Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders and Teachers

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Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders
and Teachers

• Leadership Makes the Difference

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Presented By

• Chris Wilson
• Alabama Department of Education
• Classroom Improvement
• Leadership Development
• 3323 Gordon Persons Building
• P.O. Box 302101
• Montgomery, AL 36130-2101
• Telephone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail cwilson_at_alsde.edu

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Todays Agenda

• Welcome
• Housekeeping
• History
• University Re-Design
• Alabama Standards
• - Instructional Leadership
• - Quality Teaching
• - Professional Development
• How Will It Work?
• Alabama Educator Code of Ethics
• Conclusion

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For More Information About Alabama Leadership
Development

• Visit
• http//www.alex.state.al.us/leadership
• Workshop Training Materials
• Go to bottom of page
• Select link Professional Development Modules
• Click on Alabama Standards for Instructional
  Leaders and Teachers

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Website Assistance

• Contact
• Ms. Telena Madison
• Leadership Development
• tmadison_at_alsde.edu
• 334-353-5230

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Resources

• Alabama Administrative Code
• The Way They Learn, Tobias, C.

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InformationalTraining

• Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders
• Alabama Standards for Professional Development
  for instructional leaders and teachers
• Alabama Quality Teaching Standards
• Alabama Educator Code of Ethics

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A Bit of History

• Governors Congress on School Leadership
• Convened by the Governor in 2004
• Mission was to focus on supporting Alabamas
  instructional leaders
• Approximately 200 educators and business leaders
  examined school leadership issues
• Following recommendations made to Governor and
  State Board of Education
• - Standards for Instructional Leaders (ADOPTED
  2005)
• - Selection and preparation of school leaders
• - Certification of school leaders
• - Professional development standards to support
  leaders
• (BECAME LAW 2006)
• - Incentives to attract and retain quality
  principals in every school

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Work of the CongressImpact on Colleges of
Education

• Alabama Administrative Code 290-3-3-.48
• Study of instructional leadership begins at the
  fifth-year level
• Admission - In addition to baccalaureate level
  or masters level certificate
• a. Minimum 3 years successful teaching
  experience
• b. Portfolio submission before interview
• c. Pass interview by program admission
  committee comprised of P-12
• instructional leaders and
  university faculty.

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Impact continued

• Alabama Administrative Code 290-3-3-.48
• Curriculum aligned to the Alabama Standards for
  Instructional Leadership
• 1. Planning for continuous improvement
• 2. Teaching and learning
• 3. Human resources development
• 4. Diversity
• 5. Community and stakeholder relationships
• 6. Technology
• 7. Management of the learning organization
• 8. Ethics

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Impact continued

• Alabama Administrative Code 290-3-3-.48
• Internship - Instructional leadership
  candidates must benefit from hands on
  experiences that include
• - Collaboration between university and LEA
• - Explicit school-based assignments
• - Developmental continuum of practice
• - Field placements
• - Handbooks and other guiding materials
• - Ongoing supervision by trained mentors
  (principals)
• - Directing instructional leaders (mentors)
  model desired
• behaviors
• - Rigorous evaluation

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Impact continued

• Alabama Administrative Code 290-3-3-.48
• Design Universities and LEAs collaborate to
  insure that candidates have
• - Meaningful and practical experiences in
  actual school settings
• - Internship places candidates in
  cooperating school
• - LEAs must provide release time for
  candidates
• - Internship Sum of practical experiences
  plus residency
• - Residency Uninterrupted service at
  active school for no less than 10
• consecutive full days
• - Candidates must prepare and maintain
  comprehensive portfolio
• - Portfolio juried by university committee
  and cooperating school staff

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More History

• Governors Commission on Quality Teaching
• Convened by the Governor in 2006
• Mission was to examine, recommend, and work to
  implement laws, policies, and practices affecting
  teachers and teacher effectiveness to ensure
  student success in Alabama
• Scope of Work
• - Teacher Pipeline and Preparation
• - Teacher Certification and Licensure
• - Teacher Professional Development, Working
  Conditions, and
• Retention
• - Teacher Compensation and Incentives
• Recommendation to the Governor and State Board of
  Education
• - Alabama Quality Teaching Standards (ADOPTED
  2007)

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Recent Result!

