school works - fall 2007

8
Wo rks SCHOOL The Institute provided a powerful showcase for the change strategies now being used in schools and learning communities throughout the Houston region. This year, Houston A+ Challenge is celebrating 10 years of supporting local public school improvement, and all of the campuses spotlighted during the Institute's 14 breakout sessions have received funding and technical support from our nonprofit organization. This year’s Institute, which featured Michael Fullan as keynote speaker (see page 6), was “learner-centered, collaborative, and supported a vision for improving and changing schools and systems,” according to one participant. Another wrote, “As a result of the Institute, my thinking has changed about my role and part in the reform process at my school. I am now more convinced that I can be a change agent.” And that is the goal. Each year, the Institute models what Houston A+ Challenge knows to be the keys to successful whole school change: The Importance of Teaming Working as campus-based teams helps educators deepen their shared learning and provides continued support for taking lessons learned back to the campus. The Importance of a National Perspective Through Houston A+ Challenge’s summer institute and ongoing national series, local educators engaged in school reform work are exposed to research and ideas that provide a framework for and perspective on what's working elsewhere, what's not, and how these lessons apply in Houston. FALL 2007 VOLUME 21 A PUBLICATION OF THE HOUSTON CHALLENGE From Adequate to Excellent: Houston A+ Showcases School Change Strategies . . . continued on page 7 Your school team can benefit from these tips from the Reforming Schools Summer Institute: Plan carefully, but don’t spend more time planning than doing. Limit planning documents to five pages, max. When managing change, new experiences are important behavior changes before beliefs do. Build skills on the new experiences. Good ideas often have bumpy introductions. Bad ideas also have bumpy introductions. Learn to tell the difference. Don’t be judgmental about low-performing students/schools/systems. Use performance measures as a guide for capacity building. Breakout sessions at the Institute provided insights into what is working at a number of schools. For breakout topics and school contact information, visit the Houston A+ website at www.houstonaplus.org. Institute participants learned firsthand that keeping multiple "balls in the air" is much easier with help from a team of colleagues. News You Can Use: TIPS FOR MANAGING CHANGE ore than 400 teachers, administrators, university faculty, parents, students, business and community members participated in the eleventh annual Reforming Schools Summer Institute in July Houston A+ Challenge's largest Institute to date. M Established in January 1997 with funding from the Annenberg Foundation and local matching contributions, The Houston A+ Challenge is an independent, public-private partnership that develops and funds school programs, professional development and leadership institutes to promote higher academic achievement by all students. Dropout Recovery: A Year-Round Effort p. 3 Teachers Team To Improve Instruction pp. 4-5 News & Events from Houston A+ Challenge p. 7 Also inside:

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Page 1: School Works - Fall 2007

WorksSCHOOL

The Institute provided a powerfulshowcase for the change strategies nowbeing used in schools and learningcommunities throughout the Houstonregion. This year, Houston A+Challenge is celebrating 10 years ofsupporting local public schoolimprovement, and all of the campusesspotlighted during the Institute's 14breakout sessions have receivedfunding and technical support fromour nonprofit organization.

This year’s Institute, which featuredMichael Fullan as keynote speaker (see page 6), was “learner-centered,

collaborative, and supported a vision for improving and changing schools and systems,”according to one participant. Another wrote, “As a result of the Institute, my thinking haschanged about my role and part in the reform process at my school. I am now more convincedthat I can be a change agent.”

And that is the goal. Each year, the Institute models what Houston A+ Challenge knows to be the keys to successful whole school change:

■ The Importance of TeamingWorking as campus-based teams helps educators deepen their shared learning and provides continued support for taking lessons learned back to the campus.

■ The Importance of a National Perspective Through Houston A+ Challenge’s summer institute and ongoing national series, local educators engaged in school reform work are exposed to research and ideas that provide a framework for and perspective on what's working elsewhere, what's not, and how these lessons apply in Houston.

