Minutes

Westmont Department of Education

Teacher/Principal Advisory Board

November 14, 2012, 4:00 – 5:30

Hieronymous Lounge/Kerrwood Hall

Amy Alzina, Tim Loomer, Jeanne McCrea, Bard Salcido, Casey Roberts, Lynne Harms,

Ann Peak, Mary Osgood, Alex Nguyen, Mike Lynch, (Student Reps: Kaly Moehlenpah, Katie Curry), Andrew Mullen, Jane Wilson, Michelle Hughes, Heather Bergthold

1. Mingling time

2. Formal welcome, appreciation, and introductions, including student representatives(AM)

Board members introduced themselves. Andrew Mullen introduced Single Subject student Katie Curry and Multiple Subject student Kaly Moehlenpah.

3. Review Minutes from November 2011 (AM)

Andrew presented minutes from last year’s meeting and asked members to review them, (sent previously) and he welcomed questions if there were any. No one asked questions or had comments.

4. Some Highlights from our Annual Highlights (MH)

Michelle presented highlights. She extended a warm invitation to our Excellence in Education celebration Saturday, January 12.We will be honoring four generations of teachers in the Hardeman family. See Highlights attachment.

5.Highlights from Annual Assessment Data (MH)

Michelle presented highlights from our Annual Assessment. She announced that we have the largest Secondary credential cohort since 1994. There are 11 Multiple Study candidates and 9 Single Subject candidates. Our department also received a development grant this year from the college’s President. See Assessment attachment.

5. ShareJobs Received sheet (JW)

Jane celebrated that all of last year’s cohort have teaching jobs. Jane also introduced Alex Nguyen and Mike Lynch to our board. Alex is a first year 4th grade teacher at Adams and Mike is a first year Biology teacher at Dos Pueblos. Both teachers were in our credential program last year.

6. SharePartners Sheet (JW)

7. Split into smaller groups (choice of the participant) for discussion of the following:Common Standards, and how they're affecting K-12

Common Core Standards Discussion/Insights – Multiple Subject

  • CCSS are here to stay -- know them, use them, be comfortable with them
  • Teach our ST how to read and code the CCSS
  • Use the Rigor/Relevance framework and terminology
  • Teach the Quadrants of RR Framework and ask students to code activities (which quadrant are they in)
  • EL standards are embedded in the CCSS
  • Teach Sentence Frames
  • Encourage Thematic Units (as they can align with CCSS while teaching SS and Sci)
  • Expose students to SMARTER balance assessment questions
  • Lesson Planet website has lessons aligned to the CCSS
  • Post standards using student-friendly language (Today I will.....)
  • Guide ST how to engage students in academic discourse (choral response, partner work)
  • Teach Professional Learning Communities (Lesson Study)

Common Core Standards Discussion/Insights – Single Subject

  • PLC's = Professional Learning Communities = Thursday mornings (late start) at most schools.
  • New teachers need to be flexible, take a team approach . . .teaching is not as isolated as it was years ago.
  • Teaching is now much more collaborative.
  • PLC's offer support to new teachers.
  • New teachers bring a fresh perspective to schools and veteran teachers.
  • New and aspiring teachers are inspiring to veteran teachers.
  • The Common Core is here to stay - the PLC time to work on and articulate the CCSS is invaluable.
  • Teachers need to be able to utilize resources and be knowledgeable about the CCSS.
  • Teachers are lifelong learners and need to pass that on to their students.
  • Teachers need to teach literacy in all subject areas - -reading strategies such as marking the text are key.
  • Relevance and rigor!
  • Use academic vocabulary.

-How Westmont can serve schools better

-(If desired, a 3rd topic, if there's a particular issue that seems to merit it)

No group met for this topic.

8. Open dialogue

* Westmont will send a brief note later this spring to the Teacher Advisory Board members on how we will use comments shared above to make appropriate changes in the program.