2016-17 School Professional Learning Plan
Principals are encouraged to work collaboratively inviting input from stakeholders in
creating the school’s professional learning plan. The school plan should consider the
instructional focus areas for the entire school as well as for subgroups of teachers, as
appropriate. It should include activities that will support staff in working toward the
school’s instructional focus areas.
School Name
Principal’s Name
Plan Dates
Beginning/Ending
Longleaf Middle
Angela Thom
Aug 2016 - May 2017
Step 1: Instructional Focus Areas
Use multiple sources of data (i.e., EOC, ELEOT, SC Ready) to identify the instructional
focus areas for your school. Data from ELEOT observations should inform at least one
of your instructional focus areas (i.e.,In reviewing ELEOT data for my school, F4 Collaborates with other students during student-centered activities and B3 - Is
provided exemplars of high quality work were both below the national average.)
Provide a minimum of 2 focus areas.
Instructional Focus Areas
1. Literacy
In reviewing SC READY data for my school, the “Writing” standard assessed for
English/Language Arts resulted in over 50% percent of students at each grade
level scoring in the “low” category. Additionally, according to the SC READY test
results, over half of the student body did not score the minimal requirement for
“Reading.” Similarly, our fall MAP reading data shows that approximately onethird of our students at each grade level scored below the 40th percentile.
SC READY (% of students
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Reading Informational Text
63.9%
58.4%
64.8%
Reading Literary Text
54%
52.8%
53.4%
Writing
66.3%
55.4%
64.4%
scoring below state standard)
To address the need for improvement in the area of literacy, we have developed
and implemented a school-wide literacy plan with action steps that include
professional development and implementation of AVID writing strategies, daily
Sustained Silent Reading (SSR), a common writing rubric, and school-wide
writing assessments. Our English teachers will collect and analyze data from our
formative writing assessments to develop student learning objectives and provide
literacy intervention strategies to all teachers in order to build instructional literacy
capacity across the content the areas. The Curriculum Effective Specialist and
English Department chair will provide ongoing professional development to all
teachers on literacy instructional strategies. R.A.C.E (Restate the question,
Answer the question and all of it’s parts, Cite evidence from the text, Explain your
answer) will be one school-wide instructional strategy implemented in all content
areas.
2. Inquiry
In reviewing ELEOT data B4, “Is engaged in rigorous coursework, discussions,
and/or tasks”, is below the district and national averages. In reviewing SC
READY data for my school, the “inquiry” standard assessed for English/Language
Arts resulted in a significant percentage of students at each grade level scoring in
the “low” category. The percentage of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders scoring in the
“low” category was equal to or greater than the percentage of students scoring in
the same category across the district. Furthermore, in reviewing SC PASS data,
the “inquiry” standard assessed for Science result in significant percentages of
students scoring in the “needs support” category. The percentage of students
scoring in the “needs support” category was greater than the percentage of
students scoring in the same category across the district.
Grade Level
Inquiry in ELA
(% Low)
Inquiry in Science
(% Needs Support)
6
48.4
39.2
7
37.7
33.0
8
53.0
24.8
B4. Is engaged in rigorous coursework, discussions, and/or tasks.
LMS
R2
Nat’l Avg
2.69
2.89
2.81
Despite consensus regarding the value of inquiry-based teaching and learning,
the implementation of such practices continues to be a challenge to teach and
difficult to learn. To address the challenge, Longleaf has partnered with the
district Teaching and Learning Department, Buck Institute, and will utilize our sitebased PBL Coach to provide professional development centered around inquiry
through Project-Based Learning (PBL). PBL is a dynamic approach to teaching
in which students explore real-world problems and challenges, simultaneously
developing cross-curriculum skills while working in small collaborative groups. In
PBL, inquiry is sustained over time and academically rigorous (students pose
questions, gather & interpret data, develop solutions, and ask further questions).
Additionally, we have contracted with the S2TEM Center to provide professional
development centered around STEAM Integration and Project & Problem-Based
Learning. STEAM lessons immerse students in hands-on inquiry and open-ended
exploration. S2TEM Center will provide professional development to all teachers.
A part of this professional development includes classroom walkthroughs using
the ELEOT observation tool to provide feedback and identify strengths and
weakness. The school will analyze the data to guide decisions for improvement.
In conjunction with PBL and STEAM, teachers have (and will) participate in AVID
professional development to gain the necessary skills in inquiry-based instruction
in order to develop critical thinkers.
Step 2: Determine professional learning activities that support
the instructional focus
Enter target dates and specific activities to address your school’s instructional focus
areas. Be sure to include activities to address the use of ELEOT data to inform
instruction.
