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Dear Colleagues,
Challenges bring opportunities. For years our state has struggled with the challenge of improving education for all of our students. Race to the Top has created an opportunity to address that challenge and more. It opens the door to exploring new ideas and rethinking public school.
We recognize that this work is incredibly important and incredibly difficult. Our organization is proud to be among those organizations contributing to new resources available in the State and to work alongside educators as they strive to achieve their goals on behalf of Delaware students and families.
We hope that you will take a few minutes to read through our newsletter and learn more about how Innovative Schools is contributing to education reform in Delaware and how you can get involved.
Sincerely,
Debbie Doordan, Ed.D.
Executive Director |
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Innovative Schools Launches Two New Programs!
The introduction of Innovative Schools' human capital initiatives is impacting state-wide discussions about how effective leaders and teachers are prepared. These residency-based, alternative routes to certification programs are contributing to a shift in mindset and practice in Delaware.
The Delaware Leadership Project
The Delaware Leadership Project (DLP), a new aspiring principal preparation program for those interested in leading the state's highest-need urban and rural schools, was launched on February 17th.
Over 50 educators have attended the information sessions to learn more about the rigorous 15 month program, and how the DLP is specifically tailored to train aspiring principals about the complex challenge of leading schools that serve low-income communities (a critical component of the Delaware Department of Education's Race to the Top initiative).
The DLP, led by Richelle Talbert, Ellie Ludwigsen, and Alicia Rose, will identify and admit a select cohort of outstanding individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to complete the program.
Know someone who is a good candidate?
Information about the program, dates for future information sessions, and a program application can be found on our website at www.innovativeschools.org/dlp.
Delaware Teaching Fellows
Delaware Teaching Fellows (DTF) is now available in Delaware as the result of a partnership between The New Teacher Project and Innovative Schools. DTF is a highly-selective, innovative path for talented mid-career professionals and recent college graduates to teach and make a difference in some of the most difficult to staff schools and subject areas across the state of Delaware.
Know someone who is interested in becoming a teacher?
Information about the Delaware Teaching Fellows program and application can be found at www.delawareteachingfellows.org. This year DFT will be accepting applications for some of Delaware's most critical need subject areas: Math, Science, English, and Special Education. |
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Local School District Taking Bold Steps
Seaford School District is on track to open Delaware's first New Tech High School in the fall of 2011. Renamed Delaware New Tech Academy, the school will open as a small school within a school at Seaford Senior High School. School leaders have been actively recruiting the school's first 9th and 10th grade classes of approximately 100 students per grade, with 11th and 12th grade classes to be added in 2012 and 2013.
 The current associate principal at Seaford Senior High School and soon-to-be director of Delaware New Tech Academy, Chandra Phillips, has commented that the New Tech Network model makes students ready for life after graduation. "The model is so strongly built around collaboration, teamwork, professionalism. We're just better preparing students to succeed after high school," said Phillips.
The New Tech High School Model is one of three, non-traditional high school models brought to Delaware by Innovative Schools in collaboration with national school design organizations. The goal of this work is to modernize Delaware's public school system by providing schools and students with choices for academic programs that offer new and engaging ways of teaching and learning and which truly prepare students for the 21st century.
As Delaware New Tech Academy embarks on its inaugural year this fall, Innovative Schools and the New Tech Network continue to provide intensive and targeted support to Delaware New Tech Academy staff. To learn more and to follow their story, visit us on Facebook. To learn more about the Delaware New Tech Academy, click here. |
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What Delaware Educators are Saying About Innovative School Models
Innovative Schools continues to host Model School Tours to introduce Delaware's educators to new models of education that can be replicated in Delaware's public schools. In February, Model School Tours took representatives of Colonial School District, Christina School District, Indian River School District, Odyssey Charter School, Wilmington University, Delaware State University, and the Delaware Department of Education to learn more about the New Tech High School and Early College High School Models. These two trips exposed 40 of Delaware's educators to two new models of education.
Innovative Schools received positive and encouraging feedback from both trips. Of the New Tech and Early College models, trip attendees commented,
New Tech
"This model is student-centered and allows teachers to truly be guides on the side. Students take ownership of their own education and are highly engaged with hands on experiences. The collaborative aspects of the program are awesome."
 "I loved the project based learning opportunities for students, and the technology that was available to staff and students. To see it actually being used in every class was very rewarding. Having such a high level of constructive and meaningful engagement was impressive. The mandatory oral presentations by all members of a project team were a tool that promoted wonderful presentations."
"Project-based learning was impressive. I also like the overall culture established in the school. The students were invested in making their school a quality learning environment. The school is making effective use of the latest in today's technology."
Early College
"Small school, focused curriculum, parental support, teachers who want to be there...all the right combinations."
"I have been studying this model for some time. It is wonderful to have someone in the state who is able to help spread the word about its benefits and provide support to help interested parties make it a reality for our community."  If you would like to learn more about these and other models in the Innovative Schools portfolio, click here. If you are interested in participating in a model school tour, click here. |
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Employment Opportunities with Innovative Schools
Innovative Schools is continuing to grow and so is our staff. In alignment with our restructuring and to increase our capacity to support more public schools, we are currently seeking a School and Instructional Support Specialist, Program Operations Manager, Institute Director, Ambassador, and Selector. To view the complete list of jobs and descriptions, and to apply, click here.
We would also like to welcome the newest members of our staff:
Richelle Talbert, Program Coordinator, Delaware Leadership Project
Ellie Ludwigsen, Program Coordinator, Delaware Leadership Project
Alicia Rose, Assistant Delaware Leadership Project
Robin Doordan, Marketing Assistant
Amanda Stoeckicht, Development Assistant
To read new staff member bios and to review a complete list of Innovative Schools' staff and consultants, click here.
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Save the Date!
New Tech Summit
Monday, May 16, 2011
More details to follow in the coming weeks
New Tech High Schools focus on the integration of 21st century skills and content to provide a rich, project-based learning environment, and provide a 1 to 1 student to computer opportunity where students are excited and engaged in real world problems. We encourage superintendents and district teams to attend and learn more about the New Tech Model and Delaware New Tech Academy.
Innovative Schools 2011 Best Practices Conference
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
More details to follow in the coming weeks.
If you are interested in sponsoring our Best Practice Conference, please contact Katie Gallup at kgallup@innovativeschools.org.
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| Innovative Schools, Community Service Building, 100 West 10th Street, Suite 403,
Wilmington, DE 19801
www.innovativeschools.org, 302-656-4737 |
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