Notes from
Trish's Desk
November 4, 2010
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Greetings!
Transforming public education is a huge learning experience for all of us. I'm thankful that TAF has you to listen to our challenges, give us encouragement, loan us your ideas and keep an open mind as we realize our own capacity to learn and grow.
And I'm proud of the results so far. We have an amazing partnership with Federal Way Public Schools and a school that is turning the corner towards excellence.
In the first two years of TAF Academy @ Federal Way, we have been tackling issues like high school under enrollment, student assessment challenges, interorganizational communication, fitting a Project Based Learning curriculum into a course-based system, and technology limitations.
Our approach is breaking the mold and trying new things. We are quite aware that we are in the process of building an academic roadmap that will eventually give 80-90% of underserved high school students a clear path to college and career success. The infrastructure is there and it's growing. Many of our students are thriving in ways they didn't know they could. Are we getting it 100% right? Not yet, and I'm grateful that TAF has the capacity to learn as it moves forward.
So how are we applying that learning to TAF Academy this year?
- We're honing our assessment tools to track the progress of every student before they fall behind.
- We've launched a "just in time" onsite tutoring program for middle school math.
- We have created teacher/scientist partnerships with Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, Microsoft and Cancer Research & Biostatistics to bring more authentic learning experiences into our classrooms.
- We've introduced a Computer Science program, a critical pillar of our STEM-focused curriculum, with our ninth graders.
Acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of our work is the best way forward for TAF. As Waiting for "Superman" attests, public education is one of the most complex issues we could tackle. And you know TAF - shining a light on big hairy issues is our favorite way to stumble on new ideas that will create better school systems for our students.
We just completed Annual Program Reports for both TAF Academy and TechStart. There's a lot of detail in these reports about what we got right, what we didn't, what we learned and where we're headed. I invite you to download your own copies here:
TechStart Program
Report 2009-2010
TAF Academy Network
Report 2009-2010
Read them. Share them. Get back to us with your questions and observations.
My most important message to you is this: The only way we're going to continue to build capacity is by coming together as a community. Our programs need your participation. Our students need your support.
If you believe in the change we are offering, I hope you will join us. Make your own pledge to improve public education.
If you received our annual appeal letter, return the enclosed envelope with your contribution. Or go online to make a gift.
Whatever you can contribute helps us build a brighter future and fill those empty seats just waiting for an eager young mind with unlimited capacity to learn.
Thanks for listening,
Trish Millines Dziko
Executive Director
Technology Access Foundation
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