F A L L 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E 2 1 A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E H O U S T O N C H A L L E N G E

From Adequate to Excellent:Houston A+ Showcases School Change Strategies

. . . continued on page 7

Your school team can benefit from these tips from the Reforming Schools Summer Institute:

■ Plan carefully, but don’t spend more time planning than doing. Limit planning documents to five pages, max.

■ When managing change, new experiences are important – behavior changes before beliefs do. Build skills on the new experiences.

■ Good ideas often have bumpy introductions. Bad ideas also have bumpy introductions. Learn to tell the difference.

■ Don’t be judgmental about low-performing students/schools/systems. Use performance measures as a guide for capacity building.

Breakout sessions at the Institute provided insights into what is working at a number of schools. For breakout topics and school contact information, visit the Houston A+ website at www.houstonaplus.org.

Institute participants learned firsthand that keeping multiple "balls inthe air" is much easier with help from a team of colleagues.

News You Can Use: TIPS FOR MANAGING CHANGE

ore than 400 teachers, administrators, university faculty, parents, students, business

and community members participated in the eleventh annual Reforming Schools

Summer Institute in July – Houston A+ Challenge's largest Institute to date.

M

Established in January 1997 with funding from the Annenberg Foundation and local matching contributions, The Houston A+ Challenge is an independent, public-privatepartnership that develops and funds school programs, professional development and leadership institutes to promote higher academic achievement by all students.

Dropout Recovery: A Year-Round Effort p. 3

Teachers Team To Improve Instruction pp. 4-5

News & Events from Houston A+ Challenge p. 7

Also inside:

Page 2: School Works - Fall 2007

his fall, I am particularly energized by the call to action of the nationwide Give KidsGood Schools campaign: Learn, Vote and Act for quality education.

In November, Houston, Spring Branch, Fort Bend and Cypress-Fairbanks ISDs will allask voters to approve major school construction bonds aimed at improving andexpanding facilities for the region’s students. In addition, there are contested seats on school boards for Houston,Alief, Aldine and North Forest ISDs. And with the nationwide conversation on the renewal of No Child Left Behind,education is already gaining importance as a topic in the 2008 presidential elections.

As a teacher, a principal, a parent, a student or a community member, you have a valuable opinion on these topics. I challenge you to learn as much as you can about the specific issues and individuals on the ballot, vote according toyour conscience and convictions, and act by making time to share your views with people you care about. For moreinformation about the Give Kids Good Schools Campaign, go to www.houstonaplus.org.

In this issue, we also spotlight opportunities for professional development – how to become a Critical Friends Groupcoach on your own campus, and why lessons from Michael Fullan shared at Houston A+ Challenge’s ReformingSchools Summer Institute might apply to your own work.

As Interim Executive Director for Houston A+, I have the exciting opportunity to see first-hand so much of the goodwork that goes on in Houston’s public schools. This fall, I encourage you to share your own best practices with others– and join me in continuing to push toward the day when all of Houston’s children have access to a high-qualityeducation.

Suzanne Sutherland, Interim Executive Director

2

From the ExecutiveDirector

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 9. Early voting will run from Oct. 22 until Nov. 2. Voters may apply for a ballot by mail through Oct. 30.For more information, to locate your voting precinct or to apply for a ballot by mail, contact the Harris County Clerk’s Office at (713) 755-6411 or visit their website at www.harrisvotes.org.

GET OUT AND VOTE:Local School District Elections, November 6

TSuzanne Sutherland

SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES:

DISTRICT OPEN SEATS BOARD SIZE # OF CANDIDATES

Aldine ISD 4 (1 uncontested) 7 members 7

Alief ISD 3 7 members 7

Houston ISD 4 (2 uncontested) 9 members 9

North Forest ISD 3 7 members 11

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND ISSUES:

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD $807 Million

Fort Bend ISD $428 Million

Houston ISD $805 Million

Spring Branch ISD $597 Million

Page 3: School Works - Fall 2007

3

ach year since 2004, the annual Reach Out to

Dropouts Walk – which was started by Houston

ISD, the Houston Mayor’s Office and Houston

A+ Challenge – has drawn the Houston region’s

attention to the overwhelming importance of

giving students a second (or a third, or a

fourth) invitation to a better future through

education. The walk has become so successful

that Aldine ISD joined the effort in 2006, Alief

and Spring Branch ISDs joined in 2007, and

communities around the country are looking at

adopting the idea.

