May 22, 2013

October 29, 2010

Staff receives updates on upcoming changes in education during half-day session

Middleburgh's 100 or so teachers, teaching assistants and others heard a presentation today regarding the upcoming changes in education because of the state's successful acceptance into the Race to the Top (RTTT) program.

Superintendent Michele Weaver and Nancy Jones, a school improvement systems analyst with the Capital Region BOCES, detailed the many changes occurring over the next few years. Middleburgh, which received $74,049 in RTTT money to be used over the next four years, will be mandated to establish network teams (consisting of data, curriculum and technical experts), likely through the Capital Region BOCES, and implement a more comprehensive teacher and principal evaluation system that involves student test scores. State exams taken by students will move toward the Common Core standards, which are being implemented in most states.

"Where do we want to be and how will we be getting there?" asked Jones, who noted that the one common threat of the RTTT reforms is 'Students First.' "Where can we be to make sure that kids are prepared for college and anything that they want to do after secondary school? To do any less isn't fair to the kids," she added.

Today, teams of teachers met to evaluate the issues surrounding the many changes coming down the road in education. They shaped their discussion around six themes:

* Growth: What will we learn as a result of this? How will working on this put students first?
* Emotion: How are people reacting to this process?
* Process: What information will the staff, the Board and the community need in order to understand this? How will we keep them informed?
* What are the positive aspects of this approach? What good will come from it?
* Caution! What are the downsides of the plan?
* Data: Is our work supported by data? What else do we need?

Jones said that specifics on several aspects of the teacher and principal evaluation program will be forthcoming from the state Education Department in April.

Below are scenes from today's staff development program: