team said they could have used more time. So one of our principles was reminding us that's the language that dr. Ludwig uses which is, you know, be prepared to talk about the skinny. You're going to have layers and layers and layers. But as a leader one of your goals is to also be able to encapsulate that into what's most important and by having you come and visit and know that we were going to give you the skinny go into classrooms and debris fall in an hour and a half it.
[00:07:00] Prompted as to really think what is the skinny? What are the key goals and everyone in my school should be able to talk about really clearly and so that's what they prepared when you came in often. They had a you know, a one-sheet kind of skinny or a summary of the things that we were going to cover.
So knowing that you're coming helped us create that. There was reflecting on the strings data and Clarity of next steps came out of each conversation. I think because just like our school leaders you guys are driven to think what's next. You know, how do you know what you know, and how are you going to bring in research to think about what's next there were outcomes of those conversations that I think all of our school leaders would say influence their thinking and they went and revise their work plans as a result of that.
Your visit also provided a really clear timeline for cycles of inquiry. Cycles are leaders choose lofty goals. They don't use anything that's going to be easily accomplished [00:08:00] for that reason. One of our challenges is really pushing ourselves. When we wrap up this cycle and reflect on our progress and knowing that you are going to be coming and listening to our Cycles.
It pushes us to think. Okay. Let me show some finality to that process and be really clear it so I can communicate home. We're going to work on it reflect on it and they sort of synthesize what we learned and move on to the next piece.
You're joining us in walkthroughs is very similar to what all the assistant superintendents do with our leadership teams on a weekly basis. And we appreciate the opportunity to have you come alongside and help us hone our eye to look for evidence evidence of what should be doing next and be outcomes of our practice the more school leaders who can help us refine that the more clearly we can link our leadership goals and Leadership plans to student achievement outcomes.
To the next slide student panels were they were not [00:09:00] at necessarily an expectation, but they many of our leadership teams did want you to hear that the student voice and there was appreciation for your participation in that first of all, we just appreciate you giving our students an opportunity to voice how they're experiencing our school system.
And when you bring a group of students into a room, you're never quite sure what they're going to say. But whatever they say is she really listened to and these students were taking their roles really seriously about principal Newman was saying that they were really concerned about representing all the views.
They didn't want you just to hear their view, but they wanted you to get it they went to represent their their peers throughout the whole school. They also felt just really honored, you know, I would be willing to bet that some of these students remember this their whole life if I had got an opportunity to speak to my school.
Remember when I was in second grade or high school out had some things to say and I probably remember that too. So you provide an opportunity for them to have a sense of [00:10:00] I do have a role in changing the world based on my experience and my experience is real, you know, as a board member you were talking about the importance of being known in the school.
This is a really powerful way of being known and known in her. And then your participation and the success of this it just inspires us to continue bringing forth student voice as we try to understand the outcomes of our work.
So then you know just like you were always thinking about what would we think about if we were to continue this as the board has a free she has described there was great appreciation for this format. And I think I speak for our leadership team. We would like some version of this going forward.
Yeah, we would it was such a exciting experience to share with you the work. You know, there's a wondering could we continue to find ways to demonstrate [00:11:00] the outcomes of what's Happening throughout the school year and. As you found it we could have our leadership teams could have talked straight through for an hour and a half because they're so thoughtful about our work.
And so we felt this press between wanting to share just enough with you so that we could get into classrooms and see the outcome. So we want to keep learning from your experience to just to find that right balance of how much do you want to learn know about this skinny before we go into classrooms and see the result of.
Our leadership teams are very invested in their Triad to you know, which is where three schools are. We have one for school crawdad quad that gets together and that is highly influential on their work and we hope it's one of the reasons you saw such clear through lines among schools. So it would like the opportunity to have you learn more about our Triad work its way.
We perform our own professional learning communities. And then you know as a [00:12:00] district we continue to be proud of the growth of our dual language program and our world language programs and would like to provide opportunities for you to dive into some of that work with this because it's highly influencing what we learn about language which influences all students in our goals to achieve by Literacy for more and more and more students every year.
And then the one thing that principles did miss out on which they reflected on which they didn't think it'd be. Each other's presentations and because they are such a collaborative group, you know, I've often noticed as they're presenting all their peers are writing things down and their plan to adapt and change.
So, you know, as a leadership team will be creating opportunities for them to share their skin. He's with each other, but I thought you would find that interesting to that was one of the you know, everything to double edged sword and I was one of the other side of what they what they missed. So in conclusion everyone who participated just wanted to make sure that we shared our [00:13:00] appreciation for the opportunity and.
Yeah, I was really interested in that principles are really thinking deeply knowing that you were coming as a school board member. They were working really hard to establish a very clear link between their work and the district goals. I think that was one of the most powerful outcomes is our principles often talk about three lines could they communicate to you?
