2008 quality learning and teaching environments/teacher quality project for georgia association of...
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20082008 Quality Learning and Quality Learning and Teaching Teaching Environments/Teacher Quality Environments/Teacher Quality ProjectProject
For Georgia Association of For Georgia Association of Educational Leaders Winter Educational Leaders Winter ConferenceConference
February 4, 2008February 4, 2008
PurposePurpose
To reduce teacher attrition in Georgia’s To reduce teacher attrition in Georgia’s public schools and improve the conditions of public schools and improve the conditions of learning and teaching.learning and teaching.
To raise student achievementTo raise student achievement
QLTE/Teacher Quality Project QLTE/Teacher Quality Project Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee
University System of GeorgiaUniversity System of Georgia Georgia Department of EducationGeorgia Department of Education State Board of EducationState Board of Education Georgia Partnership for Excellence in EducationGeorgia Partnership for Excellence in Education Partnership for Reform in Science and Partnership for Reform in Science and
MathematicsMathematics Georgia’s Leadership Institute for School Georgia’s Leadership Institute for School
Improvement Improvement
Supporting PartnersSupporting Partners
Sonny Perdue, Governor, State of GeorgiaSonny Perdue, Governor, State of Georgia Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of
SchoolsSchools Erroll Davis, Chancellor, University Erroll Davis, Chancellor, University
System of GeorgiaSystem of Georgia Georgia Committee on Quality TeachingGeorgia Committee on Quality Teaching
Georgia Committee on Quality Georgia Committee on Quality TeachingTeaching
University System of University System of Georgia (P-16)Georgia (P-16)
State Board of EducationState Board of Education Georgia Department of Georgia Department of
EducationEducation Georgia Professional Georgia Professional
Standards CommissionStandards Commission Governor’s Office of Governor’s Office of
Planning and Budget Planning and Budget Governor’s Office of Student Governor’s Office of Student
AchievementAchievement
Georgia Partnership for Georgia Partnership for Excellence in EducationExcellence in Education
Regional Education Service Regional Education Service AgenciesAgencies
Georgia Leadership Institute for Georgia Leadership Institute for School ImprovementSchool Improvement
Georgia Department of Early Care Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningand Learning
Georgia Public Policy FoundationGeorgia Public Policy Foundation BellSouthBellSouth Washington MutualWashington Mutual
A broad-based group of educational agencies and organizations formed to communicate and promote cross-
agency work on teaching quality
QLTE Pilot CommunitiesQLTE Pilot Communities
Bibb County Schools—Sharon Patterson, SuperintendentBibb County Schools—Sharon Patterson, Superintendent Dougherty County Schools—Sally Whatley, Dougherty County Schools—Sally Whatley,
SuperintendentSuperintendent Floyd County Schools—Kelly Henson, SuperintendentFloyd County Schools—Kelly Henson, Superintendent Hall County Schools – Will Schofield, SuperintendentHall County Schools – Will Schofield, Superintendent Lowndes County Schools—Steve Smith, SuperintendentLowndes County Schools—Steve Smith, Superintendent Valdosta City Schools – Sam Allen, SuperintendentValdosta City Schools – Sam Allen, Superintendent Vidalia City Schools – Tim Smith, SuperintendentVidalia City Schools – Tim Smith, Superintendent
Strategies Strategies The administration of a working conditions The administration of a working conditions
survey for diagnostic purposessurvey for diagnostic purposes Provide school and district-specific data to Provide school and district-specific data to
identify system strengths and weaknessesidentify system strengths and weaknesses Work with teachers to formulate a plan of Work with teachers to formulate a plan of
action to address identified needsaction to address identified needs Mobilize community-school partnerships Mobilize community-school partnerships
to improve conditions of learning and to improve conditions of learning and teaching.teaching.
Survey 1-January Survey 1-January 20052005
7,357 Respondents7,357 Respondents
10 Districts10 Districts
83% Response Rate83% Response Rate
Survey 2—December Survey 2—December 20062006
7,032 Respondents7,032 Respondents
7 Districts7 Districts
84% Response Rate84% Response Rate
.
