We’ve Done so Much- But the Best is Yet to Be

Dr. David StegallSuperintendent, Newton-Conover City Schools

Just your typical year… right?• I am Newton-Conover• 4 new BOE members •New Board attorney• Community Schools• Auditorium Authority• Powerschool• 5 new Directors• 4 Principal changes • 2 new APs•Highest graduation rate

• Lowest dropout rate• Football coach change• All-time high scholarships • 2 More state champions• Leader in Me at SN• LRU partnership

There was more???

• PD360•Who broke my iPad?• State testing changes • So long Common Core???•Weather wonders•Who gets Concessions? • Classroom Walk throughs•North Newton- Home

of the Bulldogs• Conover Test Scores• Safety upgrades everywhere• ACT• SNAT•Will SN construction ever be finished?

The loss of Maggie

What Could be Next?• Budget woes•No more Tenure• Curriculum Changes coming?• Auxiliary Services Moving into ACT • SN coming home•Discovery’s new home• Community Schools changes• ROTC has a home• Innovative grants•New copiers

• Energy savings money• A-F school ratings•No more dropouts •No more driver’s Ed•New Shuford roof• Plans for new HS bleachers•NCHS is getting a new cafeteria•North Newton roof• Conover gym, classrooms and cafeteria• Latin Honors• SUCCEED is still the focus

Serve Utilize Technology to improve instruction 4Cs-Communication, Collaboration,

Creativity & Critical Thinking Celebrate accomplishments and each other Engage students Enrich the lives of students Differentiate based upon individual needs

SUCCEED

10 questions to answer this year

1. Who is helping drive our agenda and how do we get public support?A. Engagement?B. Partnerships? C. Social media?

2. In what ways do we need to serve that we currently aren’t?

3. What should graduates know and be able to do?A. Are we teaching students to be critical consumers of information?B. How are we purposefully teaching the 4Cs?C. In particular, how do we teach Creativity? D. How can PBL help?E. Are we teaching students to experience and cope with losing and

failing so that they can develop perseverance?F. http://gettingsmart.com/2013/10/leading-powerful-learning/

Growth Mindset

Maker Mindset

Team Mindset

•Growth mindset: I can learn• Self-efficacy and confidence: I can do this•Goal setting: I can reach my goals• Persistence: I can overcome setbacks•Metacognition: I know myself, how I learn•Curiosity: I’m interested in learning•Creativity: I ask what if? Why not?• Purpose/relevance: this is important to me •Contribution: I can create value• Social belonging: I belong here•Understanding: I appreciate other views• Social capital: I can get the help I need

What Should Graduates Know & Be Able to Do?*From Tom Vander Ark

4. Technology can be a valuable tool for learning. How are we integrating it’s use? A. Tech integration is akin to buying your first home

I. Rent vs PurchaseII. House vs Condo vs ApartmentIII. Yard size and use?IV. Rural vs CityV. Development vs AloneVI.Not Green shutters vs blue shutters

B. Why should we care? (Abundance)

5. How do battle mediocrity and continue to improve?A. LEP, African American, Math, EDS B. Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment- RepeatC. PLCsD. Student supports- Every child has to have a plan

6. What is our Innovation agenda? A. Personalization is a mustB. Adaptive- We must not be constrained by traditions

that may not be best for our studentsC. Individual pathways-Schools must move from

bundled experiences to unbundled pathways including different sites, online, internships, specialized opportunities and differentiated experiences

D. All goals for your schools should start with powerful learning experiences.

E. Peer to peer teaching = 30=% higher retention. How might this impact how we structure instruction?

F. “Believe fervently and Act vigorously knowing that there is no clear pathway to success.”

G. We must embrace Choice at all levels-not just in the school a student attends

H. EmpowermentI. Leverage resources through collaboration

7. How do we maintain quality staff? A. CelebrationsB. Leadership opportunitiesC. Having clear support from all levelsD. We MUST all be on the same page and support each

other publicly E. We must emphasize the positives every chance we get

with themF. Support them/take away barriers

8. What kind of schools do our community want?A. ChoiceB. SafeC. STEMD. ArtsE. Strong teachersF. Employable graduatesG. Improve quality of lifeH. Competitive

9. What’s our story? A. We must know our story and CELEBRATE our

successesB. If you don’t think we are under attack, look around

1. Charter school movement http://opportunityculture.org/2. Pay freezes3. Common Core battles4. Loss of tenure5. TA cuts6. Massive reductions in funding7. De-emphasizing of local control

10. How will you Lead?A. Recognize value in all membersB. Grow your replacementC. Practice togetherD. Embrace inquiryE. Model, model, modelF. Expect excellenceG. Acknowledge expertiseH. Engage in dialogue

Where do we go from here?

• Ideas that I’ve missed?• Suggestions?• Back to School meeting details• EAP• Strategic Planning Committees