• Alabama Teacher Mentoring Program
• 3.95 million allocated in FY08 education budget
• - May reach up to 4,000 new teachers
• Pairs new teachers with veteran educators
• Offers additional professional development
• All new teachers statewide may benefit

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New Teacher

• Related to the Alabama Teacher Mentoring Program
• No prior experience means
• - Taught as a substitute in the same or multiple
  classrooms less than a
• semester
• - Taught during previous year, but less than a
  full semester in their own
• classroom
• No prior experience excludes
• - Teachers new to the LEA, but previously taught
  in another LEA or state
• more than a full semester
• - Teachers that have previously taught in a
  private school more than a full
• semester

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Work of the CommissionImpact on Colleges of
Education
Similar Impact
Anticipated
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Your Contacts

• Governors Congress on School Leadership
• Mr. John Bell
• 334-353-5333
• jbell_at_alsde.edu
• Governors Commission on Quality Teaching
• Dr. Tony Thacker
• 334-242-4810
• tthacker_at_alsde.edu

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Before the Standards

• School leadership seemed focused on
  administration rather than instruction
• Little or no description of practice
  (indicators)
• Little or no focus on diverse populations
• Data-driven instruction was not a priority
• Limited focus on ethical behavior
• No Alabama Code of Ethics
• National leadership standards (ISLCC) were
  general

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Professional Development was . . .

• General
• Little rhyme or reason
• Collection of continuing education units (CEUs)
  or contact hours
• Based on preference not necessarily need
• Simple method to maintain certification

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Alabama Standardsfor Instructional Leaders

• Passed by the State Board of Education and became
  law in July 2005
• Applies to
• - Superintendents
• - Central Office Instructional Leaders
• - Principals
• - Assistant Principals
• - Aspiring Principals
• - Teacher Leaders

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Eight Standards - Each preceded by Rationale
which led to its creation - Each has several
Key Indicators - Key Indicators describe
leaders work whose practice is aligned with
the Standard - Indicators are written as
Knowledge or Ability Statements
Alabama Standards
for
Instructional Leaders
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Leadership In a Nutshell

• Planning for Continuous Improvement
• Teaching and Learning
• Human Resources Development
• Diversity
• Community and Stakeholder Relationships
• Technology
• Management of the Learning Organization
• Ethics

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Alabama Quality Teaching Standards

• Passed by the Board of Education and established
  as law in Spring 2007
• Five standards
• Applies to teachers
• Strong correlation to Alabama Standards for
  Instructional Leaders

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Alabama Quality Teaching Standards

• Content Knowledge
• Teaching and Learning
• Literacy
• Diversity
• Professionalism

ABBREVIATED
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Standard Similarities
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Diversity

• With a partner discuss the following
• What does Diversity mean to you personally?
• What key points on Diversity are noted in the
• - Leadership Standards?
• - Quality Teaching Standards?
• Why do you feel Diversity has been adopted as a
  major
• Alabama standard for all educators?

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• People often ask me why I take so many detours
  when I speak. I just tell them its because
  those Im trying to reach dont live on the
  highway.
• Dr. Holland London

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Let's Compare

• Divide into groups of 4-6 participants and select
  a facilitator.
• Using the one-page handout (Leadership and
  Quality Teaching)
• 1. Find the similarities.
• 2. Find the differences.
• 3. Discuss how both sets may effectively work
  together
• to support student learning
  academically and behaviorally.
• 4. Discuss the need for two sets of standards,
  one for
• instructional leaders and one for
  teachers.
• 5. Briefly share highlights of your discussion.

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Alabama Standards for Professional Development

• Passed by State Board of Education June 2002 and
  became law in September 2006
• Twelve Standards
• Applies to . . .
• - Superintendents
• - Central Office Instructional Leaders
• - Principals
• - Assistant Principals
• - Aspiring Principals
• - Teacher Leaders
• - Teachers

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Discussion

• What is professional development (PD)?
• What is the purpose of PD?
• What does PD look like in your system? Your
  school?
• What does your personal PD look like? On what
  basis?
• What are some outcomes of receiving/participating
  in PD?

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• Organize adults into learning communities
• Require knowledgeable skillful school and
  district leaders
• Provide resources
• Use disaggregated student data
• Use multiple sources of information
• Prepare educators to apply research
• Use learning strategies
• Apply knowledge about human learning and change
• Provide educators with collaborative skills
• Prepare educators to understand and appreciate
  all students
• Deepen educators content knowledge
• Provide educators with knowledge and skills to
  involve families and stakeholders

P D Standards
At A Glance
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How Will It Work?
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Leadership DevelopmentAlabama Administrative
Code290-4-3-.01

• Established the Office of Leadership Development
• - In the Division of Instructional Services,
  Classroom
• Improvement Section
• Established the Alabama Council for Leadership
  Development
• - Supported by the Office of Leadership
  Development
• - Members include LEA superintendents, central
  office
• instructional leaders, principals,
  assistant principals,
• aspiring principals, and teacher leaders
  statewide

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Alabama Council for Leadership Development

• Rickey Darby, Elementary Coordinator, Shelby
  County
• Wanda Davis, Principal, Decatur City
• Alan Garner, Federal Programs Supervisor,
  Scottsboro City
• Anita Gibson, Teacher, DeKalb County
• Jackie Greenwood, Principal, Auburn City
• Samuel Houston, Superintendent, Decatur City
• Charles Ledbetter, Principal, Tallapoosa County
• Eric Mackey, Superintendent, Jacksonville City
• Kathy Murphy, Principal, Butler County
• Jan Peacock, Principal, Baldwin County

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Alabama Council for Leadership Development
Office of Leadership Development
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Office Council will . . .