Date(s)
Aug 8 & 9
Activity
LDC /MDC Literacy Training
Responsible
Personnel
ELA, Sci, SS, Math
teachers
Aug
Intro to PBL Yearlong Project
Brief Overview of PBL Principles
PBL yearly expectations
K. Ziegler
Aug
Admin Data Training -Enrich
R. Herring
Sept 6-7
Teachers take an in-depth look at the
ELEOT observation tool and identify
correlations with STEAM
S2TEM Center
Sept
Professional Development topics to
include but not limited to: WICOR,
STEAM integration, DOK
CES & Department
Chairs
Sept
PBL 101 Mini Session for New to PBL
teachers
Entry Event for PBL project: Got Water?
Collaboration time allotted for teachers to
create 3rd and 4th quarter PBLs
K. Ziegler
Sept
Analyze Eleot Data
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
Department Chairs
Oct 3 & 10
STEAM Integration
S2TEM Center
Oct
Analyze Data (MAP, Standardized Test)
Admin, CES, Dept.
Chairs
Oct
Common School Wide Writing Checklist
CES, Teachers
Oct 13
PBL Project: Water Woes?
Kick Off Fundraiser for PBL Project
PBL Support provided during 1/2 day for any
teachers in need of assistance
K. Ziegler, A. Gaymon
Oct
3 Weeks-Dept. meeting Professional
Development topics to include but not
limited to:WICOR, STEAM integration,
DOK
1 Week - Eleot Peer Walk Through
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
Department Chairs
October
LDC /MDC Literacy Training
ELA, Sci, SS, Math
teachers
Oct
Common School Wide Writing
CES, Teachers, Dist.
Specialist, Admin.
Oct
Analyze ELEOT data during AdvancED
pulse check
Dr. Shealy Assistant
Superintendent
Rob Herron
Nov
Analyze Writing Data
Admin, CES, Dept.
Chairs
Nov
How to retrieve and analyze data from
Enrich
R. Herron and Dr. J.
Arnold
District Testing
Coordinators
Nov
School wide writing content rubric
CES, Teachers
Nov 7
STEAM Integration
S2TEM Center
Nov
LDC /MDC Literacy Training
ELA, Sci, SS, Math
teachers
Nov
Common Writing Rubric
CES, ELA teachers
Dec
AVID National Conference
AVID Coordinator,
School Counselor
Dec
LDC /MDC Literacy Training
ELA, Sci, SS, Math
teachers
Dec
Analyze Data (Eleot)
Admin, CES, Dept.
Chairs
Dec 2
PBL Project: Water, Water Everywhere and
Not a Drop to Drink
Collaboration Time and Support for Teachers
to create 3rd and 4th quarter PBLs
K. Ziegler, A. Gaymon
Dec
(weekly)
Professional Development topics to
include but not limited to:WICOR,
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
STEAM integration, DOK
Department Chairs
Jan
(weekly)
Professional Development topics to
include but not limited to:WICOR,
STEAM integration, DOK
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
Department Chairs
Jan
LDC /MDC Literacy Training
CES, LDC/MDC
teachers
Jan 23 & 24 STEAM Integration Using a ProblemBased Approach
S2TEM Center
Jan
Analyze Data (Eleot)
Admin, CES, Dept.
Chairs,
Feb 6 & 7
STEAM Integration
S2TEM Center
Feb
Analyze Data (Eleot)
Admin, CES, Dept.
Chairs,
Feb 17
PBL Project: Water, Water Everywhere
and Not a Drop to Drink
Collaboration Time and Support for
Teachers to create 3rd and 4th quarter
PBLs
K. Ziegler, A. Gaymon
Feb
(weekly)
Professional Development topics to
include but not limited to: WICOR,
STEAM integration, DOK
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
Department Chairs
Feb
LDC /MDC Literacy Training
ELA, Sci, SS, Math
teachers
Feb
Common School Wide Writing
CES, Teachers, Dist.
Specialist, Admin.
March
(weekly)
Professional Development topics to
include but not limited to: WICOR,
STEAM integration, DOK
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
Department Chairs
March
LDC /MDC Literacy Training
ELA, Sci, SS, Math
teachers
March
Analyze Data ( Eleot & MAP)
Admin, CES, Dept.
Chairs,
April 7
PBL Project: Water Wise: What Have
We Learned?
PBL fair
Unveiling of water fountains
Observation and Celebrations of 4th
quarter PBL Projects
K. Ziegler, A. Gaymon
April
Analyze Data ( Eleot)
Admin, CES, Dept.
Chairs,
April
(weekly)
Professional Development topics to
include but not limited to: WICOR,
STEAM integration, DOK
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
Department Chairs
May
(weekly)
Professional Development topics to
include but not limited to: WICOR,
STEAM integration, DOK
CES, AVID, LDC/MDC
teachers &
Department Chairs
*Your final plan is due to Linda Goodwin by September 28th.