Higher Ed. Partnership – Minutes

June 6, 2003

 

Attendance : Susan Zoller, Dale Kinsley, Adrienne Nelson, Lisa Conlon, David Carroll, William Lay, and Stephanie Salzman. Absent: Shirley Potter, Lauren McClanahan, Rob McElroy, and Donnet Brown

Welcome and Reconnection:

Dale Kinsley welcomed the group and review the goals of the partnership:

To establish a seamless induction process from recruitment, through pre service, to professional certification that is based on a shared understanding of good teaching practices and that uses common tools and processes to support self-evaluation, reflection, and inquiry.

The goal for today's meeting was to develop clear next steps and actions that are sponsored by both partner organizations, dates actions are to be accomplished, and the responsible persons.

Report on Institute for Higher Education Partnerships K-17:

Members, who attended the Institute for Higher Ed. Partnerships at UCSC New Teacher Center, shared their experiences and how their new understandings have impacted their work.

David Carroll – The structure and facilitation at the Institute supported learning on many levels. Individuals as well as the team reflected and constructed new understandings. The strategies presented were a good fit for both organizations and their desire to embed the work in the schools.

Bill Lay – The Institute provided questioning strategies that can be used with pre service teachers and those students who are making decisions about entering the teaching profession. These strategies help pre service teachers to be reflective and active inquirers.

Lisa Conlon – The teachers and administrators play a key role in the enculturation of the pre service teacher and the new teacher. The Institute provided opportunities for a mentor and coach to examine their roles and responsibilities.

Adrienne - The use of formative assessment tools that support reflection and inquiry can be used throughout the induction process.

Adrienne also shared that Rob McElroy had lead a discussion with the elementary principals about enculturation of the new teacher and the role of the administrator.

Review of a draft action plan:

The group looked at a “map” that had been developed by the members who went to UCSC. The map described the current reality of the partnership in achieving the goal and characteristics of an Ideal partnership that was achieving the goal. The group discussed the map and asked the following questions:

1 - How do we (the public school) support the IHE (Institute of Higher Education) to change? Stephanie shared that the summit results were well aligned with the goal and map's ideal. The goal was to embed their work in the public schools.

2 – How can we formalize the partnership?

Susan wondered how we have collective goals. Stephanie suggested that we develop a Memorandum of Understanding and involved the Union.

3 – How does our work fit with the State mandates?

Adrienne shared some of the work done in year one of the partnership to develop a matrix to show alignment of our documents (INTASC Standards, Professional Certification Standards, and the Bellingham School District Teaching Criterion)

The group looked at a draft of an action plan to begin to bridge the gap between the reality and the ideal. They analyzed the suggested actions in order to determine which actions should be started immediately and that would have a greater impact in reaching our goals.

 

DECISIONS

Person Responsible

Actions

By When

Susan Zoller

Look at the current Board Policy regarding student teachers. Rewrite to reflect best practices and research in the placement of student teachers and criteria.

9/03

Adrienne Nelson

David Carroll

Lisa Conlon

Provide shared professional development for both BSD teachers and WCE staff who work with pre service and new teachers.

Contact Janet Glyss at the New Teacher Center to check the possibility of holding a yearlong mentor academy in Bellingham that would consist of 9 days of training for mentors and teacher supervisors, broken into 3 three – day sessions. Discuss possibility of co facilitation by WCE, BSD, and the NTC.

8/03

Sheila Fox

David Carroll

Adrienne Nelson

Lisa Conlon

Develop a draft of a structure and process for BSD teachers to attain the professional certification that involves both BSD and WCE staff. Identify key personnel, outline their responsibilities, courses, professional development opportunities, costs, stipends, that meet state criteria and requirements.

6/26/03

9:00 AM

Roeder

Rm.

 

Dale Kinsley

Stephanie Salzman

Develop a Memorandum of Understanding that calls for a “Coordination Team” that would monitor the work of the partnership, outline specific roles, responsibilities, and actions, and identify specific persons from each partner organization to serve on this team.

8/03

NEXT STEPS:

  1. The Bellingham School District Mentor Academy will be August 19 – 20, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM at the Central Services Administration Building – 1306 Dupont Street. WCE staff who would like to see how mentors are trained are invited to participate. Please contact the Professional Development Office if you plan to attend.
  2. Three documents (Real and Ideal, Action Plan, Article on School-University Partnerships from ASCD) shared at this meeting are being sent to Lauren McClanahan, Donnett Brown, Rob McElroy, and Shirley Potter.

NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting of this planning group will be September 11, 2003