Comprehensive IT: Opportunities for Students When the Whole School is ‘The Academy’

Crooms Academy of Information TechnologySeminole County Public Schools

Sanford, FL

Dr. Connie Collins, Former PrincipalDemetria Hayes Faison, Principal

croomsaoit.org

#NAFNext

Crooms Academy of Information Technology School Profile for 2012-2013

• Seminole County Public Schools’ only dedicated magnet

• Open enrollment for all rising freshmen and students are randomly selected for admission

• 577 students, 35 teachers, 2 counselors, 2 APs• Student population: 56% White, 21% Hispanic, 15%

African American, 4% Asian, 2% Multiracial, 1% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander

• 47% percent of student population is economically disadvantaged

#NAFNext

Crooms Academy of Information Technology School Profile for 2012-2013

• School grade of “A” on Florida’s School Accountability Report

• US News and World Report’s #1 Most Connected Classrooms in the US

• Listed in US News and World Report’s list of US Best High Schools

• Listed in Newsweek as one of US Best High Schools • National Academy Foundation, Distinguished Academy• Magnet Schools of America, Magnet School of Excellence

#NAFNext

“Poor students do not exhibit low academic achievement because they are poor but because of the way that we treat poor children. . . What commentators call an ‘ethnic gap’ is, in fact, a teaching gap, a curriculum gap, and an expectations gap.”

Doug Reeves, 2006 in The Learning Leader

#NAFNext

What Should We Do? . . .

. . . All That We Can!

#NAFNext

It Takes a Village: A Multi-Pronged Approach

Stephen Covey, ISTE International Conference 2011

#NAFNext

Our Schoolhouse Model• Technology Integration in the Content Areas• Professional Learning Communities• Response to Intervention• Positive Behavior Support • Kagan Learning Strategies• Ruby Payne Poverty Training • Marzano Art and Science of Teaching

#NAFNext

We Control Factors We Can Control

• What gets taught• Who teaches it• How it gets taught • Empowering both teacher AND students with data

and monitoring to motivate students and improve student achievement

• Academic interventions during the school day• Extended day activities• Student support through faculty academic

advocates and community mentors

#NAFNext

Areas of Focus

• Integrating technology• Empowering both teachers and students with

data and monitoring to motivate and improve student achievement

• Building a culture of excellence and support for all students

#NAFNext

Integration of Technology

• Every student is issued a personal laptop which comes loaded with software and hardware

• Access to the Internet and network resources on campus is given via a wireless network

• Crooms Academy has 10 computer labs including an Apple Mac desktop lab and a game and simulation lab

• The school also features SMART technologies in every classroom

#NAFNext

Integration of Technology

• Extensive technology coursework offered onsite and 23 courses offered through Early College/Dual Enrollment at Seminole State College of Florida

• Staff uses technology and Web 2.0 tools to support and improve instruction

• Students use technology to enhance learning in content course

• Cross-curricular projects between core academic teachers and technology teachers

#NAFNext

Integration of Technology• Network Concepts• Network Computer

Maintenance and Repair• Office Applications• Adv. Office Applications• Bitmap Graphics• Intro to Digital Media• Web Programming• Web Applications• Web Scripting & AJAX• Data Driven Websites• Principles of Computer

Programming

• C# Programming• Adv. C# Programming• Cisco Networking I• Cisco Networking II• Cisco Networking III• Cisco Networking IV• Intro to Internetworking

Security• Database Management• Intro to UNIX (Linux +)• Oracle SQL• Intro to Wireless Technologies• Intro to IP Telephony

#NAFNext

Integration of Technology

#NAFNext

Integration of Technology

IT Industry CertificationsAdobe Dreamweaver AssociateAdobe Flash AssociateAdobe Photoshop AssociateCertified Internet Web (CIW) Design SpecialistCisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)

#NAFNext

Integration of Technology

CompTIA A+CompTIA Linux+CompTIA Network+CompTIA Security+Oracle Certified AssociateMicrosoft Office SpecialistMicrosoft Technical Associate Windows Operating Systems Fundamentals

#NAFNext

Integration of Technology151 industry certifications earned in 2012-2013

17 Adobe Dreamweaver1 Adobe Flash48 Adobe Photoshop16 Adobe Premiere Pro5 CompTIA A+ 34 Microsoft Office Specialist (*must pass 3

exams)153 Power Point119 Word37 Excel

30 Microsoft Technical Associate

#NAFNext

What’s In Your Toolbox?Take a few minutes to reflect:

• Which industry certifications could you offer at your school that are aligned with your NAF courses and academy theme?