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new
landscapes but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
Ask questions
Solicit feedback
Confront the brutal facts
Domains of the Working Conditions Survey
Time
Facilities and Resources
Leadership
Empowerment
Professional Learning
Rating Scale
1= Strongly Disagree
2= Somewhat Disagree
3= Neither Disagree or Agree
4= Somewhat Agree
5= Strongly Agree
Average Domain Rating by Position: 2006
4.34.5 4.5 4.5 4.6
3.5
4.0 4.13.9
4.1
1
2
3
4
5
Time Facilities &Resources
Leadership Empowerment ProfessionalLearning
Av
era
ge
Ra
tin
g
AdministratorsTeachers
Teachers and Administrators See Things Differently
Which aspect of your work environment most affects your willingness to keep teaching at your school?
Time, 18.0
Facilities and Resources, 16.4
Leadership, 41.7
Empowerment, 14.5
Professional Learning, 9.4
Leadership Inspires and Retains Teachers
Which aspect of your work environment is most important to you in promoting student learning?
Time, 27.3
Facilities and Resources, 26.4
Leadership, 12.8
Empowerment, 16.5
Professional Learning, 17.0
Educators report improved Educators report improved
working conditions.working conditions.
Six in ten educators believed that conditions had improved.
Educators' Ratings of QLTE Domains 2005 - 2006
3.9 3.9 4.0
3.6
4.0 4.1 4.0 4.13.8
3.2
1
2
3
4
5
Time Facilities & Resources
Leadership Empower- ment
ProfessionalLearning
Per
cen
t In
crea
seEducators Report Improved
Working Conditions.
1
2
3
4
5
Time Fac&Res Leadership Empowerment ProfLearning
Domain
2005
2006
The Stories Behind the Story: District and School Results
SEE OUR WEBSITE! – WWW.QLTE.ORG
BellSouth QLTEBellSouth QLTE
Quality Learning & Teaching Quality Learning & Teaching Environments InitiativeEnvironments InitiativeFloyd County SchoolsFloyd County Schools
“Building premier learning and teaching environmentsfor every student and teacher in Georgia's public schools"
TimeTime Student learning time is protected by leaders
Adequate time for professional learning
Reduced duties and paper work so teachers focus on instruction
Time to collaborate with colleagues
Class sizes meets needs of students
Student loads meet needs of students
Leaders address teacher concerns about use of time
BellSouth QLTE Action PlanBellSouth QLTE Action Plan Teacher CollaborationTeacher Collaboration
Ruth Pinson, teacher at Armuchee Elementary, chaired a Ruth Pinson, teacher at Armuchee Elementary, chaired a committee to explore increasing teacher collaboration.committee to explore increasing teacher collaboration.
Plan of Action:Plan of Action:School principals should work with teachers to provide, in School principals should work with teachers to provide, in addition to individual daily planning, an opportunity to meet addition to individual daily planning, an opportunity to meet for an extended time with other teachers to plan for an extended time with other teachers to plan collaboratively at least once a month. collaboratively at least once a month.
Facilities and ResourcesFacilities and ResourcesAdequate space to work productively
Sufficient access to office equipment
Convenient access to phones and email
Enough supplies to support student learning
Work environment is clean and well maintained
Provides a safe environment for teaching and learning
Current technology is sufficiently available for teachers and students
Leadership address teacher’s concerns about school facilities and resources
BellSouth QLTE Action PlanBellSouth QLTE Action Plan Actual ProblemActual Problem
Most school computer labs do not have a person who is responsible for Most school computer labs do not have a person who is responsible for staffing the lab. Teachers must teach the lesson and act as a technology staffing the lab. Teachers must teach the lesson and act as a technology person to get the computers up and running and also to trouble shoot person to get the computers up and running and also to trouble shoot computer problemscomputer problems
Plan of Action:Plan of Action:The system entered into an agreement with Berry College to pilot a The system entered into an agreement with Berry College to pilot a program using Berry students to staff computer labs in schools. The pilot program using Berry students to staff computer labs in schools. The pilot began with Berry staffing one school Monday through Friday during began with Berry staffing one school Monday through Friday during school hours. The program was successful and has been expanded to add school hours. The program was successful and has been expanded to add an additional school this year. an additional school this year.