But as schools and districts know, recovering

dropouts – and keeping them – is a year-round

effort. Here is an example of what one school

community is doing to address the issue:

After the first Reach Out to Dropouts walk

in 2004, Principal Bertie Simmons and her

staff at Furr High School on Houston’s east

side realized that the 35 students who

answered the call to return to school would

need special attention. If the school didn’t

address the root causes of the recovered

students’ decision to leave, they would

simply drop out again.

So Simmons and the staff designed an

instructional program specifically for these

students, and opened REACH Charter High

School right on the campus of Furr High

School.

The project-based curriculum at REACH,

which stands for Realizing Educational

Achievement in the City of Houston, helps

keep students engaged in their school work

and their neighborhoods.

“The first thing we did was to give the kids

cameras and send them out to find problem

areas in the community that could be

projects,” said Simmons.

When they enroll, REACH students are

given an interest assessment and learning

styles inventory so that their assignments can

be based on their specific needs. Hours are

flexible to accommodate work schedules –

students come in before and after school

hours and on Saturdays.

By meeting and serving re-enrolled

students where they are, REACH actualizes

the concept of personalizing schools for

students.

Since it began two years ago, REACH has

graduated more than 50 students. This year,

152 students are enrolled in the small high

school, which operates independently on the

campus at Furr, a school of just over 1,000

students.

To Bertie Simmons, each student’s success

is an overwhelming triumph.

“This summer, two of our former dropouts

presented at the national Association for

Supervision and Curriculum Development

conference in Anaheim, California. Their

presentation focused on how Habits of Mind

[a structure for problem-solving developed by

educators Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick]

made a difference in their lives, in particular

the habits of persistence and controlling

impulsivity. These students had dropped out

and given up on their education, but now

they are both attending college.”

Focus on . . . Dropout Recovery: A Year-Round Effort

The first Reach Out to Dropouts Walk took place in 2004 at 8 Houston ISD high

schools. In the first 3 years, as a result of the walk and other dropout recovery efforts,

3,956 students returned to school. So far, 492 of those students have graduated. In

2007, more than 1,600 volunteers at 34 schools in 4 districts persuaded more

than 130 students to return to school. Efforts continue year-round.

Top Reasons for Students to Stay in School

1. High school dropouts are four times as likely to be unemployed as those who have completed four or more years of college.

2. Graduating from high school will determine how well you live for the next 50 years of your life. High school graduates earn $143 more per week than high school dropouts. College graduates earn $336 more per week than high school graduates ($479 more per week than high school dropouts).

3. Dropouts are more likely to apply for and receive public assistance than graduates of high school.

4. Dropouts comprise a disproportionate percentage of the nation's prison and death row inmates; 82 percent of prisoners in America are high school dropouts.

Source: National Dropout Prevention Center/Network

Quick Facts on the Reach Out To Dropouts Walk

E

Get more local public education news from

Houston A+ Challenge and sign up for our

eNotes newsletter at www.houstonaplus.org

Page 4: School Works - Fall 2007

en teams of Houston-area educatorswill spend the next two years

studying and documenting how theirprofessional learning communities areimpacting student achievement, an effortmade possible through $100,000 ingrants recently awarded by Houston A+Challenge.

Critical Friends Group as ResearchTeam (CART) Grants support educatorsas they meet in groups to examinestudent work, discuss the latest researchon effective instruction, and reflect ontheir own teaching strategies. Projectsare carried out using the methods ofaction research, which is aimed atimproving student achievement bychanging individual teachers' classroompractice.

The following Critical Friends Groupcoaches and teams have been awarded$10,000 each in Houston A+ ChallengeCART Grants to support their workthrough 2009:

Chong-Hao Fu and his team fromKIPP Sharpstown College Prep willattempt to develop a school-wide visionof student and teacher excellence thatlooks beyond simple quantitative dataand promotes a more comprehensiveview of teaching and learning.

