southern regional education board high schools that work career prep high school high schools that...

SouthernRegionalEducationBoard

Southern Regional Education Board

High Schools That Work

Career Prep High School High Schools That Work

Technical Assistance Visit


Thank You from the TAV Team Members

• Ivy Alford, SREB/HSTW, Atlanta, GA• Dawn Mankiewicz, Social Studies Dept.Chair, Piedra Vista

High School, Farmington, NM• James Hetler, Ed. Admin. A, NMPED (CTWEB), Santa Fe,

NM• Stephanie Jaquez, English, Farmington High School,

Farmington, NM• Mike Walker, Assistant Principal/Athletic &Activities

Director, Shiprock High School/ CCSD#22, Shiprock, NM• Christie Lucero, Science, Farmington High School,

Farmington, New Mexico• Tonya Nelson, Professional Staff, San Juan Community

College, Farmington, NM• Ann Gattis, Principal, Piedra Vista High School, Farmington,

NM


HSTW Technical Assistance Visit

• “Snapshot” as seen by those external to your schools

• Baseline data

• Use as a tool to further your work


Components of the TAV Report

• Promising Practices

• Next Steps

• Foundations for School Improvement and Action Steps

• Strategic Improvement Priorities and Action Steps


10 Key Practices

• High expectations

• Program of study• Career/technical

studies• Academic studies• Work-based

learning

• Teachers working together

• Students actively engaged

• Guidance• Extra help• A Culture of

Continuous Improvement (data)


Engaging Students

Teachers Working Together

Career/ Tech

Studies

Academic Studies

Guidance

and Advisement

High Expectations

Extra Help

USING DATA FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

USING DATA FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Work-Based

Learning

HSTW


HSTW-Recommended Curriculum

• 4 courses English taught to college-preparatory level

• 4 courses Mathematics, college preparatory including Algebra I, II and Geometry, and one higher-level mathematics course

• 3 courses college-preparatory lab-based Science, 4 if on the block

• 3 courses college-preparatory Social Studies, 4 if on the block

• Academic or Career Concentration


Promising Practices – Career Prep High School

• Expectations and Extra Help• Student Engagement• Quality Career/Technical• Continuous Improvement• Communication with

Stakeholders


• Teachers and leaders have worked to implement a formal redo policy

• Students stated that teachers always provide rubrics/scoring guides to promote expectations for quality work

• Students are encouraged to improve attendance with the new attendance program

• Students are encouraged to use the school health services so that they are also able to attend classes

• CP provides a variety of services to support students– On-Campus Day Care– A variety of tutoring services– The School-Based Health Clinic (to provide medical and

social well-being)– On-Campus Vision Screening– RTI embedded within the school day

Promising Practice: CP is working to establish a culture of high expectations for students and provides a variety of extra help opportunities to support student success.


• Outstanding student participation and behavior• Teachers used multiple strategies within the class

period• Teachers work to integrate content and make

connections for students, including an emphasis on career/future relevance

• Small class size allowed students to receive individualized instruction

• Engaging strategies included: structured reading activities, bubble charts (concept webs), KWL organizers, manipulatives and laboratory activities

• Students are provided with science and multi-media projects

• Teachers are working together to utilize strategies to support school improvement—reading/math

Promising Practice: The TA team observed examples of classroom activities that were used to engage students in the learning process, including cross-curricular strategies.


• CP offers a variety of career integrated courses; all academic teachers support career interest areas

• Teachers emphasize Life Skills, Career Exploration, Employability Skills and Work Experience

• Vet Tech, Computer Graphics and Digital Media courses are offered through on-line courses that are provided by San Juan Community College

• CP students also participate in courses at San Juan’s Technical Education Center

• CP’s orientation activities help students to focus in on a career cluster area; students are further supported through career specific advisory groups

• Students may participate in career-related student organizations: Skills USA, TSA, and HOSA

• Career related brochures are provided for students

Promising Practice: The initial organization of CP was designed to assist students in selecting a major career focus to support their high school and postsecondary work.


Promising Practice: CP utilizes a structured approach for continuous improvement that uses data, teacher collaboration and professional development.• The district has provided support and training so that

teachers and leaders can effectively use Baldrige Strategies to support improvement

• Teachers and leaders utilize data analysis and the PDSA process in the improvement process and within classrooms

• The district has supported CP by providing professional development and supporting CP staff to attend most HSTW activities

• The district has provided coaches to assist with school improvement efforts

• Teachers have been organized into teams to brainstorm and guide improvement actions

• Teacher teams are responsible for training other teachers to effectively implement strategies/actions


Promising Practice: CP has established a variety of activities and programs to build partnerships with parents and the community, while honoring the unique culture.

• CP provides a special dinner for families at the beginning and end of each school year

• Quarterly newsletters are provided• Parents are provided with progress reports every three

weeks• Parental Advisory Committee monthly meetings are used

to present numeracy, literacy and EEO updates• Parents and community members are asked for

suggestions on strategies that address school goals• Parents and community members support the on-campus

day care• Teacher groups review the Quality of Education Surveys

in order to improve services• Seniors participate in meetings to outline graduation

events/celebrations


Major Actions to Take

• While adjusting the mission statement to meet the new district mission, work in a functional mission that supports success in careers and future studies, targeting a decrease in the number of students needing remedial coursework

• Formally adopt the HSTW core beliefs and use them to guide decision making

• Create a system to celebrate teacher accomplishments monthly; expand student celebrations to reach a greater number of students


Major Actions to Take• Expand data targets to include progress

towards each of the HSTW Goals• Focus on postsecondary readiness, and

connect student achievement that goes beyond the state assessment

• Consider extending the time that students are enrolled at CP to have greater impact

• Use the 2008 HSTW Assessment results as one data source for strategic planning

• Use panels of students to assist each Goal Team

• Use community partners to expand opportunities for students, including internships and summer work programs


Priority Improvement Areas

1. Increase the rigor of academic and elective courses across the school

2. Enhance collaboration efforts with postsecondary institutes and local business leaders

3. Expand efforts to improve instruction to emphasize the use of technology and increase the focus on reading across the curriculum

4. Investigate flexible scheduling options to better serve student needs

5. Restructure advisory and intake procedures to enhance both student and parental involvement


Possible Major Actions to Take• Use formal advisory lessons at least monthly to

assist students with study skills, time management, etc.

• Use advisory groups to promote guest speakers or field trips within a career field

• Students and teachers should use advisory to expand the student recognition program; expand the areas of celebration

• Use the advisory teams to increase parental communication—student facilitated conferences, parent calls, parent participation in advisory events, etc.

• Revise the current intake program to include all aspects of CP; have students rotate through different areas/activities (including the health support options)


Top Actions to Implement Immediately

• Increase the use of projects (expand activities to provide meaningful homework activities)

• Contact schools to gather samples of “Student-Based Modules” (Cache High School, OK/Shiprock Freshman Academy Modules)

• Begin outlining the standards/skills needed for enhancement courses to support each major program of study offered at SJCC

• Increase the use of technology, for students as well as teachers

• Consider building in DEAR time within the school day to promote reading

• Work with district leaders to identify courses that could be shared with Shiprock High


What’s Next?• Review all data including TAV report.• Use your data to select and prioritize

action steps.• Divide actions among your committee

structure.• Develop/integrate action plans as part of

School Improvement Plan process.– Steps– Interim Timelines and Benchmarks– Resources– Evidence of implementation’s impact;

Results


The Technical Assistance Team wishes to thank Career Prep High School and the District for their hospitality, cooperation, and helpfulness during the site visit.

THANK YOU!

Ivy Alford, Team Leader

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