Monthly Archives: August 2014

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Getting a chance to start fresh – The new year starts with a focus on the future!

“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes

In DPS109 we are moving forward!

Our mission is to Engage, Inspire, Empower and we do this on behalf of the FUTURE – the world will belong to our students – our education system must prepare them for their future – this is an awesome responsibility and challenge.

One of the unique features or aspects about working in public education is that each year we have a distinct beginning, middle and end. Each year a new group of students gets to experience their particular grade level for the first time and we as educators benefit from the wonder and excitement that each new year brings. We work on a traditional school year calendar, August to June; some say this is due to agrarian roots and others say it’s due to support for family time and recreation. For whatever purpose the summer break serves, it provides the school District an opportunity to rest, recharge, revise, reframe and in our case in DPS109, TRANSFORM what we do, how we do it and most important, WHY we do what we do.

Who are we (We meaning the public school district that for 168 years has been business for the sake of the community and society):

-We are fabulous teachers, administrators, Board members, students, parents and community members.
-We are blessed to serve and live and work in a pro-public education community and a pro-learning community.
-We know that instruction impacts learning and we leverage research and science to maximize learning for ALL.
-We are a collective group of just under 500 professionals dedicated to serving about 3100 students (PK-8). We have knowledge and skills and talents that each year we get to refine, improve, test out, and use to facilitate learning among and with our students.
-We are a $55 Million business – a public school business – that has a fiscal responsibility to annually maximize revenues (shrinking usually) and minimize expenses (increasing usually) on behalf of the public.
-We are educators dedicated to the improvement of society through education.
-We are supportive of transformative changes designed to maximize learning for ALL children!
-We are DPS109 and we are proud of what we do!

One of our major initiatives this year in support of learning for ALL and as an example of innovation is best captured in the video embedded below. Later this week and next, each of our 3000 students in grades K-8 will get a device to support their teacher’s innovative instruction. The one to one initiative, about learning, not the devices, has been in the works for more than a decade. Thanks to the Board, the teachers, the leadership, the students and families, and 40 brave trailblazer pilot teachers, we have a 1:1 roll out ongoing right now.

Video regarding the 1:1 Transformative Learning Environment in place in DPS109 and shared with nearly 800 parents who attended the 1:1 Celebration nights held at each of the six schools:

DPS1:1 intro video from Red Branch on Vimeo.

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Innovation through Change – Superintendent’s Back To School Welcome to Staff

“One of the great ironies in life is that you must be acquainted with reality while not allowing your dream to be shattered.”
– John C. Maxwell, Put Your Dream to the Test

Today is Back to School Day for teachers, support staff, administrators, and adult employees of the DPS109 family. Today we kicked off our official start to the new school year with a gathering at Shepard Middle School. I’m sharing the presentation I used to start the day and to kick off our Engage, Inspire, Empower mission and vision as we begin the District’s 168th year in the business of education. Our public schools are populated with amazing students, staff, and community. We have so much about which to be proud and we have so much for which we are grateful! This year’s theme is INNOVATION and with this innovation we have much change. While our Big 5 remain constant, how we implement these Big 5 umbrella areas differs from year’s past.

I is incumbent upon us to educate for the future world our students will lead and live – not for our past. I’m embedding the presentation I used and I encourage, questions, comments, etc. I am a very lucky superintendent of schools and I am proud to share the work of our teachers and staff with the world.

Please contact me and or use the comments feature here if you have any questions or comments about the presentation or any information contained in the slides!

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Back to School Message and Video

“One of the keys to success lies in knowing and believing in yourself. When you are confident and trust in who you are, you can perform to the best of your ability.”
– Pete Carroll, Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion

We are gearing up for our Back To School kick offs next week! With staff institute days, in-services, and training, to the first days of school for our 3000 students in grades PK-8, we are ready to Engage, Inspire, and Empower for another learning-packed school year. With so much anticipation of the changes taking place, we like to take the time to reflect on our mission, vision, values, and experiences which are all tied together in support of and for learning and growth.