Michaelann Kelley and an inter-disciplinary team from Eisenhower HighSchool in Aldine ISD will focus on howchanging the content and context ofconversations among educatorsencourages collaboration and reflectionand ultimately impacts student learning.

Matthew Martinez and a team fromHouston ISD's Challenge Early CollegeHigh School will work on coordinatingteaching strategies and unit plans acrossthe school in order to improve students'preparation and aptitude for collegework.

Debra McIntyre and her team fromthe Small Learning Community andPACE Programs in Humble ISD willexplore how a highly personalizededucational experience reconnects at-risk students to their studies.

Lauren Nguyen, a reading specialist inHouston ISD’s Curriculum Department,will lead a multi-school team of readingteachers in a study to determine theimpact that Master Reading Teachers arehaving on student test scores in readingand to assess which mentoring scheduleshows the greatest results.

Sonia Pacé and her team fromAnderson Academy in Aldine ISD will

research best practices for infusing thearts into the core curriculum andexplore ways to improve collaborationamong teachers in order to put thesepractices into action at the school.

Mandi Painter and her team fromStovall Academy in Aldine ISD willdocument the impact of daily poetryreadings on students' early developmentof fluency.

4

It’s the start of another school year, and here’s a pop quiz for teachers:

■ How well do you know the strengths and weaknesses of your own teaching?■ Who else knows? How open is your classroom door?■ Do the students in your school recognize you as a lifelong learner?

Given the hectic pace of campus life, many teachers do not have the time and structurebuilt into their schedules to take part in thirst-quenching professional growthopportunities, even those that are directly linked to student learning. Just like exercise –even with the best of intentions, time for reflection often is the first thing that drops offa teacher’s weekly planner.

That’s where Critical Friends Groups can help. Like training partners at the gym, CFGs arecampus-based groups of educators who come together to improve their practice throughcollaborative learning. Skilled coaches help teachers and administrators create and sustainvoluntary learning communities where they can develop shared norms and values, engagein reflective dialogue, give each other feedback and encouragement on their work, andhold each other accountable.

As Houston’s first center of activity for the National School Reform Faculty, which de-veloped CFGs, Houston A+ Challenge has trained more than 880 CFG coaches since 1998.

T E A C H E R T E A M S E A R N G R A NT

Critical Friends Groups Collaborate to Improve Instruction

Find out how to create a professional learning community at your school that turns theories into practice and standards into actual student learning.

October 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 & 29

Mondays 4:30 - 8 p.m. | Saturdays 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

University of Houston Hilton Hotel

Application deadline: October 1, 2007

Cost: $1,200 per coach (Does not include lodging)

Contact Tim Martindell, [email protected], with questions or for scholarship information.

FALL 2007CRIT ICAL FR IENDS GROUP NEW COACH TRAINING

Page 5: School Works - Fall 2007

5

Since 1998, more than 880 local educators have opened their classroom doors to

collaboration by becoming Critical Friends Group coaches through Houston A+ Challenge.

These coaches are campus leaders who guide small groups to examine their teaching

practices, deepen their content knowledge and plan for whole-school change.

Michaelann Kelley is an art teacher at Aldine ISD’s Eisenhower High School, and a national

CFG trainer who works with Houston A+.

How long have you been meeting with your Critical Friends Group?

We’ve been together for nearly 10 years now – you know, with a few changes. For example, one former member of my CFG

is now the principal of Westbury; another one of my Critical Friends was Paul Grey, who is now Program Director for

Mathematics at Region 4 Education Service Center. We’ve had a lot of our members retire, but they were working on their

practice continuously until the day they retired.

Do you ever run out of things to talk about? How does a group sustain itself for so long?

Everyone I have worked with has been a real advocate for bettering their own instructional practice, and there is always

room for improvement. Best practices are something to strive for continuously, and

if you think that you have already arrived – then you aren’t really in line with the

philosophy of the group.

