Kentucky Teacher

Multiple measures of teacher and principal effectiveness.

By Matthew Tungate
matthew.tungate@education.ky.gov

Within the next couple of years, teachers and principals across Kentucky will be using an evaluation system that more objectively identifies their strengths and weaknesses, and provides “just-in-time” feedback to make improvements throughout the school year.

The Kentucky Department of Education, along with several partners and 50 school districts, is in the second year of a three-year plan to develop the Professional Growth and Evaluation System (PGES). Once implemented, the plan will count as 10 percent of a school’s and district’s score in the Unbridled Learning: College and Career Ready for All accountability system.
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Fourth-grade students Karli Madden and Lisa DeSautel create African masks during George McKee's art class at E.P. Ward Elementary School (Fleming County). E.P. Ward Elementary is one of 48 schools from 34 districts that piloted Program Reviews in writing, arts and humanities, and practical living/career studies last year. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 28, 2010

Program Reviews in arts and humanities, practical living/career studies, and writing are being implemented in every public school in Kentucky this year. Rather than testing students to see what they have learned, a school gathers evidence about how it integrates the subjects across its curricula and whether the school provides students with high-quality learning opportunities. The school then uses that information to improve its programs.

As school starts, Kentucky Teacher asked Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff to answer questions teachers may have as they begin participating in Program Reviews. Members of the Program Review team are: Rae McEntyre, Rebecca Woosley, Stephanie Bunge, Jamie Sparks, Leslie Slaughter, Matt Chaliff and Robert Duncan.

What are Program Reviews?

A Program Review is a systematic method that schools use to analyze components of their instructional programs. The components that schools will look at are curriculum and instruction, formative and summative assessments, professional development, and leadership support and monitoring.

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The Kentucky Board of Education is accepting nominations for the eighth annual Dr. Samuel Robinson Award, which recognizes a Kentuckian or a Kentucky organization that has exhibited leadership, commitment and service to equity and opportunity in education for all Kentucky children. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 9, and the nomination form is available here.

Kentucky Teacher is looking to profile outstanding leaders in Kentucky’s public school districts. If you know of an excellent district staff member who has innovative ideas, strong leadership qualities and a passion for helping students become college and career ready, e-mail the following information to Susan Riddell:

• nominee’s name, position, school and district
• contact information for nominee
• examples of how nominee has served in a leadership capacity
• what makes the nominee a strong leader

One leader will be profiled monthly in the Leadership Letter section of the Kentucky Teacher website. For more information, contact Riddell at (502) 564-2000, ext. 4621.

Overall results from the 2011 administration of the ACT to Kentucky’s public school juniors and public school graduates show improvements in all subject areas and higher percentages of students ready for college-level coursework. See the news release for more information.

Gov. Steve Beshear officially launches Kentucky on iTunes U at Woodford County High School Wednesday. Photo by Lisa Gross, Aug. 24, 2011

Kentucky’s teachers, students, parents and communities now have access to free, state-specific academic content available through Kentucky on iTunes U. iTunes U is a dedicated area within the iTunes Store giving users public access to thousands of free lectures, videos, books and podcasts from learning institutions all over the world.

The Kentucky on iTunes U platform was announced at Woodford County High School, in conjunction with the unveiling of the school’s 1:1 iPad program, which will provide every student with access to an iPad for their learning needs. Continue Reading

The Adaptive Schools workshop focuses on creating a climate of change, by providing tools necessary for data driven results that support continuous school improvement through a collaborative and caring culture. This is a hands-on, reflective training, much like cognitive coaching. Both trainings reinforce effective communications strategies and skills for leading work in collaborative groups. These workshops will be Oct. 3-4 and Nov. 7-8 at the Oldham County school district arts center in Crestwood. Deadline to register is Sept. 1. For more information, contact Shannon Treece.

Go to www.adaptiveschools.com for more information on adaptive schools.

The Kentucky Writing Project Network will host its annual fall conference on literacy at Eastern Kentucky University on Sept. 10. Kentucky Department of Education Program Review Specialist Rae McEntyre will deliver the keynote speech on the new state assessment expectations.
Concurrent sessions will focus on the new Kentucky Core Academic Standards; teaching argument; literacy in content areas; visual and media literacy /integrating technology into teaching and learning; and meeting the needs of English language learners.

For more information, contact Jean Wolph at (502) 852-4544 or go to www.kywritingproject.org.

The School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) (Fayette County) has been named winner of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts’ Education Award. The Kentucky Arts Council and Gov. Steve Beshear will present the award to SCAPA at a public ceremony Oct. 20 in the Capitol Rotunda.

The Education Award is handed out for significant contributions to the arts in education and is awarded to a Kentucky individual, school, school district or organization annually.

SCAPA has provided students who are especially talented and/or interested in the arts the opportunity to develop and enhance their abilities since 1987.

To see more winners, go to the press release on the Kentucky Arts Council website at http://artscouncil.ky.gov.

Augusta High School Principal Lisa McCane and Assistant Principal Robin Kelsch, both at left, pose with the rest of the teaching staff of the Augusta Independent school district. Augusta Independent had a 100 percent participation rate on the TELL Kentucky survey. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 11, 2011

Editor’s Note: Since interviews and the picture for this story were completed, John Cordle has retired as Augusta Independent school district superintendent and Lisa McCane, then principal at Augusta High School, has taken over as superintendent.

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Kentucky educators are transforming their perceptions into plans for school improvement.

Last school year, state teachers and administrators had the opportunity to make their opinions known on various school issues by responding to the TELL (Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning) Kentucky survey. More than 42,000 educators across the commonwealth filled out the anonymous online questionnaire regarding working conditions.

Questions on the survey pertained to time; facilities and resources; community support and involvement; managing student conduct; teacher leadership; school leadership; professional development; instructional practices and support; and new teacher support. Continue Reading