New Staff Orientation

1
New Staff Orientation

• Southwest Center for Accelerated Schools
• http//www.swacceleratedschools.net/

2
Accelerated Schools Philosophy
The schools we want for children in at-risk
situations should be the same schools we want for
our own children. Powerful Learning experiences
are provided for all children through the
integration of curriculum, instruction and
organization. Accelerated School communities
share a set of values, beliefs and attitudes.
3
ACCELERATED SCHOOLS PROCESS
CREATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES
SETTING PRIORITIES
Vision
SCHOOL AS A WHOLE
CREATING THE VISION
STEERING COMMITTEE
POWERFUL LEARNING
CADRES
CADRES
CADRES
TAKING STOCK
THE INQUIRY PROCESS Focus in on Challenge
Area Evaluate Reassess Brainstorm Solutions
Pilot Test /or Implement Action Plan
Synthesize Solutions Develop Action
Plan
TRAINING Sharing the Concepts and Processes
4
Accelerated Schools Principles

• Unity of Purpose
• The entire school community works toward the
  schools vision (a common goal).
• Empowerment Coupled with Responsibility
• The school community provides freedom for
  innovation with personal responsibility of the
  outcome.
• Building on Strengths
• Stakeholders strengths are identified and
  utilized. Everyone has something important to
  contribute.

5
ACTIVITY
Building on Strengths

• Discuss the strengths you bring to our campus.

6
Accelerated Schools Values
Reflection
Trust
Community Spirit
School as Center of Expertise
Experimentation and Discovery
Communication
and
Collaboration
Equity
Risk Taking
Participation
7
ACTIVITY
Values

• Discuss how all of the Accelerated Schools
  values are related to one another.

8
Powerful Learning

• In an Accelerated School, we believe that the
  strategies used with gifted children work well
  with ALL children. Instruction is based on the
  Powerful Learning Framework.

9
Powerful Learning FrameworkWhat we want for our
own children
HOW (Methods)
WHAT (Curriculum)
CONTEXT (Organization, Resources, Time)
10
Powerful Learning in Action
11
ACCELERATED SCHOOLS PROCESS
POWERFUL LEARNING
TAKING STOCK
TRAINING Sharing the Concepts and Processes
12
Taking Stock It is the HERE in getting from
here to there.

• The Outcomes of Taking Stock are
• Create a unity of purpose,
• Develop capacity for the whole school community
  to work together,
• Enhance research skills,
• Identify the schools strengths and challenges,
  and
• Generate the baseline data.

Our staff worked together to inventory the
strengths and challenges of the school. This
snapshot is documented in our Taking Stock
Report.
13
ACCELERATED SCHOOLS PROCESS
CREATING THE VISION
POWERFUL LEARNING
TAKING STOCK
TRAINING Sharing the Concepts and Processes
14
VisionIt is the THERE in getting from here to
there.

• We created a picture of our IDEAL school by
  asking all stakeholders one simple question

What is your dream school?
15
ACCELERATED SCHOOLS PROCESS
SETTING PRIORITIES
CREATING THE VISION
POWERFUL LEARNING
TAKING STOCK
TRAINING Sharing the Concepts and Processes
16
Setting Priorities
WHERE WE ARE
WHERE WE WANT TO BE
VISION STATEMENT
TAKING STOCK REPORT
HOW WE GET THERE
SETTING PRIORITIES
17
Cadres

• Who? All Stakeholders
• What? Small groups formed to work on
  identified challenges

When? Cadres meet once a week Why? To address
the gaps identified between
Taking Stock and Vision How?
Using research based inquiry
18
ACCELERATED SCHOOLS PROCESS
CREATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES
SETTING PRIORITIES
Vision
SCHOOL AS A WHOLE
CREATING THE VISION
STEERING COMMITTEE
POWERFUL LEARNING
CADRES
CADRES
CADRES
TAKING STOCK
THE INQUIRY PROCESS Focus in on Challenge
Area Evaluate Reassess Brainstorm Solutions
Pilot Test /or Implement Action Plan
Synthesize Solutions Develop Action
Plan
TRAINING Sharing the Concepts and Processes
19
The External Coachs Role

• To guide, support and be a resource for all staff
  and stakeholders
• To be on campus weekly and facilitate the process
  on campus

20
As a member of an Accelerated School, I will

• Support the process,
• Help the campus reach its Vision,
• Implement the Philosophy into my classroom,

• Provide Powerful Learning for
• all students, and
• Have FUN and LEARN through
• the process.

21
Additional Campus Resources

• Resource Guide
• School Portfolio
• Schools Taking Stock Report
• Schools Vision
• Current/Prior Action Plans
• Professional Library
• Leadership Team Members
• Steering Committee
• External Coach
• Southwest Center http//www.swacceleratedschools.n
  et/

22
Welcome to our Accelerated School