What topics have you focused on with your CFG?

Our past Critical Friends Group as Research Team (CART) work has really reached

down to the student level. Through our writing and research, we have looked

specifically at how to serve special populations of students – not just special

education and English language learners, but also the Advanced Placement or gifted

and talented students, which is a subgroup that we commonly leave out in this era

of high stakes testing. So we’re looking at what strategies work to push all kids to

higher places.

What type of leadership skills have you developed through your CFG?

I believe there are informal and formal leaders in schools, and Critical Friends Groups really help promote informal leaders.

Informal leaders are your true leaders of school culture, because they are the people who directly impact what happens in the

classroom. If you can get teachers working together, looking at their practice and focusing on how it affects students – that’s

a powerful experience. Now they can see it, hear it, touch it and taste it. It becomes part of what they breathe every day.

Dr. Angela López Pedrana, anassistant professor in the Department ofUrban Education at the University ofHouston-Downtown, will facilitate agroup of faculty members from severallocal universities who are exploringhow research is helping to document theimpact of teacher knowledge on studentachievement.

Carolyn Thibeaux, from Chavez HighSchool in Houston ISD, is facilitating ateam of educators from Alief, Aldine,and Houston ISDs who will explorehow changes in administrativeleadership affect the school culture,from the perspective of empoweredschool leaders.

Nichole Thompson from HoustonAcademy in Aldine ISD will lead acollaborative group that includeseducators from Bethune and DrewAcademies to document how the STARSunits of study have been adapted, theirpurpose and impact, and their lessonsfor the future.

N T S F O R A C T I O N R E S E A R C H

TEN YEARS OF CRITICAL FRIENDSHIP

Dottie Lawrence, Houston ISD West Region MathContent Specialist, takes a “gallery walk” as part of CFG training.

Page 6: School Works - Fall 2007

At many conferences, the most interesting conversations don’t happen in the breakout sessions or the officially moderated panel discussions

– but rather in the buffet lunch line, the lounge, or the fleeting moments between sessions.

This observation spawned “Open Space,” a National School Reform Faculty framework intended to stretch the boundaries of active

conference participation. For the first time in 2007, Houston A+ Challenge’s Reforming Schools Summer Institute asked participants to

suggest topics for conversation based on their own passions and interests

Building on Michael Fullan’s keynote speech about the elements of successful change, Institute participants began with the question, “How

can we be change agents for our schools?” and identified specific areas of interest or concern. The resulting sessions were rich with lively

and productive discussions.

6

“OPEN SPACE” STRETCHES CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES

Use these topics, suggested by your peers, to start conversations in

your own school communities:

Around student achievement and curriculum and instruction issues:How do we close the gap between Black and Hispanic and Asian and White?How do we meet the needs of mild to moderate special education students

with regard to TAKS?How do we help students who have failed the TAKS multiple times?How do we avoid gifted and talented elitism and still serve the students?How do we align fine arts with the other core subjects?How do we co-teach and still differentiate instruction?

Around issues of school culture:How can we develop effective advisory programs in middle school?How do we create a sustained, schoolwide, respect-based culture?How can we involve our parents in their students’ learning?How do you make your school the kind that parents would drive for

25 miles to bring their kids?How do we change the culture or climate of our school in the

face of high turnover?How can our team overcome administrative roadblocks to establish

positive pressure?

Around building collegial relationships and workplace structure:How can we develop effective teacher retention and in-house mentoring?What should professionalism/codes of conduct in the workplace look like?What do PLCs look like from a teacher’s perspective?How do we build a cohesive faculty when everyone is new?How can we find time for mentoring or collaborating with colleagues?

Michael Fullan’sELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL CHANGE

At the 2007 Reforming Schools Summer Institute, keynote speaker Dr. Michael Fullan– internationally known education researcher, author and professor of policy studies atthe University of Toronto – provided insights from his book Turnaround Leadership(2006) on what we must do in order to move our schools from adequate toexcellent, and how to sustain that change over time.

