Vice Principal
Middle School Grades 4-8

1. Often professional development has not been long term. What suggestions do you have that could embed professional development into the daily lives of teachers?

   Get input from teachers to ensure that the subject matter is relevant.  Have to have district level coordination.  Sometimes the board of education will not have the money for things that administrators want to do so we are forced to do certain things.  Provide choices for teachers i.e., action research.  Teachers leading and teaching teachers.  Those that are proficient in a researched topic, can now be a resource for other teachers.

2. Many times students do not find education relevant to their lives. How can we increase student involvement in the curriculum process?

   Get student feedback on the process of a unit.  Utilize real life applications.  Draw on interdisciplinary thematic units whenever possible.  Incorporate problem based learning.

3. Currently many people regard standardized testing as an ineffective tool for assessment. How can we change current assessment practices to better evaluate student learning?

   Often teachers do not get the results of standardized tests before or during the time they are actually the student's teacher.  If  the information is provided in a timely fashion, teachers may be able to have an overall sense of strengths and weaknesses.

   Understanding by design.  Develop some sort of varied assessment on a daily basis to check students' understanding. Not just waiting until the end of a chapter to assess.  Touching base with students on a daily basis.  Provide an increased and varied amount of assessment in order for students to let us know they understand.

4. We often hear criticism that students are not making connections across the curriculum. Is there a practical way to implement interdisciplinary curriculum?

   Administrators need to support a structured schedule for teachers to have the necessary time for planning and communicating.

5. Teachers are often isolated in their classrooms. How can we foster a more collegial atmosphere?

   Provide time for professionals to work both during the school day and outside of the classroom.  Provide team building activities and planned social events.

6. Often district disciplinary policies promote the exclusion of students who break rules. How can we make our disciplinary policies more inclusive?

A code of conduct should be created by the learning community.  (parents, teachers, students, etc.) Kids should help create classroom rules and consequences.  The code of conduct should be something that is printed and distributed to all involved.  Students should have to review positive decision making and problem solving as part of their consequence.  They should be asked what would have been a better option than the one they chose.  Students should be asked to think about the consequences of thier actions.  They should have to give back to the school.  (this requires parental dialogue)