Click here for the Back To School Mini-Cast

On August 14th teachers and staff from Districts 109, 112, and 113 gathered for a day of professional development to prepare as we all move to 1:1 transformative learning environments for all students, grades K-12. Please see this video for a look into how our teachers are getting ready for the new way of providing public education:

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Local Service Club – Deerfield Rotary

“Whatever you do in life, remember: Think higher and feel deeper. It cannot be bad if you do that.”
– Elie Wiesel

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In Deerfield, we have a local Rotary club, we have been serving since 1930! We are part of the Rotary District 6440 and we are part of Rotary International.

This is Membership Month and as part of Rotary publicity, they have produced a video explaining: Why Rotary?

Why Rotary? from Rotary International on Vimeo.

Whether you are a Rotarian, http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.php, Optimist Club, Kiwanis Club, or other service club member, it’s incumbent upon us to continue to serve and make the world a better place! If you are not a member, but you want to get involved, contact one of your local service organizations – visitors are ALWAYS welcome!

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Let’s Talk! Focus on Communication – Big 5 Organizational Culture

“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.”
– Marie Curie

As part of our District’s Big 5, Organizational Culture plays a huge part of our focus and energy! In support of keeping up with the pulse of the community, we have partnered with K12Insight.com for climate survey development as well as ongoing communication tracking through Let’s Talk.

Let’s Talk! is not meant to replace emails, phone calls or meetings with teachers or staff; it provides an additional (and very easy) way for parents, staff and community members to communicate with the District. Each submission to Let’s Talk! is sent to the appropriate school, department and/or staff members. If you request a response, you will receive it within two business days. If you don’t ask for a response, but simply want to let us know what’s on your mind, please be assured that we are listening! District 109 will track the submissions to Let’s Talk to determine where we need to communicate better, or areas we need to focus our work to engage, inspire, and empower our students and each other.

If you have questions about your child’s academic experience, please contact your child’s teacher directly. Do not use Let’s Talk! for emergency situations. If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1 to reach the Deerfield Police Department.

From their website:
FAQs: “Let’s Talk About Let’s Talk!”

What is Let’s Talk!?
In short, Let’s Talk! is a simple way for a school district to monitor the pulse of its community while giving parents, teachers, staff, students and community members a 24/7 channel for ideas, questions, concerns and praise. While not every submission requires a personal reply, Let’s Talk! embodies a district’s commitment to listening and responding with care.

Let’s Talk! is prominently featured on your district’s website and accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device. Participants may provide their contact information or choose to remain anonymous. District staff can also update Let’s Talk! as they receive emails, calls, letters and in-person feedback from stakeholders. Let’s Talk! works via mobile app, too — far exceeding today’s “right-now” customer service expectations.

How does Let’s Talk! work?
Districts with Let’s Talk! are committed to authentic communication, which includes reading, reflecting on and responding to stakeholder input promptly. Let’s Talk! eases this process by organizing feedback and ensuring follow-up with appropriate staff. An intuitive “dashboard” manages access and displays common themes, average staff response times and user satisfaction, turning every interaction into an opportunity for progress.

Why is Let’s Talk! important?
Stakeholders are always talking, and their conversations shape your district’s brand — often on social media and without district input. It’s easy for naysayers to cloud perceptions and hinder progress. Let’s Talk! prevents this by opening dialogue, identifying critical issues and promoting solutions. Whether your district responds via phone, email, blog or other means, the result will be the same: Community goodwill, a culture of collaboration and a relationship built on trust.

Won’t I be overwhelmed with negative Let’s Talk! feedback?
Let’s Talk! entries typically represent a manageable range of opinions — many of them positive. Let’s Talk! also addresses concerns at their earliest stages, preventing site-level problems from becoming district-wide issues. Rather than magnifying criticism, Let’s Talk! defuses it by strengthening communication, resolving problems and promoting collaborative success.

Our district handles community feedback well. Why should we add Let’s Talk! to our services?
Let’s Talk! integrates the many ways districts receive and manage input. Say goodbye to countless emails, voicemails, “While You Were Out” messages and sticky notes about wide-ranging stakeholder issues. Let’s Talk! replaces them with organization, efficiency and measurable outcomes. Contact us now to get started.

Why not drop us a line via Let’s Talk!

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Allergy Management Plan

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”
– Anonymous

Student safety is at the forefront of all decisions made in our school district! Allergy/food management is a “hot topic” that has been in the hopper for several years and came to the surface last year. Through a collaborative process with stakeholders from parents, teachers, nurses, administrators, and outside facilitators, we have a comprehensive allergy management plan ready for presentation to the Board of Education and community.

