james stiles, associate professor university of witwatersrand

James Stiles, Associate ProfessorUniversity of Witwatersrand

Pre-1990Separate Systems Based on Race

Post-1990Reorganization and Conversion

Current School ContextFormer Model –CAfrikaans ModeFarm SchoolsTownship Schools

Urgency of ChangeOverwhelming Poverty

GROWING divideUnion – Government relationshipWeak results

Achievement GapInternational Comparisons

Personal Authority

Partnership – GDE and Wits

Ten month Certificate of Attendance

Monthly seminars

FocusProfessional RespectResearchAttitude ShiftCommunity

Focus on teaching and learning

Focus on the desktop

Moving from blame to action

Syndicate groups

Geographic

Mixed levels

Process of change

Explore plenary issues more deeply

Modeling assignments

Offered in 2008-2009 and again 2009 – 2010

780 SMT and district officials

Program issuesSelectionSupportCollaboration

Teaching and Learning Improvement Plan3-4 issuesConcrete outcomes

585 SMT members “graduated” the program75% completion rate

Creation of an Alumni Forum

Will be conducting research in the coming 3 years

Cooperative Large-Scale Narrative Study

In-depth case studies

Additional interventions in selected schools