Showing posts with label Vision 2020. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vision 2020. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
It wasn't first place, but San Diego Unified's Class of 2014 will still split $150,000 in scholarship money thanks to the The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.
On Wednesday morning, the Foundation announced that the Houston Independent School District was awarded this year's Broad Prize and $550,000 in scholarship money for its students. Besides San Diego Unified, other districts nominated were Corona-Norco, located in Riverside County, and Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina.
"We're thrilled that San Diego Unified has been recognized as one of the four best school districts in the United States," said Kevin Beiser, Board of Education Vice President and Subdistrict B representative. "This is a big win for the teachers that work constantly with our students to improve their learning, and a recognition of the hard work done by support staff in making a great environment for our students."
Superintendent Cindy Marten and retired Superintendent Bill Kowba -- on whose watch the nomination was announced -- attended the award ceremony in Washington, D.C.
"It was an honor to be recognized by The Broad Foundation," said Superintendent Cindy Marten. "I am grateful to our team of employees who work every day in-and-out of the classrooms for our children.
"This honor reaffirms that our community-based reform efforts and singular focus on student achievement are making a difference."
Districts do not apply for this prize. Staff from the Broad Foundation looks at test scores and other data from the 75 largest school districts and picks four finalists. A team of independent educational experts then analyze the districts and one winner is selected. Only the four top districts receive scholarship money.
In its announcement of the award, the Broad Foundation noted San Diego Unified's progress in key areas.
San Diego Unified has more than 110,000 students-65 percent of whom are low-income. Among the reasons San Diego schools stood out among the nation's largest urban school districts:
The selection jury evaluated quantitative data on the finalists that consisted of publicly available student performance data compiled and analyzed by RTI International, one of the world's leading research institutes. In addition, the jury evaluated the four finalist districts' policies and practices, compiled following site visits conducted by a team of education practitioners led by RMC Research Corporation, an education consulting company. The site visits included classroom observations and interviews with administrators, teachers, principals, parents, community leaders, school board members and union representatives.
The $1 million Broad Prize is the largest education award in the nation. It recognizes urban school districts that demonstrate the strongest student achievement and improvement while reducing achievement gaps among low-income students and students of color.
The $150,000 in scholarships will go a long way to help the Class of 2014 succeed, said Marten.
"I'm excited for our students who will receive Broad scholarships," she said. "I can't wait to get back to San Diego."
The 75 largest urban school districts in America are automatically eligible for the award each year.
Houston Independent School District will receive $550,000 in college scholarships for high school seniors who will graduate in 2014. San Diego Unified, along with Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County, Calif., and Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina, will each receive $150,000 in college scholarships.
The Broad Prize is awarded by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. Founded by entrepreneur Eli Broad and his wife Edythe, both graduates of Detroit Public Schools, The Broad Foundation is a philanthropic organization that seeks to ensure that every student in an urban public school has the opportunity to succeed.
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| Eli Broad, left, Edyth Broad, Ed. Sec. Arne Duncan, Board Pres. John Lee Evans, Supt. Cindy Marten, retired Supt. Bill Kowba |
"We're thrilled that San Diego Unified has been recognized as one of the four best school districts in the United States," said Kevin Beiser, Board of Education Vice President and Subdistrict B representative. "This is a big win for the teachers that work constantly with our students to improve their learning, and a recognition of the hard work done by support staff in making a great environment for our students."
Superintendent Cindy Marten and retired Superintendent Bill Kowba -- on whose watch the nomination was announced -- attended the award ceremony in Washington, D.C.
"It was an honor to be recognized by The Broad Foundation," said Superintendent Cindy Marten. "I am grateful to our team of employees who work every day in-and-out of the classrooms for our children.
"This honor reaffirms that our community-based reform efforts and singular focus on student achievement are making a difference."
Districts do not apply for this prize. Staff from the Broad Foundation looks at test scores and other data from the 75 largest school districts and picks four finalists. A team of independent educational experts then analyze the districts and one winner is selected. Only the four top districts receive scholarship money.
In its announcement of the award, the Broad Foundation noted San Diego Unified's progress in key areas.
San Diego Unified has more than 110,000 students-65 percent of whom are low-income. Among the reasons San Diego schools stood out among the nation's largest urban school districts:
- San Diego students outperform students in other California districts with similar poverty rates. In 2012, proficiency rates for San Diego Unified students surpassed expectations compared to other California districts given the poverty level of families in the district. Proficiency rates for San Diego students were above expected across all subjects (reading, math and science) and all school levels (elementary, middle and high school).