They challenge themselves that clear through? I'm between raising achievement for all while also closing achievement gaps getting to know every child. Could we help you? See that come to life in our schools. And could you help? See how to do that better. Another interesting wondering that came forward is our leadership teams have been thinking much more deeply around family engagement and Community engagement.
We know that's a big part of our Equity work and it helps us make sure every student feels known as well as we receive feedback from the community community about how to do our work better. And so while schools are maintaining some of the more traditional ways of engaging families school-wide events for families come.
They're also really pushing themselves to [00:14:00] think, you know, would we have a family community members part of our Equity team? How do we engage our parent organizations in our school Improvement plans and they would like to think through some of that work together with you since you know, you you are also then link between community and the school you would have lots of insights for us and.
They wanted to know how much your your work is appreciated. Our leadership teams feel incredibly supported by you that you asked a really good questions. I left really thinking about some things when some of your questions and we end up talking about it with some of our leadership teams afterward.
And those those questions, you know, when positive presumption is paired with a shared drive to get better. It's a pretty powerful Collaborative Learning Experience. Then I'll guess that I'm speaking for the board when I would say to our leadership team. Just want to thank you for your preparation.
They thought really deeply about how to make sure your visit was worthwhile and what to share with you which classrooms to visit [00:15:00] and just wanted to share my appreciation for all that hard work also, so it's a great great experience I could go on to but I know we have other things to talk about tonight.
So thank you for the opportunity for us to reflect back on how we experienced it, too.
I want to recognize our principles our who are here. Could you stand those were able to be here tonight? You're kind of scattered around
and we know you also represent colleagues. We couldn't be here tonight. There's a lot going on our schools these couple months. So. In terms of just what what you have modeled and exampled is leadership in action getting right to a classroom and asking a student. You know, what? Can we do to support you is a rarity I think among school board members.
There's a lot of business at [00:16:00] hand, and certainly you all have full-time jobs in this is volunteer work on top of that and yet what you carved out of your professional days to spend hours and hours in our schools was remarkable and greatly appreciated. You can see the nods by our principles that you would do that deep dive.
So, thank you. Principles are in classrooms all the time, but those of us up here at the district office. We set aside our Tuesday's we call it blue time, and we. Divide up just like you did every Tuesday we go out and visit schools and dr. Pryor and dr. Downs organized those visits and we try and get two three or four.
So if there's a school that you didn't get to see but would like to spend a Tuesday going on a learning walk myself and our assistant superintendents. Just let us know and we'll try to get that organized. So think about Tuesday blue times, but it's a great way for us to. See what you've [00:17:00] described on a weekly basis it informs our work plan.
It helps us connect with what we're designing for teachers around their learning goals personally for me. It's a way I stay grounded. In the why as a former teacher and you know the further you get away from the classroom and you know, you have to work even harder to get back in the classroom. And so those Tuesdays are often the highlight of my week grounding back and into the Y of those board goals.
So thank you for what you did and sounds like we'll continue this practice. So I have a very short report knowing that we would spend a bulk of our time together. So I just have a couple of slides here. Thank you, Joe. If you didn't hear Bob Carlson retired at the end of last month, and we had a series of celebrations and honors.
Um, and then did gather with staff. There is a plaque now at [00:18:00] Crest with a tree planted in his honor. There's a picture of the plaque there and A really lovely tribute by former students and staff and members of the community. And what we're excited about is that it's really not the end of a legacy but but the start of a love a legacy for the school district around our work with environmental Sciences.
Next slide. Thank you Joe. Really a lot of Student Activities you heard from all three high school students. I tried to get to as many as I could but you heard about rock concerts and football games and cross-country I was. Option to get to number of girl volleyball games sadly saw them lose to Jesuit in the tournament.
But boy, they gave it their all there was a high school Forum at West Linn High School to speak with candidates seeking positions in this election via thatís one of. [00:19:00] And just really a great exhibit of students doing powerful things. I do have tickets for Legally Blond because it is getting sold out.
So I'm excited to see that this Friday, but again great evidence of our students putting themselves out there and learning in all different ways. And then lastly what next? Just an update. We with the recent legislation getting information out to our community and trainings for our teachers. We did have another parent information evening you recall.
We had one last year, which was very well attended by Carrie Thomas Carey Thomas from OD e who's at? Dyslexia specialist at apparent evening. Last year was hosted at Sunset. We had another one just last week. At that point we were able to give our parents who did come updates on the professional development that we've been doing with our [00:20:00] teacher teams updates on the screening process universal access tools and then also asking parents to take a look at some of the notification templates that the state gives and how do they want information sent home?
So they looked at some examples and gave feedback a lot of time with QA both formerly during that session as well as staff made themselves. Or until I heard nine o'clock that night for any parent who still had questions. It's a good turnout. I think about 40 or 45 people. And we will begin those screenings and just reminding our community that the screening for all students but you know students that then show up in the screen doesn't automatically mean that they've been identified.