Earlier this summer, we notified our community of the formation of the Food Allergy Management Plan Committee, and also solicited their input on developing the District’s plan. The committee, made up of staff and parents, as well as MOCHA founder Denise Bunning, has worked diligently this summer to create a formal plan to improve the learning environment for students with food allergies, sensitivities and other food-related issues. They carefully considered expert resources as well as community input in developing the District 109 Food Allergy Management Plan.

That plan will be presented to the Board of Education at the August 25 meeting. I am excited to report that the comprehensive plan is the most up-to-date of its kind in the state of Illinois, and that we will be implementing the plan guidelines District-wide immediately at the start of the school year.

A Prezi presentation created by Kipling Assistant Principal Svetlana Sutic – highlights plan and “to do’s”:

From a letter I sent to the community:

We will share the final plan document with the entire community as soon as it is complete and ready to present to the Board (August 25, 2014).

Please share your comments about this plan via Let’s Talk – scroll to Top 5 Topics and select Food Allergy Management

Classroom Snacks: To create the most allergy-friendly learning environments, and in support of nationwide initiatives to increase student health and decrease childhood obesity, the plan spells out new guidelines for food in the classrooms. If classroom teachers choose to allow daily snacks, elementary students will be able to bring fruits and vegetables; middle school students can bring fruits, vegetables, yogurt and cheese. No additions, toppings or mix-ins (such as dips or spreads) shall be included. If teachers allow drinks, the only drink in the classroom shall be water. So, you won’t see any more of those “peanut-free classroom” signs. The plan dictates that all classrooms are peanut free at all times.

While the plan leaves open the definition of “fruits and vegetables,” the spirit of the plan is for students to bring “whole” fruits and vegetables, preferably fresh. However, dried fruits and vegetables, applesauce, and canned fruit fit the bill. In any and all cases, classroom teachers have the discretion to further limit snack options. Of course, accommodations will be made for students who have 504 plans that dictate food requirements that don’t align with these new guidelines.

These classroom guidelines will be in place 24/7, including during Park District camps and PTO events and activities. As always, work with your building principal when planning events to ensure that any food-related activities are scheduled in a designated area.

Food in the Curriculum: The plan dictates that educators find ways to replace food in the curriculum, and that food is not offered as a reward in the classroom. Again, the only foods allowed in the classroom at any time are those indicated above (fruits and vegetables in elementary classrooms; fruits, vegetables, yogurt and cheese in middle school classrooms).

Holiday Parties: Parent volunteers who plan classroom celebrations will focus on fun – but not on food. The Halloween, winter holiday and Valentine’s Day parties will be food-free. Students should not bring food to share with other students (including Halloween or Valentine’s candy).

Lunchroom – No Limits: There are no food limits in lunchrooms. However, if a lunchroom has a designated allergen-free table, students will abide by those restrictions. There will be other designated areas in every school that have no food restrictions. For example, if a PTO raffle award includes a group pizza party with a teacher, the party can be held in the cafeteria or other designated area.

Principals and other building administrators are ready to lead this change in their schools. I support their work and all of our efforts to improve the overall health of our community and to create the safest, healthiest learning environments possible. With community-wide support, District 109’s Food Allergy Management Plan will create that positive environment!

If you have any questions, please contact me or reach out to plan development committee co-chairs Jenell Mroz (jmroz@dps109.org) and Cathy Kedjidjian (ckedjidjian@dps109.org).

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Watch “Iowa, Did You Know?” on YouTube

Iowa ‘s story can apply to all states in the nation. Video reminds us all why it’s time to transform public education! From time to time I publish the “Did you Know” videos – they help us visualize the transformation our world is undergoing at present. This video has a quote I use frequently: “In the 21st Century we must prepare students for their futures – not ours”.