1. Define closing the gap as the overarching goal.

2. Attend initially to the three basics (literacy, numeracy and student well-being).

3. Be driven by tapping into people’s dignity and sense of respect.

4. Ensure that the best people are working on the problem.

5. Recognize that all successful strategies are socially based and action oriented– change by doing rather than change by elaborate planning.

6. Assume that lack of capacity is the initial problem – and then work on it continuously.

7. Stay the course through continuity of good direction by leveraging leadership.

8. Build internal accountability linked to external accountability.

9. Establish conditions for the evolution of positive pressure.

10. Use the previous nine strategies to build public confidence.

This fall, Michael Fullan returns to Houston for Houston A+ Challenge’s National Speaker Series.

Wednesday, October 3, 20075 to 6:30 p.m.

University of Houston Hilton4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, Texas 77204

Please register for this free public lecture by Friday September 28 at www.houstonaplus.org

Page 7: School Works - Fall 2007

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■ The Importance of Interactive LearningActive, as opposed to passive, learning provides participants with strategies and ideas for improving their own practice. The Houston A+ Challenge summer institute provides a spotlight on the important work going on throughout Houston, with breakout sessions presented by the very people doing the work – local area teachers, principals and district administrators.

■ The Importance of FacilitationWith skilled facilitators, teams,can practice newly-learned skills and plan how to develop and apply what they learn – in order to impact students during the coming year.

Reflected one educator: “I hope we have more opportunities to learn about campusesthat are successful in urban settings, and what changes have occurred because of theseinstitutes – how campuses use what they learn.”

If you would like to receive information about future Institutes, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

■ In August, the Houston Endowment awarded a $300,000 planning grant to aid Houston A+Challenge in the development of a regionalprincipal leadership academy. Planning anddevelopment of the academy and its curriculumwill continue through next year, with the intentto begin training aspiring principals as early asthe fall of 2008.

■ The United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast hasawarded a $30,000 grant to help support HoustonA+ Challenge’s public engagement activities. Thefunding will help provide action labs and schoolsharing visits aimed at increasing collegereadiness for all Houston-area students.

■ In September, Houston A+ Challenge bid fondfarewell to Executive Director Michele Pola, whostepped down from her post in order to return tothe public school system. Michele now serves asChief of Staff for Dr. Abelardo Saavedra,Superintendent of Houston ISD.

■ Suzanne Sutherland has been appointedInterim Executive Director, after serving for thepast three years as Houston A+ Challenge’sDirector of Programs and Associate Director. TheHouston A+ Challenge Board of Trustees haslaunched a search for a new Executive Director.

■ Houston A+ Challenge is pleased to announcethe addition of two new members to the Board ofTrustees. William K. Crouch is ManagingDirector of Human Resource Information Systemsfor Continental Airlines, Inc. He serves asChairman of the Continental Scholarship Fundand is a member of the Greater HoustonPartnership’s Education and Workforce AdvisoryCommittee. Thomas Elsenbrook is ManagingDirector for Alvarez & Marsal BusinessConsulting LLC, and works with the company'stop management to design and execute corporateand business unit strategies.

■ Betsy Broyles Breier has joined the staff ofHouston A+ Challenge as Special ProjectsCoordinator, building on her previous contractwork in publication services. Muhammed (Tuan)Amith has also joined Houston A+ as webmasterand public relations assistant.

News fromHouston A+ ChallengeSeptember 26 “Solutions to the Texas Dropout Crisis” Conference

University of St. ThomasHosted by Children at Risk, in partnership with Houston A+ Challenge, local universities, Project GRAD and Communities in Schools

September 28-29 Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Conference, Dallas

September 29 P-12 Math SummitScarborough HS, Houston ISD

October 3 Michael Fullan, Houston A+ Challenge National Speaker SeriesUniversity of Houston Hilton

October 8 Critical Friends New Coach Training Fall Session beginsUniversity of Houston Hilton

October 15-21 Give Kids Good Schools Weekwww.houstonaplus.org/givekidsgoodschools

October 20 Link Up Greater HoustonGeorge R. Brown Convention CenterSponsored by the City of Houston, the YMCA of Greater Houston, the Texas Association of Partners in Education and Houston A+ Challenge

November 6 Election DaySchool construction bond issues (Houston, Cy-Fair, Fort Bend, Spring Branch ISDs); Board of Trustees Elections (Houston, Aldine, Alief, North Forest ISDs)

November 10 Critical Friends Group Homecoming, Houston

January 27-30 Texas Association of School AdministratorsMidwinter Conference, Austin

January 28-29 Texas Association of Partners in Education Annual Conference, Austin

For more information or to register for these events, go to www.houstonaplus.org.