That's not the purpose of the screening. It's really then if there's something there to do more follow up with a formal assessment. So staff is receiving the training that they need and we are. On track. We are going to [00:21:00] bring carry Thomas back later in November from OD to look again at where we are and give feedback on our processes.
So it's great to have her as a resource. And then lastly just in terms of some next steps with our high school study. You got the report last month just a while ago. We also share that with our long range planning committee. We're now at that place where given the report around enrollment and you've been getting information and you've got information that you'll get later this evening about learning space capacity.
We are thinking about what's next for high school. That study really dwelt on programming. But it's also time to think about the growth especially in Wilsonville, but also some growth in West Linn and what that means in terms of learning spaces for high school students. We do want to bring more of our community into this conversation, even though our high school study involved a few parents and we had that joint [00:22:00] rotary where we explain to them.
We feel like we'd like to bring more of the community and need to be more the community into the conversation. So it. I feel like such a surprise later. We've got two dates that we're going to publicize as open public forums parents could attend either one will host them at our middle schools because our high schools actually just have a lot going on those months and finding a common Commons or form Space is really challenging.
So we've got those sites booked and the intention of that is to do a little bit of what you've experienced talk about Generation Z talk about future. Hi. Schools talk about the high school study and the findings then look take a look at the enrollment growth and then engage the community in how they might already be thinking about possibilities in terms of high school and then capturing their ideas also on chart paper and some sort of more of a broad form to give back to you is the board [00:23:00] so that you you feel that you've heard from more community members than just what was reflected last year in the high school study.
That will also be helpful to the long range planning committee as they work on your behalf to think about next steps in terms of high schools and particularly also about facility for high school. We've got a date on December 6 to do kind of a part two with our high school teachers. If you remember we gathered about a group of high school teachers last spring thinking forward about.
How to keep our high schools relevant in terms of courses and options and and what students is a shared with you tonight feel is what's relevant to them in high school and prepares them for College and Career. So we're going to do a part two of that bring back that same group of 60 and then dive a little deeper into some of the areas that they brought up last year particularly around course offerings and course options and CTE.
So we'll talk more about that. So we've got those. [00:24:00] Those dates are queued up and we'll give it be giving you feedback on that. I think it will fit nicely into your timeline as well as you're thinking about. What's next in terms of board goal number four and long-range planning that not only are you getting some feedback around the silat.
He's for high school students, but also programming and what you'd like to see happening in those high school facilities. All right, and I'm just going to wrap up there. Thank you. Thank you, dr. Ludwig. I. Want to return to my portion of report, it's my intent to recognize particular staff during board meetings, and I want to talk to you a little bit about Jill Trotter.
She's been working at Boons very for over 15 years. She's a lead secretary. She's charged with green parents students and staff each day with a warm smile and taking care of students in the health room that need a little extra care. She monitors the calendar to [00:25:00] avoid scheduling conflicts of field trips pictured a PTO events early release and more.
She ensures that all of her Duties are done with Grace and compassion while making each staff member and student feel that they're entirely taken care of all of this while finding time to take care of the building principal and. Dr. Freeman notes that when she first arrived at Boone's Ferry three years ago.
Mr. Trotter told her that her that Miss Trotters job was to make sure that she was protected you have much you have too much work to do. She said. Miss Freeman states that she found herself wanting to protect this Trattoria now that she's been there and she's amazed that each morning before she comes her doors unlocked the lights on and she's got the building up and running and we want Miss taught her to know that she's appreciated by dr.
Freeman as well as the school board in the. Janelle [00:26:00] Platt is an instructional assistant at Ben's fairy. She has a special love and compassion in our heart for children her expertise shines through when she's working with students that require specialized skills in order to support the school. She utilizes a calm and gentle demeanor as a tool to deescalate a situation or to help student engaging difficult task.
She shows the highest level of respect for each student. She works with and her belief in all children is reflected in their academic gains as well as their inclusion into the classroom as accepted members of the community. Misfire has called upon to work with new students or students have been at this very that needs specialized support because of her expertise.
She's utilized to help train other staff in inclusive practices. Finally as a staff member Miss plot is carrying professionally professional and kind and she takes her role very seriously and holds everyone to a high standards when it comes to the care of students and we want her to know that she's appreciated by dr.
Freeman as well as the school board in. [00:27:00] At Wilsonville High School is Kinder has done a great job of leading the work with the Unified sports other staff have been supportive but miss Kinder and her commitment to organizing the vents and supporting the kids and families is outstanding whether she's putting together a soccer practice or an after school dance.
She brings energy and compassion for all of the kids and we. Her to know that she's appreciated by this District Cynthia Mendez also works at Wilsonville high school. She's a receptionist in the main office. She's the first face and voice to many of our families and her work to support non-native English speakers as well.
As her constant of positive approach to work with families has been immensely valuable. We appreciate her work and her commitment to our schools and Community. We're going to take a very brief break unless okay. We're going to take a 5 minute break and then we're going to begin with public comment.