District Leadership Team
May 3, 2016
4:00-6:00
Minutes
Meeting Purposes
1) Conference De-Brief
2) Review SBG Decision
3) Explain Literacy Look For document and how it will be used
4) Determine success on SMART Goal for 2015-2016
Learning Targets:
1) I can analyze the work of 2015-2016 to determine successes and next steps.
In attendance: Mary Cooksley, Tim Veiseth, Jolene Liebl, Mike Dursky, Beth Hodges, Denise Morris,
Marlene Etter, Joe Bell, Paige Pierson, Laura Ross, Todd Warnecke, Renee Gatton, Dana Sereg, Pam
Chapman, Barbara Puffinbarger, Shannon DePenning, Marian Raum and Jeanne Clark
Not in attendance: Andy Hotek, Stacy Bandy, Russ Reiter, Jack Arthur, Bret Foster, and Autumn
Reisetter
1. Housekeeping
a. Honoring members for service -
i. Those finishing their 2nd year on DLT were given a puzzle
trophy and a certificate (suitable for framing!): Beth
Hodges, Denise Morris, Marlene Etter, Joe Bell, Paige
Pierson, Jack Arthur, Bret Foster, Laura Ross and Todd
Warnecke.
ii. Those finishing their 1st year on DLT were given a foam
puzzle piece and a certificate (suitable for framing!): Renee
Gatton, Dana Sereg, Pam Chapman, Barbara Puffinbarger,
Shannon DePenning, Kirsten Stek, Rusty Raymond, Marian
Raum, Autumn Reisetter and Jeanne Clark.
2. Debrief from Rick Wormeli Differentiation Conference
a. Those attending shared take away ideas:
i. Meaning making (application) vs. sense making (memorization)
ii. Critical friends network--use them to review lesson plans
collectively
iii. Develop a quality differentiated “unit” --take time before planning
to define outcomes, assessments vs. needs
iv. “Fair Isn’t Always Equal”
v. Empathy--intellectual bias should be limited.
vi. Autonomy=student engagement
vii. Iowa Big--give students a new experience in school; not a factory
model
viii. Focusing on small chunks
ix. Do you want to be a gatekeeper or a gate opener?
x. 90% of what happens in a classroom happens before class even
begins - planning!!!!
3. Make a decision on the 1-4 Coding Recommendation
● DLT voted and decided to change “Exceeds Expectations” describing a 4
to “Demonstrates Excellence”
●
●
DLT voted and decided to change the 1 from “Does not Meet
Expectations” to “Does Not Yet Meet Expectations”
DLT voted and decided to add/include a new code for when the evidence
of learning is missing/absent. It will be called “Insufficient Evidence” or
IE.
○ There will need to be additional communication and education for
parents on the new coding
■ Extended rubric will be placed on Infinite Campus
■ Extended rubric will need to be placed with the new report
cards next fall
■ Buildings will need to have conversations about the
changes
4. Review the SBG Guidebook
a. The Guidebook will reflect the changes made the last few months at DLT:
i. The rubric changes
ii. No extra credit
iii. Other language changes about the use of rubrics, not averaging the
grade (1-4). The guidebook will be shared with DAC and with
teachers
Literacy Look-For Document and the Tool for Improvement
● Each building discussed the newly created literacy look-fors and how it
was delivered at each building.
○ A group of teachers (Facilitators and SIT) first went over the
document and what each of the items was so there was common
understanding of the instructional techniques. Then each teacher
went into classroom for 15-20 minutes and marked what they saw;
classrooms were observed at the beginning, middle and end of the
class to be able to observe the full range of instruction.
○ The document was refined based on those observations.
○ Next year we will collect the information 3-4 times a year to
monitor quality instruction in classrooms
● Each team then determined how the rest of the teachers would learn
about and use the document.
○ The DLT members from your building can provide additional
information on this
○ PLC Facilitators will become a conduit for both the Literacy LookFor and the Tool for Improvement next year.
5. Analyze 2015-2016 SMART Goal and Action Plan
a. What does the data say about our progress toward our SMART Goal?
● Each building looked at MAP data and walk-through data
from fall to spring - Aimsweb data is not available at the
time of our meeting.
H.S. MAP scores: Some growth was seen except with 9th grade reading - there
was negative growth from fall to spring. They also are going to focus heavily on
the Literacy Look-For document next year in conjunction with the “Tool for
Improvement”. Walk through observations showed “Student Engagement” was
high at the HS but need to improve on formative assessment and blooms - which
are focuses at the HS.
Middle school: MAP scores up in all areas! Walk-through data: very few “Y’’s”
The data is showing that we are headed in the right direction.
Elementary: walk-through data shows student engagement and formative
assessment is higher. MAP scores show one grade level exceeded growth target
in math and one grade level the gap is getting bigger in another grade level in
reading.
6. Analysis of DLT SMART Goal with a Ticket out the Door
a. How did we progress on achieving our goal for the year: 100% of teachers
will understand, plan with, and implement the “Tool for Improvement” as
part of our MTSS Plan during the 2015-2016 school year.
b. Midyear reflection showed us at a “2.1” on a 4-point scale
c. End of year reflection shows us at a “3.0” on a 4-point scale - meaning
we are “getting there”.
d. In order to get to a “4” comments were:
i. Focus on Literacy Look-For document
ii. Start the year with discussions for greater understanding of the
“Tool for Improvement”
iii. PLCs need to look at the “Tool for Improvement”
iv. Keep coaching each other and reflecting
v. Continue to focus on Learning Targets
vi. Us the “Look-For” document to help provide grade level PD to
support the team
vii. Revisit the “TFI” document frequently in PLCs - unpack it and
discuss it
viii. Use the Literacy Look-For document to improve instruction
ix. Study/explore instructional practices
x. Incorporate higher levels of bloom’s into fundamental lessons
(phonics and vocabulary)
xi. Get teachers to observe other classrooms and reflect on that using
the “Tool for Improvement”
xii. Continue informing teachers about the “Tool” and keep bettering
teachers by using the tool to reflect as well as prepare lessons
xiii. Need to use the “tool” for improvement but need to use it in
planning
xiv. Continue monitor and motivate teachers to use the “tool”
xv. Continue to educate
7. Recap any decisions made:
! DLT voted and decided to change the 4 to Demonstrates Excellence
! DLT voted and decided to change the 1 to Does Not Yet Meet Expectations
Treats: Jolene brought treats :-)
Next Meeting – 2016-2017 school year
“Believe, Achieve and Create With Pride”
“Engaging ALL Students to Embrace the Power of Learning”