Standard 5.3
Evaluating your school and its programs is a key component to becoming a successful school. For the same reasons we assess student learning, we should assess our school and what it provides. I put this artifact together with the purpose of finding out my school and systems goals for technology and how these would improve our school. In creating this artifact I looked at the State of Alabama’s goals for technology as well as St. Clair County’s goals. Included in this artifact is a brief overview of what GAPSS is, Georgia assessment of performance on school standards, and what it assesses. I used the GAPSS process to analyze Alabama and St. Clair County’s technology goals and implementation. I also interviewed my principal to see what her personal goals were for technology at Moody High School. In the review I detailed how Moody’s learning needs are assessed, as well as what drives professional development at Moody. To help with Moody’s goals I used the schools continuous improvement plan. This was very helpful to see what was expected and how it would be assessed. In part b of the GAPSS assessment I used a checklist to determine whether the professional learning at Moody was good or bad. With each standard in the checklist I declared whether the standard was being reached or not as well as a description of what I saw.
Throughout the review (part a, and part b) I was constantly assessing whether what Moody High School was doing was exemplary or not. Some of the exemplary things that Moody does is continually educate it teachers each week in professional development. Our principal takes that stance that teachers are life-long learners and weekly professional development is a way to improve pedagogical skills, and content knowledge. The county as well as Moody High School has taken the stance that 21st century technology is a must to help our students compete in the future workplace. With the commitment to professional development each week the question that remained was how can this commitment be assessed? In the review I was able to research data before and after the professional development began during our principal’s tenure. Our students take a few standardized test as well as our administration does a great job of continually observing the staff to ensure that strategies and tools are being used properly. Some of the recommendations that were put forth in the review are not because the school is not meeting the standards, but so the school can move from just operational to fully operational. These recommendations are to make what we are already doing better. Some of the recommendations consist of creating professional learning plans for teachers and creating a team of teachers to help drive professional development. These two things can be beneficial to creating an environment for increased student learning. In all this review was very beneficial to assess what is going on at Moody High School and how it can get better.
I think that this artifact opened up my eyes a little about what really goes into a school and system. Schools and systems have to set goals to make sure they are giving their students the best education possible. I learned that assessing your schools programs is a lengthy task, but rightfully so. I also learned that while what Moody High School does is great, not all schools have the same opportunities the Moody High School has. This is why reviewing and assessing school and system goals is a key component to a successful school. If I could do anything different with this project I would interview Moody’s Jr High School principal and see how their goals align with ours. I think this information would be pertinent to the success of our schools. I think that we should be on the same page and that our goals should match one another. I also think that if both schools are committed to professional development students will mature through the grades knowing what to expect and that the learning experience is going to be a good one. Throughout the review I mentioned that this impact can be assessed through continuous observations and lesson plans turned in by all teachers. By creating a staff that has deep content knowledge and improved pedagogical skills, students will be the beneficiaries of an enriched education. As my principal said “It is about the students,” so they should be the reason we work hard to continue our learning.
Throughout the review (part a, and part b) I was constantly assessing whether what Moody High School was doing was exemplary or not. Some of the exemplary things that Moody does is continually educate it teachers each week in professional development. Our principal takes that stance that teachers are life-long learners and weekly professional development is a way to improve pedagogical skills, and content knowledge. The county as well as Moody High School has taken the stance that 21st century technology is a must to help our students compete in the future workplace. With the commitment to professional development each week the question that remained was how can this commitment be assessed? In the review I was able to research data before and after the professional development began during our principal’s tenure. Our students take a few standardized test as well as our administration does a great job of continually observing the staff to ensure that strategies and tools are being used properly. Some of the recommendations that were put forth in the review are not because the school is not meeting the standards, but so the school can move from just operational to fully operational. These recommendations are to make what we are already doing better. Some of the recommendations consist of creating professional learning plans for teachers and creating a team of teachers to help drive professional development. These two things can be beneficial to creating an environment for increased student learning. In all this review was very beneficial to assess what is going on at Moody High School and how it can get better.
I think that this artifact opened up my eyes a little about what really goes into a school and system. Schools and systems have to set goals to make sure they are giving their students the best education possible. I learned that assessing your schools programs is a lengthy task, but rightfully so. I also learned that while what Moody High School does is great, not all schools have the same opportunities the Moody High School has. This is why reviewing and assessing school and system goals is a key component to a successful school. If I could do anything different with this project I would interview Moody’s Jr High School principal and see how their goals align with ours. I think this information would be pertinent to the success of our schools. I think that we should be on the same page and that our goals should match one another. I also think that if both schools are committed to professional development students will mature through the grades knowing what to expect and that the learning experience is going to be a good one. Throughout the review I mentioned that this impact can be assessed through continuous observations and lesson plans turned in by all teachers. By creating a staff that has deep content knowledge and improved pedagogical skills, students will be the beneficiaries of an enriched education. As my principal said “It is about the students,” so they should be the reason we work hard to continue our learning.
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