Iowa, Did You Know?: http://youtu.be/dMsNct4X_GU

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Digital Leadership Day – August 15th

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”
– Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society

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A blogger I follow, http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/, annually calls for digital leaders to share thoughts, reflections, ideas, concerns about digital leadership and trans-formative/innovative education. From his post about Digital Leadership Day:

“Over the past 7 years, we’ve had nearly 500 Leadership Day posts. That’s awesome because, to paraphrase what I said seven years ago, many of our school leaders (principals, superintendents, central office administrators) need help when it comes to digital technologies. A lot of help, to be honest. As I’ve noted again and again on this blog, most school administrators are still struggling with what it means to prepare students for the digital, global world in which we now live; how to recognize, evaluate, and facilitate effective technology usage by students and teachers; what appropriate technology support structures (e.g., budget, staffing, infrastructure, training) look like or how to implement them; how to utilize modern technologies to facilitate communication with internal and external stakeholders; the ways in which learning technologies can improve student learning outcomes; how to utilize technology systems to make their organizations more efficient and effective; and so on…”


I am proud to participate in this national digital leadership blogging day! On Twitter, if you would like to read other posts from folks around the world, please visit Twitter and use the the official hashtag #leadershipday14

The purpose of this blogging challenge/call to action is part of the overall call to action for educators and educational leaders around the country and world to support the future of our country, world and lives of our students.

I’m posting as I participate in a three District joint Technology Camp day of workshops with leaders from my district, the neighboring district as well as the high school district to which we matriculate our chilren. As a proud public school administrator I support connected educators. I support connected education, and I support leading in a culture of connectivity.

In this post I am responding to some prompts from Scott McLeod the blog author:

Do administrators have to be technology-savvy themselves in order to be effective technology leaders in their organizations?

This is a great question! I think it helps greatly if the administrator is technology literate – savvy helps but it is not required. Though if the administrator truly understands the functionality of connectivity he/she is more likely to learn with the other teachers and leaders in the organization. If the administrator is not aware, he/she may thwart the efforts of innovative teachers. For example, a friend of mine is a teacher and he received great push-back from his principal when he wanted to use Twitter in support of his instruction. Two years later, under a new administration, this same teacher taught a summer school math class completely online – and via Twitter! So I can only imagine how much growth and opportunity this teacher and his students would have had if his earlier administrator was technology savvy/literate – or supportive of a connected culture. Clear this teacher is a digital leader; clearly this teacher is inspiring his students and empowering them to connect with the world of mathematics (his subject area) through their world of communication (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Google Apps for Education, etc.).

What are some tangible, concrete, realistic steps that administrators can take to move their school organizations forward?

Administrators should reach out to their own professional associations as well as local in-person groups of administrators to move their local organization forward. For example, the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) both support, promote, model, and encourage digital literacy. Visit their websites, both have modern up to date interfaces with Twitter feeds and blog feeds from other leaders around the country and the world. Administrators can join Twitter and attend an “ed chat” and view how other leaders are interacting with the world digitally.

It also helps to find a friend or colleague who is technologically savvy who can support their individual growth and progress. Administrators should also be sure to read professional journals and stay current with practitioner published blogs and publisher books so they can stay up to date and current with what forward thinking organizations do. Start a blog, for examples visit: http://www.aasaconnect.com/List-Of-Blogs

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ELA: English Language Arts – support online anytime

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
– Warren G. Bennis

This is another in a series of blog posts where I am sharing resources to support teachers, these posts include descriptions of services, subscriptions, programs, aids, SUPPORTS for learning that we are putting into place intentionally and deliberately to support teachers and students. We have a PLAN to help teachers SUCCEED as they Engage, Inspire & Empower!

Many of these web based subscriptions will allow for 24/7 – school/home access! The possibilities are endless for our learning as we truly become a COMMUNITY of learners.

The content/subscription descriptions come directly from the company websites; and/or are heavily influencing the descriptions listed – website links to the source are listed in each section and sub-section.

(Amy Rubin) IXL ELA:

IXL is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, and standards for all 50 US states as well as the District of Columbia and DoDEA, making it an invaluable tool for state standards preparation. IXL offers a list of recommended practice skills for each strand, so it’s easy for teachers to find the best skills for their students. And best of all, teachers can monitor their students’ state standards readiness throughout the year to ensure that their classes are on the right track.

IXL brings language arts to life, offering a wealth of standards-aligned skills in vocabulary and grammar for grades 2–6.

