Nisl Board Presentation

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Division of Curriculum and Instruction October 8, 2009

NISL ALIGNMENT TO STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The Goal of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD is high achievement for all students. Supporting Objectives Continuously increase student achievement Performance Measures

 TEA Recognized/ Exemplary District  Recognized/Exemplary Schools  Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP)  Achievement Gap  Special Populations

 TAKS Commended Scores  Higher Education Readiness Component  SAT  PSAT/NMSQT  Advanced Placement  Graduation Data

OVERVIEW

NISL is a product of a study launched in the late 1990’s by the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE). The study examined the role of school OVERVIEW leadership in improving school performance. At the heart of the study was this question: What could the world of education learn about leadership from other professions like medicine, law, the military, and business?

More than $10 million spent on the development of NISL

Basic Premise of NISL Great schools have great leaders!

Main Goal To develop school leaders who will drive their schools to high performance and to build system-wide capacity to leverage and sustain improvements in instruction

MAJOR THEMES

The principal as strategic thinker The principal as instructional leaders The principal as creator of a just culture in which all students achieve the same high standards

HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Face-to-face instruction in workshops Case studies Collaborative work with colleagues Video Online work for every unit Reading!!!

READINGS

14 books 34 articles/executive summaries 5 case studies

NISL is a two-year Executive Leadership Development Program consisting of four courses.

COURSE ONE

World-Class Schooling: Vision and Goals

Vision and Goals of World-Class Schooling Strategic Thinking Foundations of Effective Learning Standards-Based Instructional System

COURSE ONE HIGHLIGHTS

Establish a sense of urgency and global context The World is Flat Cuban Missile Crisis Singapore Case Study Principles of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum Standards-Based Instructional Wheel

The Principles of Learning:

The Principles of Teaching:

Effort produces achievement.

The teacher matters.

Learning is about making connections. We learn with and through others. Learning takes time. Motivation matters.

The Principles of Curriculum: The curriculum should focus on powerful knowledge. All students should experience a “Thinking Curriculum.” The best results come from having an aligned instructional system.

Focused teaching promotes accelerated learning. Clear expectations and continuous feedback activate learning. Good teaching builds on students’ strengths and respects individuals’ differences. Good teaching involves modeling what students should learn.

COURSE TWO

Focus on Teaching and Learning

Instructional Leadership Leadership of Literacy, Math, and Science Professional Development

COURSE TWO HIGHLIGHTS

NISL Faculty Inside the Black Box: Raising

Standards Through Classroom Assessment Classroom Observations

COURSE THREE

Developing Capacity and Commitment

Developing organizational capacity The role of the principal in creating an ethical culture that ensures high standards for all

COURSE THREE HIGHLIGHTS

Building a New Structure for School Leadership

“The skills and knowledge that matter in leadership are those that can be connected to, or lead directly to, the improvement of instruction and student performance. Standards-based reform forces this question. It makes leadership instrumental to improvement.” . . . Richard Elmore

COURSE FOUR

Driving for Results

Principal as a change agent Application of data to reach higher achievement Getting results

COURSE FOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time The Kotter Model Establish

a sense of urgency Create the guiding coalition Develop a vision and a strategy Communicate the change vision Empower broad-based action Generate short-term wins Consolidate gains and produce more change Anchor new approaches in the culture

ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Instructional coaching institute Final simulation and capstone project The Greenwood Middle School Simulation

NISL Leadership Team Cyndi Boyd

Nick Lasker

Dr. Bobby Burns

Dr. Sheila Maher

Dr. Charles Cole

Rosie Oliveira

Benita Gordon

Tracy Smith

David Hicks

Cathy Webb

Mark Hyatt NISL Cohort I 42 participants 2006-2008

NISL Cohort II 21 participants 2008-2010

“The Art of Mobilizing Others to Want to Struggle for Shared Aspirations” The Leadership Challenge Kouzes and Posner, 1997