LINKS Advisory Training Barbara Brady, PhD School Counseling Coordinator Office of Instruction Cathy Grewe, Counselor Jackson Middle School.

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Transcript LINKS Advisory Training Barbara Brady, PhD School Counseling Coordinator Office of Instruction Cathy Grewe, Counselor Jackson Middle School.

LINKS
Advisory
Training
Barbara Brady, PhD
School Counseling Coordinator
Office of Instruction
Cathy Grewe, Counselor
Jackson Middle School
Objectives
 Participants will…
 understand why LINKS is important… the potential
impact on students and staff
 become familiar with the LINKS Program
 explore the LINKS Website
 explore LINKing LINKS to other school activities and
programs
 receive an overview of the www.cfwv.com and
www.careercruising.com connection to scalable,
sequential and ongoing career development
 Begin exploring how to implement or improve program to
move from ‘Good to Great’
Session Expectations
ITL - in text lingo
 DNTL ˜ Do not turn on laptop… until we begin
exploring the LINKS website
 POV ˜ Phone on vibrate or turn off
 NBC ˜ No side “bar” conversations
 BPPA ˜ Be polite and pay attention
 STTA ˜ Stick to the agenda
 BHN ˜ Be here now; try to stay focused though the
presenters may be boring; pretend if you have to
Throughout both days….
 School Steering Team
 Guiding Questions – Agenda Sessions or page 6 & 7
 ACTION PLAN (Appendix A)
 Timeline for Planning and Implementing LINKS
[Appendix B (NEW) or C (Existing)]
 Big Ideas – Resource 2
 Parking Lot – Questions to answer
 Connecting to the Internet
 LUNCH
Timeline for Revising/Redesigning Current Program
Session I: PURPOSE
Why LINKS?
Dr. Barb Brady
Children are the living
messages that we send to a
world we will never see
The Unconscious Gap…
Until we become aware of the existing gap between what out students
can do and what they are doing, we remain satisfied. Sandy River may be a good
School, but what can you do to make it great?
Calabrese, R. L. (2002). The leadership assignment: Creating change. Boston: Allyn &
Bacon
Why LINKS…
Teacher-led Student Advisory Program
Learning, Individualized Needs,
Knowledge and Skills
 Improves Learning for ALL
 Addresses Individualized Needs
 Increases Knowledge and Skills for ALL
What is LINKS
 LINKS is a standards-based, system-wide
student support program/system to assist all
students in successfully navigating middle
and high school.
 LINKS was designed specifically for WV
students by WV educators
What is Advisement?
1. A systemic approach to providing ALL students with skills
and background to make decisions about his/her
education and career
2. A process to aid students in developing self-awareness,
option awareness, and decision-making skills
3. A process to help each student improve his/her chances
for success
Guidance: What is it?
Guidance
The help all students
receive from parents,
teachers, counselors,
community members
and others to assist
with educational and
career development
Counseling
The help some
students receive from
credentialed
professionals to
overcome personal
and social problems
that interfere with
learning.
LINKS is a
Comprehensive teacher-led, studentcentered advising program for students in
grades 5-12
Organized structure for:
Consistent delivery of academic, career, and
personal/social content standards
Connecting students with a caring adult
Increased collaboration between stakeholders
IEP, 504
Groups, Tutoring, Peer Helpers
Classroom Guidance Lessons,
School Assemblies, Student
Advisement Programs, Test Prep
Programs, Academic Plans,
Field Trips
Therapy – Outside or SBMH Centers
Support Groups, Mentoring,
Student Helpers, Clubs, Crisis
Interventions, Short-term
counseling
Student Advisement Programs,
School Assemblies
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LINKS is designed to
bridge the gap between what is taught in the 5
– 12 core curriculum and the skills necessary
for success in school, post-secondary
education, and in the work place
LINKS Student Advisement…
 Bridge the gap …
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Self-Knowledge
Life Skills
School Success Skills
Educational Development
Work Ethic
Career Planning.
Online Training Tools
 Introductory Video
The LINKS Program promotes student
success in school and life by:
 Relationship with a
caring adult
 Career goal
 Connection with
post secondary
options
The Brutal FACTS…
Out of every 100 WV 9th Graders
73 will graduate HS
39 will enter college
13 will drop out..freshman year
ONLY 16 will graduate in SIX
years.
National Center for Higher Education
Management Systems 2007
2007 Pawley’s Group Report
Commissioned by 2006 WV Senate
Recommendation 7: Develop a new model for
career counseling, student support and academic
advising.
recommended that West Virginia develop a
systematic way to help students with career
exploration.
Solution: LINKS + www.cfwv.com
2007 Pawley’s Group Report
 West Virginia must move from “random acts
of progress” to a system based on the 4 Ss
Strategic
Synergistic
Sustainable
Scalable
Expected Outcomes for LINKS…
 All students make informed academic and
career plans
 Parents are systematically involved in their
child’s education including the development of
academic and career plans
 More students are successful in higher level
courses
Expected Outcomes
 Improved school behavior
 Fewer classroom disruptions
 More time to teach
 Increased graduation rates
 Higher test scores
Expected Outcomes:
Help schools
meet School
Growth
Requirements
by improving:
Academic achievement
Standardized test
scores
On-time transitions from
grade to grade
School attendance
Graduation rates
Expected Outcomes…
 Consistent Referral process
 Easy to use referral forms
 Individual Student Referral
 Group referral
 Family concerns
Expected Outcomes:
21st Century Learning Skills
Additional benefits to students:
 Better prepared for the global workforce
and post-secondary education
 Acquisition of school and workplace
success skills
 Build dreams and hopes for the future
Sample Integrated Approach
Activity 1 – Assessing your current
Purpose???