From comparative adjectives, to irregular plurals, to subordinating conjunctions, we’ve got the content your students need to become word wizards! Are you covering verbs in class? Reinforce your lessons with IXL, where we offer multiple verb skills for grades 2–6. Students get access to all grades, so there’s nothing stopping them from moving ahead when they’re feeling confident about a topic, or going back a grade level for a little review. Are they having trouble with a particular skill? We provide a detailed, question-specific explanation whenever students answer a question incorrectly, so they can try to learn from their own mistakes before asking the teacher for help.

IXL language arts offers a variety of interactive question types designed to capture students’ attention. Students’ abilities will soar as they interact with engaging texts, correct grammatical errors, and decode new words in a variety of contexts. IXL’s questions adapt to students’ abilities, becoming easier if they’re struggling and harder if they’re excelling. This creates an encouraging learning environment where they can take things at their own pace, but where they still feel challenged to do their best.

http://www.ixl.com/ela/

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More supports for teachers! (English, Spanish, French, German)

“Learn to listen and listen to learn.”
– Tom Izzo

This year we prepare for a myriad of changes.

I’m continuing with this series of blog posts descriptions of services, subscriptions, tools, programs, aids, SUPPORTS for learning that we are putting into place intentionally and deliberately to support teachers and students. Thanks to Dr. Jeff Zoul, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, as well as members of the DPS109 Leadership team, as well as iCoaches and teacher leaders, we have a PLAN to help teachers SUCCEED as they Engage, Inspire & Empower!

These tools are being shared in no particular order – the point/aim/goal is to share, celebrate, communicate, and publicize the many leaders and the many tools that will enable others to act – challenge the process, inspire a shared vision – and support improved teaching and learning! While company information and logos are shared it is not our intention to use this as “advertising” – we are simply sharing with whom we are partnering to support our mission. The name(s) of the people leading these services is provided – feel free to contact them with any questions or comments about the tools.

In some of the blog posts I will post multiple tools since some of the companies with whom we partner are sharing multiple tools. Many of these web based subscriptions will allow for 24/7 – school/home access! The possibilities are endless for our learning as we truly become a COMMUNITY of learners.

The content/subscription descriptions come directly from the company websites; and/or are heavily influencing the descriptions listed – website links to the source are listed in each section and sub-section.

(Kristen Paul and Chelsea Gray) Edmentum: Study Island:

This is a Standards mastery and test preparation program built specifically from state and Common Core standards for use with students in grades 3-8. Study Island includes Interactive lessons and activities that reinforce and reward learning achievement. Real-time progress monitoring that identifies student strengths and weaknesses. Study Island is ideal for self-paced, individualized learning or teacher-led, whole-class instruction. Teachers can easily guide students through the program, communicate expectations, and create class assignments. Students can work through questions using a standard test format, an interactive game format, printable worksheets, or a classroom response system.

http://www.studyisland.com/

(Svetlana Sutic) Edmentum: Reading Eggs/Reading Eggspress:

Reading Eggs is a comprehensive, online supplemental literacy programs for pre-K through 2nd grade readers. Grounded in extensive educational research, the programs build on and reinforce the five pillars of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

The Reading Eggs lessons provide plenty of practice in developing key reading skills and the interactive activities can be repeated as often as needed. Teachers can easily access resources like teaching notes, student worksheets, spelling worksheets, grammar demos, and big books for interactive whiteboards. The bright graphics and repetition work well with a wide range of students, and the songs and fun activities make Reading Eggs a rewarding activity, where students experience success as they learn to read.

Reading Eggspress builds on students’’ love of reading and develops reading comprehension skills for 2nd through 6th grade students. Reading Eggspress motivates and engages students with a wide range of learning resources, lessons, motivational games, e-books, and rewards. Students can take a diagnostic placement test to ensure they are working at a level that matches their reading ability, or teachers can move students to an appropriate level.

http://readingeggs.com/

(Rachel Aspinall) Edmentum: PLATO World Language Courses:

Help your students become proficient and fluent in the language of their choice, preparing them for professional success and personal fulfillment. Plato Courseware’s World Languages library features 14 semesters of highly interactive, graphically rich mobile-friendly language curriculum to prepare your students for success in the 21st Century World. Reinforce language learning with game-based practice, available on our World Language Mobile apps. These supplemental activities improve your students’ listening and reading, helping them associate the content in meaningful ways, and incorporate vocabulary and other language structures.

http://www.edmentum.com/products-services/plato-courseware