Back To School

With my contract I begin work 3 weeks before teachers.  The first day back we had our big kick off meeting with curriculum coordinators and all the instructional coaches.  Using our district strategic plan, we created goals for our team, activities for each goal for the coaches as a team, and left with the assignment to use our data from campuses to create individual goals/activities.

Our curriculum goals as a team (based on the district strategic plan which can be seen here) are:

1) Design, align, and implement a comprehensive and rigorous K-12 curriculum.

2) Provide innovative educational opportunities to address individual students' needs.

3) Equip teachers with strategies necessary to support students' learning.

Our role based on goals is to:

1)                  Develop classroom teachers with consistent district wide instructional methodology based on Marzano Nine.

2)                  Ensure instructional strategies are relevant, engaging, and incorporate 21^st century learning skills.

3)                  Assist the teacher in understanding the depth & complexity of their TEKS meaning, verb level, & method of assessing.

4)                  Develop opportunities for understanding and implementing the framework of the K – 12 Curriculum.

5)                  Assist the teacher in the application of new programs and knowledge gained from conferences & professional development workshops.

6)                  Actively support and monitor the activities initiated in response to the curriculum audit.

7)                  Develop teacher leaders and provide opportunities for growth.

8)                  Support the district wide initiatives and collaborative teams.

Goal #3 (Equip teachers with strategies necessary to support students' learning) was easily addressed during our planning time.  It was my action plan.  I shared the plan with the rest of the team and we were set.

We are ready to get the year started off on the right foot - providing teachers with the tools they need to engage students and make learning relevant, as well as, developing classroom teachers who use effective instructional strategies.