The Winnetka Wire

February 2012

The Winnetka Wire

Monthly News from The Winnetka Public Schools

From Dr. Hagerman

Can the ISAT coexist with a progressive education philosophy?

Dear Parents, Colleagues, and Community Members,

In the coming weeks, students across the state will be sharpening their number two pencils in preparation for the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, better known as the ISAT. This standardized test can give rise to conflicting emotions for many of us in District 36. On the one hand, we're proud of the impressive scores our students receive. But as proponents of progressive education, we find ourselves asking: What do they really mean in the broader context of understanding our students?

Increasingly, average scores across the state are on the rise. Is this good news for students in Illinois? Perhaps. However, we have to remember that the focus on test scores is happening, in part, because of the heightened sensitivity in the media around how these scores define a school or community. There also exists a deep-rooted notion that public schools are failing America's children, amplified by the very real federal sanctions that come when students don't show annual progress. Unfortunately, too many schools feel that they have to spend most, if not all, of their time on the basic skills necessary for students to be successful on these exams--yes, the dreaded teaching to the test. But there is a price to pay for this approach: deep conceptual understanding, social-emotional learning, and the arts too often have been the casualties in these trade-offs.

At The Winnetka Public Schools, we are attuned to the importance of ISAT results and how the broader public responds to them. Fortunately, we have highly competent teachers who ensure our children do well, and bright, enthusiastic students who continue to meet and exceed these standards. But ISAT scores are simply one point of data in the much larger picture of what makes us exceptional.

The most important data gathering occurs in our schools every day, with the classroom assessments done by our teachers. All assessment is truly a form of structured observation. This can and should take many qualitative and quantitative forms. Individually, each assessment is a snapshot of a student's performance at a moment in time. Collectively, these snapshots tell the bigger story of student growth and development. All of these assessments should be used primarily to inform instruction.

Teachers best understand what will engage their unique students in learning, and what will motivate them to do their best because they dedicate their life to this craft. Indeed, it is this continuous observation, or assessment, that provides the very foundation of student growth and learning in our schools, where our ultimate goal reaches well beyond high scores on a multiple-choice exam. Rather, our goal is to develop students' real-world abilities in problem-solving and critical thinking, to encourage interdisciplinary and hands-on learning experiences, and to nurture group work and social skills.

So, to come full circle, we are extremely proud of our standardized-test scores and how they serve as one indicator of our academic success. However, the work that is going on every day in our classes with individual students is the real point of pride. As progressive educators, we must understand our students thoroughly, including their strengths and areas of continued growth. The ISAT is only one of the many, many ways we better understand our students and their educational journey in our District.

In service,

Dr. Thomas Hagerman

Superintendent

Winnetka Parent's Institute Today

On Friday, February 24, at 1:00 P.M., the Winnetka Parents' Institute is hosting a Common Core workshop so that parents can learn about the new standards and how they will be implemented in District classrooms. Dr. Sam Yusim, chair of the Carleton Washburne School math department, will be presenting. He will explain the reasons for this reform and what mathematical proficiency means in the twenty-first century, as well as share the work that is being done by teachers to ensure a smooth transition for students. The presentation will be held in the curriculum classroom on the third floor of Carleton Washburne School.

Adventures in Learning
Registration Opens March 1, 2012

This summer, Adventures in Learning will offer 120 different courses for students of all ages, from junior kindergarten through eighth grade. The session runs from Monday, June 18, through Friday, July 20, 2012. Registration opens online on Thursday, March 1. For more information, click here.

Strategic Planning Update

Parent, staff, and community focus groups continue through March 13, 2012. Stakeholder feedback will be critical to the final plan, which will guide the work of the District for the next three to five years, so if you haven't yet attended a focus group, please plan to do so. A complete schedule can be found by clicking here.

Input gathered from the focus groups is being used to inform an online Strategic Planning survey, which will launch after spring break. Each household in the village will receive a mailing in early April, with information on how to take the survey. Again, your input is essential, so please stay tuned for further details!

Institute Day Focuses on
Progressive Practices

While District 36 students had the day off on Friday, February 17, 2012, teachers and associates were busy with an all-staff Institute Day. The afternoon session for certified staff explored some of the most important questions currently facing the District: What is progressive education? What practices of progressive education are most relevant for District 36 students?

"When I walked in the door [last summer], all I heard was, 'Are we going to keep progressive values?'" Superintendent Dr. Thomas Hagerman said during his introduction to the afternoon's work. After reassuring the audience that maintaining those values is indeed a priority, he went on to point out the need to create a common language around the subject. "If you ask, 'What is progressive education?' you get as many answers as people you ask."

