TRAVELS, REFLECTIONS AND NEXT STEPS Dr. Amy E. Cashwell, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRAVELS, REFLECTIONS AND NEXT STEPS Dr. Amy E. Cashwell, Superintendent | Henrico County Public Schools December 13, 2018

AMY’S • Traveling Henrico County PASSPORT • Reflections • Recommendations and Next Steps

REFLECTIONS  Safety and Wellness  Academic Growth  Equity and Opportunity  Relationships

SAFETY AND WELLNESS STRENGTHS OPPORTUNITIES  Maintaining safe buildings, grounds and  Increase wellness programming for students to more protocols as indicated by annual school fully cover Virginia Department of Education health and audits. physical education standards.  Expand opioid and other drug awareness programs to  Safety practices reviewed and updated, more adequately meet mental health needs for students. and drills performed regularly.  Ensure equity regarding disciplinary consequences.  Investment in facility maintenance using meals tax dollars to provide buildings that are safe and conducive to learning.

ACADEMIC GROWTH STRENGTHS OPPORTUNITIES  Community largely views Henrico  Ensure that each school examines data for achievement gaps and has an actionable plan to address those gaps. County’s academic program as rigorous and of high quality.  Implement research-based practices to close achievement gaps, with an increased emphasis on  Continued gains on Standards of strategies that benefit students living in poverty, African Learning assessments. American males and students with disabilities.  Number of state-accredited schools  Redesign curricula to align with Henrico Learner Profile at six-year high. and the Deeper Learning model, using embedded resources and materials for teachers.

EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY STRENGTHS OPPORTUNITIES  Creation of Office of Equity and Diversity.  Increased focus on ensuring that school building leaders, students and staff members are culturally responsive.  Formation of Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.  Design a systemic staff training resource related to cultural competence, cultural responsiveness, bias and  Early equity initiatives to increase equity. teacher and student access to culturally relevant literature for embedding in their  Design a plan to support the access and achievement of current curriculum. underrepresented student groups in higher level courses.

RELATIONSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES STRENGTHS Increase opportunities for strong, trusting relationships with school  Strong collaboration with the county  staff members, particularly with marginalized families. manager and government agencies. Create ways for students in the disciplinary process to restore   Regular parent and family relationships with teachers and students. Strengthening relationships engagement workshops. addresses the root of many disciplinary incidents, decreasing the chance that incidents will recur.  Large numbers of parents report school staff to be caring and Strengthen avenues for student support by enhancing our focus and  nurturing. re-examining the ways we serve students and families through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and enrollment variances.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEXT STEPS  Teaching and Learning  Safety and Student Support Systems  Equity and Diversity  Organizational Efficiency  Financial Planning

TEACHING AND LEARNING  Revisit the division’s literacy plan, and ensure that schools have the tools, resources and staffing for struggling readers to receive appropriate intervention and instruction.  Staff elementary and middle schools with a reading teacher who possesses expertise in teaching reading (a specialization/master’s degree in reading) to serve as the school’s literacy leader to coach and model literacy strategies for teachers, and to work directly with students.  Develop a plan to ensure a robust library of guided reading materials at the elementary and middle school levels to meet a wide range of reading levels.

SAFETY AND STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS  Determine a model to capture parent input and suggestions related to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting process and re-examine IEP meeting protocols to ensure that all meeting attendees are valued members of the team.  Develop a multi-year plan with clearly stated desired goals and outcomes that will address the recommendations from 2018’s independent special education review.  Develop a plan for key staff in all schools to participate in professional development on conflict management and relationship restoration.

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY  Implement an annual school climate survey to include components that relate to student, staff and parent perceptions on safety, equity and inclusiveness.  Ensure curricula are relevant, authentic and provide resources that promote multicultural awareness.  Require training for all staff, delivered online annually, that covers cultural sensitivity and implicit and explicit bias. This would be tracked by site supervisors and school division leadership.

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY  Create a mechanism for community stakeholders to easily understand the division’s work toward meeting the strategic goals outlined in the division’s strategic plan. Communicate measures and progress on attaining those goals.  Develop a comprehensive approach to teacher retention that includes: personalized/differentiated pathways for teacher professional development and increased classroom support systems.  Examine and create a stronger structure for school improvement.

FINANCIAL PLANNING  Develop a financial plan that eliminates student laptop fees and other instructional fees for items and materials essential to course participation in core academic programming.  Restore prerecession funding levels that more accurately meet the division’s needs for textbooks, instructional materials and digital resources to ensure equitable access to resources across all schools.  Eliminate the burden and reliance on PTAs and other fundraising efforts to provide schools with access to basic instructional resources.

MOVING FORWARD…  Timeline for action steps and outcomes  Accountability and transparency  Progress updates

THANK YOU!