- San Diego Unified narrowed achievement gaps. In recent years, San Diego narrowed the achievement gaps between its Hispanic students and white students across California at every school level and in every subject. The district also narrowed the gap between its Hispanic and white students in elementary, middle and high school reading and science, and in elementary and high school math. San Diego also achieved a smaller achievement gap between its low-income students and California's non-low-income students in elementary, middle and high school science and in elementary and high school reading and math.
- San Diego Unified's low-income, Hispanic and African-American high school students showed more improvement in science than other California students. In recent years, San Diego Unified was in the top 30 percent of districts across the state for increasing the percentage of low-income, Hispanic and African-American high school students performing at the highest achievement levels on the state science assessment. Low-income students in San Diego, for instance, increased their performance by 8 percentage points in high school science between 2010 and 2012, while California overall saw scores increase by only 3 percentage points over the same period.
Kowba, who retired June 30, said he was "grateful to our San Diego Unified employees for their dedication to our students."
"We are honored, humbled and grateful to the Broad Foundation for this recognition," said Kowba, who retired June 30. "We appreciate their feedback about our past efforts. It will help provide the district with a road map for future efforts." The $1 million Broad Prize is the largest education award in the nation. It recognizes urban school districts that demonstrate the strongest student achievement and improvement while reducing achievement gaps among low-income students and students of color.
The $150,000 in scholarships will go a long way to help the Class of 2014 succeed, said Marten.
"I'm excited for our students who will receive Broad scholarships," she said. "I can't wait to get back to San Diego."
The 75 largest urban school districts in America are automatically eligible for the award each year.
Houston Independent School District will receive $550,000 in college scholarships for high school seniors who will graduate in 2014. San Diego Unified, along with Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County, Calif., and Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina, will each receive $150,000 in college scholarships.
The Broad Prize is awarded by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. Founded by entrepreneur Eli Broad and his wife Edythe, both graduates of Detroit Public Schools, The Broad Foundation is a philanthropic organization that seeks to ensure that every student in an urban public school has the opportunity to succeed.
Friday, 20 September 2013
When Supt. Cindy Marten reorganized the district to enhance the focus on teaching and learning and leadership development, it included a shift in the roles of the six area superintendents.
The area superintendents will be spending more time on their school campuses, in classrooms and supporting principals as they ensure quality teaching and learning at their sites. This renewed focus closely aligns with district's 2020 Vision to create quality schools in every neighborhood
The area superintendents hit the ground running this summer, starting with the responsibility of hiring 40 new principals at school campuses. This process included working with parents and school communities to identify what qualities were important for the new principals to possess. By the first day of school, more than 36 principal vacancies had been filled along with more than 15 vice principal vacancies.
In addition to hiring site administrators, the area superintendents spent time making sure all principals were well-prepared for the start of the school year. In collaboration with the new Leadership Development Office, they coordinated two principal institutes, three operational meetings, several area principal meetings and a two-day workshop specifically for the new principals. Topics of discussion included team and relationship building, working collaboratively, looking at student data strategically, identifying strengths, and developing a broad and challenging curriculum.
"The key to creating a quality school is making sure it has a quality leader; that is the role of the principal,” said Supt. Cindy Marten. “Our principals also need leaders to lead them; that is the role of the area superintendent."
Area superintendents not only have a renewed focus this year, but many have changed the school communities they oversee. Area 3 Superintendent Julie Martel now oversees the Kearny, La Jolla, Mission Bay and University City clusters; Henry has been added to Area 4 under Marian Phelps; the Hoover and San Diego clusters have moved into Area 5 under Mitzi Merino and Area 6 now encompasses the Point Loma, Scripps Ranch and Serra clusters under direction from Gilbert Gutierrez. Shirley Wilson continues to oversee the Crawford and Lincoln clusters in Area 1.
Former principal and chief human resource officer Lamont Jackson has been appointed area 2 superintendent and will oversee the Mira Mesa and Morse high school clusters.