To kick off the conversation, the administrative team took a uniquely creative approach. A week before the Institute Day, staff received a short story, entitled "A Tale of Two Brothers: The Unofficial & Often Disputed Story of the Sons of Carleton Washburne," authored by Dr. Hagerman. The piece told a fictional story of Carleton Washburne's two sons, one who believed in more rigor and accountability in education and the other who argued for more balance with arts, play, exercise, and experiential learning. The tension of the story built up to an impending dinner, when Carleton Washburne would ask his extended family to help grapple with the struggle between a more traditional educational approach that focused on standardization and accountability, and a progressive education approach that was grounded in past traditions and autonomy.

The story continued on Institute Day, with a 10-minute film entitled "Dinner with the Washburnes." Various administrators, who had raided the school's costume closet, starred as members of the Washburne family and engaged in an entertaining but thoughtful dinnertime discussion about the merits of each educational approach. During the discussion, the "Washburnes" identified five pillars of progressive education: the teacher, methods, what is learned, classroom, and "scope" (i.e., the whole child).

After the film provided the appropriate context and a common vocabulary, the work of the afternoon began, faciliated by Dr. Hagerman and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Trisha Kocanda. Using a computer-based interface created by the District technology team, teachers spent several hours in small groups, prioritizing practices within each pillar and identifying opportunities for action within those practices. The afternoon was full of rich and meaningful dialogue about teaching and learning.

As a follow-up to the day's work, teachers will receive a written report containing the identified priorities and action steps. The summary report will inform the Strategic Planning currently being done, as well as school and District improvement plans, professional development, and the day-to-day work of the schools. Dr. Hagerman stressed that the afternoon's exercise was only the beginning of a conversation: "This is a rich dialogue that we hope will continue in team meetings, building meetings, and across the District."

Curriculum Review Updates

Math

The Math Curriculum Committee met in early February and brainstormed answers to the question, What kind of math student would we hope to see developed by the time he or she graduates from The Winnetka Public Schools? Responses were clustered into themes, such as "conceptual understanding" and "emotional feelings about math." A subcommittee is working on a draft mission statement that will incorporate these themes. Later this spring, the draft statement will be shared with all staff for feedback.

World Language
At its January meeting, the School Board received a number of letters and emails about the proposed changes to the World Language program. If the recommended changes are implemented, students will begin daily language instruction in sixth grade (versus seventh). In order to preserve instructional time for core academic subjects, sixth grade band and orchestra students would not be able to participate in the art, drama, and general music exploratories. Elective choices at Carleton Washburne School would not be affected.

Parents and community members asked that the Board and administration reconsider this decision so that sixth-graders who participate in instrumental music can have more choices, and so that the instrumental music program would not be negatively affected.

The Board heard the community's concerns and will discuss alternatives to the proposed schedule at the Board meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

Foundation Fest--March 7, 2012

Formerly known as Learn-A-Thon, Foundation Fest showcases the many innovative classroom projects sponsored by the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation. At this year's fest, families will have a chance to play interactive math games, see how to practice music on an iPod, experience what goes into student movie productions, and much more. Popcorn, treats, and bingo prizes will be available.

The fest takes place on Wednesday, March 7, from 4:00 to 5:30 P.M. in the The Skokie School gymnasium. Please park on Elm Street or in the Elm Street lot, then follow the blue and white balloons and footprints to the gym entrance, behind the school. (If you park on Glendale Avenue or Oak Street, use the front entrance.)

Update on The Skokie School
Principal Search

Dr. Linda Hanson, president of consulting firm SchoolExec Connect, is conducting the search on behalf of the District. Dr. Hanson facilitated parent and staff focus groups, created an online parent survey, and placed notices of the position in Education Week, as well as professional-association publications. In addition, the District sent brochures to all schools in Lake, Cook, and DuPage counties.

The position drew interest from more than 100 potential candidates, and 73 turned in completed applications by the January 24 deadline. Administrators interviewed six candidates in mid-February, and are winnowing the list further to a set of semi-finalists. These candidates will be interviewed on February 27 by three different groups, one composed of parents, another of Skokie School faculty/staff members, and, finally, a group of administrators. Dr. Hagerman hopes to present the final choice to the School Board on March 20, 2012.

The Skokie School Orientation--
April 4, 2012

The Skokie School will host an orientation meeting for current fourth grade students and their parents, Wednesday, April 4, 2012, from 6:30 - 8:10 P.M. Skokie School students identified last year's orientation meeting as one of the most helpful components of their orientation activities. Students enjoyed the opportunity to tour the school, meet the staff, and have a conversation with current Skokie School students. Please plan to attend!