2 0 0 7C a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s

RSSI . . continued from page 1

Page 8: School Works - Fall 2007

Give Kids Good Schools is a nationwide campaign to focus the public’s attention on three ways that everyone can help achieve public school excellence - Learn, Vote and Act. Please join Houston A+ for the following local events:

■ Monday, October 15School Sharing Visit: Best Practices in Making the Work PublicHastings High School (Alief ISD), 4410 Cook Road, Houston

School Sharing Visit: Best Practices in Literacy across the CurriculumMilby High School (Houston ISD), 1601 Broadway, Houston

■ Tuesday, October 16 School Sharing Visit: Best Practices in PersonalizationMcReynolds Middle School (Houston ISD), 5910 Market Street, Houston

School Sharing Visit: Best Practices in Small Learning CommunitiesAtascocita High School (Humble ISD), 13300 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble

■ Wednesday, October 17School Sharing Visit: Best Practices in Shared LeadershipStovall Academy Middle School (Aldine ISD), 11201 Airline Drive, Houston

■ Thursday, October 18 School Sharing Visit: Best Practices in Arts Integration Pine Shadows Elementary School (Spring Branch ISD), 9900 Neuens, Houston

■ Friday, October 19 School Sharing Visit: Best Practices in High-Performing Small Schools Eastwood Academy High School (Houston ISD), 1315 Dumble, Houston

■ Saturday, October 20 Link Up Greater Houston ConferenceGeorge R. Brown Convention Center

Find more information about these events and join the national campaign to Give Kids Good Schools at www.houstonaplus.org/givekidsgoodschools

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

#11363HOUSTON, TEXAS1415 Louisiana, Box 9 Houston, Texas 77002-7332

713-658-1881 fax 713-739-0166www.houstonaplus.org

SchoolWorks is published by: Houston A+ Challenge1415 Louisiana, Suite 3250 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 658-1881/ (713) 739-0166 (fax)

Interim Executive Director: Suzanne SutherlandDirector of Public Affairs: Melissa Milios

Writer: Betsy Broyles Breier

www.houstonaplus.org

THE HOUSTON A+ CHALLENGEBOARD OF TRUSTEES

Joe B. Foster, ChairmanFounder, Newfield Exploration Company

Ann Friedman, Ph.D., PresidentCivic Volunteer

BOARD MEMBERS

William K. CrouchManaging Director, Human Resource Information Systems

Continental Airlines, Inc.

Jonathan DayManaging Partner

Andrews & Kurth, Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton, LLP

Thomas ElsenbrookManaging Director

Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting LLC

Michael DeeInvestment Banker

Roberto GonzalezVice President, Employment and Training Centers, Inc.

H. Devon Graham, Jr.R.E. Smith Interests

Jenard GrossPresident, Gross Investments

Steve MillerChairman & President

SLM Discovery Venture Inc.

Karol Musher, M.A., CCC-SLPSpeech, Language and Learning Disorders

Texas Children’s Hospital

Maconda Brown O’Connor, Ph.D.Chairman, Brown Foundation

Harry M. ReasonerVinson & Elkins, LLP

J. Victor SamuelsChairman, Victory Packaging

Yava ScottCommunity Volunteer

Andrea WhiteCivic Volunteer

Rosie ZamoraPresident, Houston Wilderness, Inc.

Leonel CastilloDirector Emeritus

GIVE KIDS GOOD SCHOOLS WEEKOCTOBER 15-21, 2007