The area superintendents will be spending more time on their school campuses, in classrooms and supporting principals as they ensure quality teaching and learning at their sites. This renewed focus closely aligns with district's 2020 Vision to create quality schools in every neighborhood
The area superintendents hit the ground running this summer, starting with the responsibility of hiring 40 new principals at school campuses. This process included working with parents and school communities to identify what qualities were important for the new principals to possess. By the first day of school, more than 36 principal vacancies had been filled along with more than 15 vice principal vacancies.In addition to hiring site administrators, the area superintendents spent time making sure all principals were well-prepared for the start of the school year. In collaboration with the new Leadership Development Office, they coordinated two principal institutes, three operational meetings, several area principal meetings and a two-day workshop specifically for the new principals. Topics of discussion included team and relationship building, working collaboratively, looking at student data strategically, identifying strengths, and developing a broad and challenging curriculum.
"The key to creating a quality school is making sure it has a quality leader; that is the role of the principal,” said Supt. Cindy Marten. “Our principals also need leaders to lead them; that is the role of the area superintendent."
Area superintendents not only have a renewed focus this year, but many have changed the school communities they oversee. Area 3 Superintendent Julie Martel now oversees the Kearny, La Jolla, Mission Bay and University City clusters; Henry has been added to Area 4 under Marian Phelps; the Hoover and San Diego clusters have moved into Area 5 under Mitzi Merino and Area 6 now encompasses the Point Loma, Scripps Ranch and Serra clusters under direction from Gilbert Gutierrez. Shirley Wilson continues to oversee the Crawford and Lincoln clusters in Area 1.
Former principal and chief human resource officer Lamont Jackson has been appointed area 2 superintendent and will oversee the Mira Mesa and Morse high school clusters.
Read more about the area superintendents at www.sandi.net/areasuperintendents.
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
The innovative Cluster Committees revolving around San Diego Unified's high schools and their "feeder" neighborhood schools are inviting parents, guardians and local community members to upcoming meetings.
Established in 2010 as part of the district's Vision 2020 plan to create quality schools in every neighborhood, the clusters help coordinate instruction and activities among a cluster's elementary, middle and high schools. For example, in the Hoover cluster, school communities from Hoover High, Wilson and Clark middle schools, along with elementary schools Adams, Central, Cherokee Point, Edison, Franklin, Hamilton, Joyner, Normal Heights, Parks and Rowan meet monthly to promote continuity, communication and collaboration. Area superintendents share the leadership and coordination of the clusters in their respective learning communities.
According to the Vision 2020, "Curriculum will be coordinated across the K-12 curriculum in each cluster to assure continuity across the curriculum," which ensures that students can move more successfully from elementary to middle to high school. Another goal of Vision 2020 is for schools to extend beyond the school site, not only to home and around the world through technology, but through the cluster committees to the entire community.
Other goals for clusters include:
Established in 2010 as part of the district's Vision 2020 plan to create quality schools in every neighborhood, the clusters help coordinate instruction and activities among a cluster's elementary, middle and high schools. For example, in the Hoover cluster, school communities from Hoover High, Wilson and Clark middle schools, along with elementary schools Adams, Central, Cherokee Point, Edison, Franklin, Hamilton, Joyner, Normal Heights, Parks and Rowan meet monthly to promote continuity, communication and collaboration. Area superintendents share the leadership and coordination of the clusters in their respective learning communities.
According to the Vision 2020, "Curriculum will be coordinated across the K-12 curriculum in each cluster to assure continuity across the curriculum," which ensures that students can move more successfully from elementary to middle to high school. Another goal of Vision 2020 is for schools to extend beyond the school site, not only to home and around the world through technology, but through the cluster committees to the entire community.
Other goals for clusters include:
- Cluster councils will promote the schools in their communities
- Cluster councils will work with schools, community and district staff to improve the quality of their neighborhood schools.
- Cluster councils will be a democratic representation of the school community including teachers, administrators, support staff, students, parents and community members.
- Parents will play an integral role in school site governance councils and cluster councils.
- Community members will participate in cluster councils alongside parents and staff.
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
By gathering insights and input over the past four months, she was able to create a systematic approach that puts the needs of children at the heart of the district with a strong focus on students, classrooms and learning. The plan encompasses what is needed to implement the Board of Education’s 2020 Vision for Quality Schools in Every Neighborhood. It is designed to ensure the district is a system that is effective, collaborative, and efficient in serving children, particularly with the implementation Quality School Indicator Number Four: Access to a Broad and Challenging Curriculum. See the new organization chart .
This new structure is designed in a way that will eliminate several leadership positions, while professional development is being insourced, saving the district nearly $400,000 in outside contracts.
Watch Marten's Board presentation.
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