• How could you infuse Web 2.0 tools in your classroom to enhance student learning?

• How could your academy expand the partnership with the local community college to offer or increase dual enrollment courses at your school site?

#NAFNext

Using Data and Progress Monitoring to

Drive and Improve Instruction

“Data-driven decision making can produce its intended effects only if supported by organizational capacity that allows schools and leaders to intentionally change instructional practices in the face of new information” (Halverson, et al., 2005).

#NAFNext

Using Data and Progress Monitoring to Drive and Improve Instruction

• Ongoing Progress Monitoring – Discovery Education Assessments for Reading, Algebra,

Geometry, Biology, and College Readiness– Write Score for Writing – Certiport for Adobe Certifications– GMetrix for Microsoft Office Specialist– Measure Up for Microsoft Technical Associate– District common assessments– Classroom assessments

#NAFNext

Using Data and Progress Monitoring to Drive and Improve Instruction

• During pre-plan teachers review student achievement data from the previous year and reflect on strengths and needs

• Teachers develop a personal improvement plan based on instructional needs of students

• Teachers analyze current student data and adjust instruction to achieve maximum achievement

• Teachers work in professional learning communities by grade level, by department, or by course to implement best practices

#NAFNext

Using Data and Progress Monitoring to Drive and Improve Instruction

• Monitor student progress through periodic screening and diagnostics in Writing, Reading, Math, Biology, and Technology

• Teachers adjust instruction based on results• Teachers proactively support students to prevent

regression• Tutoring and a variety of interventions or acceleration

are provided as needed• Teachers and students conference and set goals for

improvement and students monitor their own progress

#NAFNext

Using Data and Progress Monitoring to Drive and Improve Instruction

2012-2013 State of Florida Assessment Results for Crooms• Highest district proficiency FCAT Reading 2.0• Highest district high school performance in Writing 2.0

(3.5)• Highest district high school performance in Biology EOC• Highest district high school performance in Algebra EOC• Highest district high school performance in Geometry EOC• Highest district high school performance in U.S. History

EOC

#NAFNext

What’s In Your Toolbox?

Take a few minutes to reflect:

• Are there data-focused professional learning communities (PLCs) on your campus?

• How are the PLCs utilizing progress monitor data within your academy to inform instruction?

• Does your administrative team plan for time during the school day for teachers to meet by grade level, department, or course to review data and plan collaboratively?

#NAFNext

Building a Culture of Support for All Students

• Literacy strategies implemented in core academic and technology courses

• Advisement lessons: Weekly lessons that support best instructional practices

• 20-minute uninterrupted block of silent sustained reading three days per week

• Guided Study academic intervention during the school day

• After-school tutoring and student support• SAT and ACT preparation

#NAFNext

Building a Culture of Support for All Students

• Literacy Leadership Team– Surveys of student and teacher literacy needs– One Book, One School Project – Promotion of reading through Scholastic Reading Counts

Quiz Competition– Strategy of the Month Program – Support of classroom libraries

• Explorers Club for at-risk students to develop cultural literacy, vocabulary, and leadership skills

#NAFNext

Building a Culture of Support for All Students

• Four Year Career Plan 9th grade: Success Skills 10th grade: Enhanced Success Skills 11th grade: Job shadowing 12th grade: Internships, Exit Interviews

• Business Advisory Council Classroom Speakers Mentors to teachers and students Host job shadowing experiences and student interns

• Annual Tech Fest Student Conference

#NAFNext

What’s In Your Toolbox?Take a few minutes to reflect:

• Is there time within your master schedule to schedule time for interventions during the school day?

• How does your school plan for providing student supports/tutorial beyond the school day? Brainstorm some ways that the plan can be improved to be even more effective.

• Could you implement a student focused conference on campus to introduce your students to industry leaders, local businesses, and colleges and universities who are aligned with your academy theme?

#NAFNext

There Is No Silver Bullet

• Combining a variety of researched based practices, providing the support to implement and monitor these practices have led to our successful IT academy

• We collaborate as a staff to provide the best atmosphere for success for all students

#NAFNext

“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.”

-Garrison Keillor