• Define criteria for approval of professional
  development used to meet requirements of
  instructional leader certification called
  Professional Learning Units (PLUs)
• PLUs will replace Continuing Education Units
  (CEUs)
• Criteria will align professional development to
  instructional leadership and professional
  development standards

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Office Council will . . .

• Provide assistance to local education agencies
  (LEAs) in designing and evaluating professional
  development
• Facilitate the development of professional
  development for needs identified by LEAs
• Facilitate the approval process for professional
  development used for instructional leaders
  certification renewal
• Facilitate the coordination and communication of
  professional development opportunities
• Facilitate the development of professional
  development activities and programs

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August 21st First Meeting

• Met in collaboration with SDE, CLAS, SSA, AEA,
  SERVE, and other stakeholders
• Reviewed Councils purpose
• Reflected upon opportunities
• Discussed challenges
• Considered structure for future work
• Determined possible direction related to
  stakeholders

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In A Nutshell

• Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders
• - Aligned to professional development standards
• Alabama Quality Teaching Standards
• - Aligned to professional development standards
• Alabama Educator Code of Ethics
• - Embedded in leadership and quality teaching
  
• standards

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An Exercise !

• Gather in groups of four to six participants.
• Reach consensus on a school and school system
  (represented in your group) to discuss during
  this exercise.
• Each group is responsible for one leadership and
• one quality teaching standard provided by the
  presenter.
• For each standard assigned
• - Select one key indicator that may be a
  strength in your school
• system or school and discuss why.
• - Select one key indicator that may be a
  weakness in your school
• system or school and discuss why.
• Select a spokesperson to briefly share the
  outcome of your groups discussion.

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Alabama Educator Code of Ethics

• Passed by the State Board of Education in 2005
• Defines the professional behavior of all
  educators in Alabama and serves as a guide to
  ethical conduct
• Protects the health, safety, and welfare of
  students and educators
• Outlines objective standards of conduct for
  professional educators
• Clearly defines actions of an unethical nature
  for which disciplinary sanctions are justified

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Code of Ethics Standards

• Professional Conduct
• Trustworthiness
• Unlawful Acts
• Teacher/Student Relationship
• Alcohol, Drug, and Tobacco Use or Possession
• Public Funds and Property
• Remunerative Conduct
• Maintenance of Confidentiality
• Abandonment of Contract

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Disciplinary Action

• Defined
• The issuance of a reprimand or warning, or the
  suspension, revocation, or denial of
  certificates. Certificate refers to any
  teaching, service, or leadership certificate
  issued by the authority of the Alabama State
  Department of Education.

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Alabama Administrative Code
290-3-2-.05

• Authority of the State Superintendent of
  Education
• Revoke any certificate held by a person who has
  been proven guilty of immoral conduct or
  unbecoming or indecent behavior in Alabama or any
  other state of nation (Ala. Code 16-23-5(1975).
• Refuse to issue a certificate to an applicant
  whose certificate has been subject to adverse
  action by another state until after the adverse
  action has been resolved by that state.
• Suspend or revoke an individuals certificate
  issued by the Superintendent when a certificate
  or license issued by another state is subject to
  adverse action.
• Refuse to issue, suspend, or recall a certificate
  for just cause.

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Grounds for Action

• Unethical conduct as outlined in the Alabama
  Educator Code of Ethics, Standards 1-9.
• Order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
• Violation of any other laws or rules applicable
  to the profession.
• Any other good and sufficient cause.
• NOTE
• An individual whose certificate has been revoked,
  denied, or suspended may not be employed as an
  educator, paraprofessional, aide, or substitute
  teacher during the period of his or her
  revocation, suspension, or denial.

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Group Activity !

• Rejoin your group.
• Receive the scenario from the presenter.
• Follow the directions.
• Take ten minutes to complete the activity.
• Be prepared to share with the large group.

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Some Last Thoughts

• Although we can learn to accommodate many
  learning styles, you will never be able to neatly
  label anyone. We may never fully appreciate our
  differences.
• It has never been more important to help our
  students be successful in a world that is
  increasingly hard to understand.
• It can make a difference with your students if
  you take the time and energy to discover the way
  they learn.
• Cynthia U. Tobiass, The Way They Learn

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Enjoy Alabama's Students !