Teacher Provided SolutionsTeacher Provided Solutions The process is the keyThe process is the key
– Ask opinionsAsk opinions– Involve teachers in solutionsInvolve teachers in solutions– Show resultsShow results– Continue the dialogueContinue the dialogue
QLTE Teacher Advisory GroupQLTE Teacher Advisory GroupSurvey results of participants.Survey results of participants. How satisfied are you that teacher questions are answered?How satisfied are you that teacher questions are answered?
Very Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Very Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Satisfied Satisfied Very Very SatisfiedSatisfied
0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 55.0% (11) 45.0% 55.0% (11) 45.0% (9)(9)
The Q&A email and website recap of the meeting was helpful in providing information The Q&A email and website recap of the meeting was helpful in providing information about the meetings to teachers at my school.about the meetings to teachers at my school.
Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Unsure Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Unsure AgreeAgree Strongly AgreeStrongly Agree 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 5.0% (1) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 5.0% (1) 30.0% (6)30.0% (6) 65.0% (13)65.0% (13)
Lowndes County SchoolsLowndes County Schools
Good to Great and BeyondGood to Great and Beyond
Working Together for Excellence Working Together for Excellence Every DayEvery Day
A focus on student needsA focus on student needs
Data Driven Decision MakingData Driven Decision Making
Positive Results – An Example: Positive Results – An Example: How creativity, How creativity, commitment, and team work produced great results for the commitment, and team work produced great results for the Lowndes County School District.Lowndes County School District.
January, 2005- November, 2006 Working Conditions January, 2005- November, 2006 Working Conditions Improvement For Lowndes County Educators:Improvement For Lowndes County Educators:
Time 24%
Facilities and Resources
20%
Leadership 21%
Empowerment 21%
Professional Learning
13%
Student Achievement Data for Student Achievement Data for Lowndes High School:Lowndes High School:
Indicators January, 2005 November, 2006 2007
Graduation Rate69% 75% 78.4%
Attendance <5 days absent
56% 62%
Pass Rate HS Social Studies Graduation Test
84% 91% 91%
Pass Rate HS Science Graduation Test
66% 79% 77%
Adequate Yearly Progress
Needs Improvement
Made AYP Made AYP
What made the difference? What made the difference? Initiated a system wide theme of Initiated a system wide theme of Good to Great Good to Great
and Beyondand Beyond stressing teamwork and excellence stressing teamwork and excellence every day. It all began with getting the right every day. It all began with getting the right people in the right seat and on the right bus.people in the right seat and on the right bus.
Making Making academic achievementacademic achievement the the top top prioritypriority as well as meeting the needs of all as well as meeting the needs of all students.students.
Using Using data and researchdata and research to drive all decisions. to drive all decisions.
What made the difference?What made the difference? Introduced more Introduced more accountabilityaccountability through through
the use of a the use of a Balanced Scorecard, Balanced Scorecard, System Report Card and annual System Report Card and annual surveyssurveys of the staff, parents, and of the staff, parents, and community to monitor progress.community to monitor progress.
Designed and approved a progressive Designed and approved a progressive 5 5 Year Facilities PlanYear Facilities Plan that involved that involved building four schools in a five year period.building four schools in a five year period.
What made the difference?What made the difference? Conducted a Conducted a system-wide needs system-wide needs
assessmentassessment to determine Professional to determine Professional Learning needs. Provided school Learning needs. Provided school specific Professional Learning with specific Professional Learning with activities during planning time.activities during planning time.
Restructured the school dayRestructured the school day to to allow elementary and middle school allow elementary and middle school teachers 90 minutes of common teachers 90 minutes of common planning time.planning time.
And Finally…
What made the difference?What made the difference?
Empowered Empowered teachersteachers through the use through the use of of High Performance Leadership High Performance Leadership TeamsTeams at every school. The entire at every school. The entire staff faced the reality of confronting staff faced the reality of confronting the brutal facts. Vertical teaming and the brutal facts. Vertical teaming and horizontal teaming led to more focus horizontal teaming led to more focus and greater communication.and greater communication.
Cost:
$12 per participant for entire project
Sponsorships: For every $3 a local chamber of commerce provides, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce will match $3
Want to Participate?Want to Participate?
Please contact Nancy ReevesPlease contact Nancy Reeves
Community Relations Manager for Teacher Community Relations Manager for Teacher Quality ProjectQuality Project
[email protected]@usg.edu
(404) 463-2949(404) 463-2949