Discuss your current purpose for your
established advisory program.
1. What is the primary purpose?
2. What are expected student outcomes?
3. What are expected staff outcomes?
4. Are expectations being met?
Active Schools
Campaign
Let's Move! WV is about putting
children on the path to a healthy
Let’s Move! WV is an initiative for
grades Pre-K through Eighth that
recommends schools accumulate an
additional 15 minutes of daily
physical activity.
High schools are encouraged to explore
ways to add additional physical activity
opportunities to the school day.
Physical Activity produces
Health Benefits
•Reduces the risk for overweight,
diabetes,
and other chronic disease
•Helps children feel better about
themselves
•Reduces the risk for depression and
the
effects of stress
•Helps children prepare to be
productive,
Physical Activity Recommendations
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services issued physical
activity guidelines for Americans, ages 6
and older. Recommendation was for
children and adolescents to participate in
60 minutes or more of physical activity
daily.
The American Heart Association
recommends that children and adolescents
should do 60 minutes or more of physical
activity daily and they participate in
physical activities that are appropriate for
their age and enjoyable.
Physical Activity may lead
to Academic Benefits
•Robert Wood Johnson foundation
“Activity breaks can improve…
• cognitive performance
• classroom behavior.”
•Wood County
Nationally recognized research from
Wood County Schools in Parkersburg ,
WV recently highlighted by both the
Centers of Disease Control and the
American Heart Association, has
clearly shown the positive
connections between healthier
children, daily physical activity and
Let’s Move! WV
-Compliment Tag-
Physical Activity
Break
*Youth who are regularly active also have
a better chance of a healthy adulthood.*
Morning Break
Session IV
Voices from the Field: WV
Examples
Nicholas County LINKS Program
Damon Hanshaw, Assistant Superintendent
LINKS sample schools to discuss…
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How did LINKS got started?
Who took the county-level lead?
Who took the school level lead?
What do the LINKS Day schedules look like? Bring
samples.
What programs are integrated together?
How has your data changed since implementing LINKS?
What else has changed?
How do you keep the momentum going?
Session II : PURPOSE
Student Supports &
Building Relationships
Students Supports
Cathy Grewe
Standard 4: Student Support Services and
Family/Community Connections
Policy 2322: Standards for High quality Schools, the
staff:
 places student well-being at the forefront of all decisions,
 provides support services to address student physical,
social/emotional and academic growth, and
 forms positive connections to families and the community.
Connectiveness
“Students are more likely to engage in healthy
behaviors and succeed academically when
they feel connected to school.”
CDC Centers for Disease Control: Strategies for Increasing
Protective Factors among Youth
A caring adult who will support and care for that
child provides that connection as a primary
protective factor.
Student/Advisor Relationships
If students know there is
school who truly cares about
them as individuals, they will
accept being prodded further
Our most vulnerable students
are those in greatest need of
a meaningful connection
an adult at
Relationships
 If students know you care you can push
even more
 Who is most vulnerable?
 Malcolm Smith “Why are kids so Angry and
What Can We Do About It?”
 Over 300 students who committed violent acts
 No relationship with a caring adult (ONLY
COMMONALITY)
http://www.cjnetworks.com/~msconsult/peaceful.htm
Demonstration:
Risk and Protective Factors
Volunteers PLEASE!!!
Threats to school success:
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Low Self Esteem
Dysfunctional home life
Attendance
Mental Health Issues
Learning disabilities
Safety issues
Peer Pressure
Bullying
Gang Issues
Poor Nutrition
NO Exercise
Neglect
Non-supportive parents
Poverty
ESL
Teachers (negativity)
Low expectations
Abuse/violence
“Risky” Behaviors
Transportation issues
Lack of technology
Drug usage
Protective Factors:
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Advisors
Teachers (positive)
Supportive parents
Community members
Positive peer relationships
Prevention programs
Policemen
Firemen
Custodian
Bus driver
Community programs
Big brother/sister program
Church
Coaches
Band Teachers
Free Lunch Program
Federal / State assistance
Student/Advisor Relationships
Creating Relationships
 Advisors
 Peer Relationships
 Mentoring (career, teacher, peer, community)
 Tutoring
 Student/school connectedness
 Student/community connectedness
 Faculty relationships
 Culture of respect
 Family Connections
The LINKS Program can help support
a positive culture for learning by:
Improving the teacherstudent relationship
Improving classroom
behavior
Informing and preparing all
school staff to better assist
students
Creating a community of
learners
Session II : PURPOSE
Creating a Shared Vision
Visioning
Dr. Barb
Visioning Activity – Large Group
The enemy of “great” is “good”.
Jim Collins, Good to Great
Independently, using sticky notes, write important
skills and knowledge you believe students
should possess when they leave middle and/or
high school...
Use questions from Session II
Be prepared to share….
School VISIONING EXERCISE
Use Resource #6
How will our school be different
as a result of LINKS?
How will our students be different?
How will our staff be different?
How will our connection with
Parents be different?
What needs added to Action Plan/Timeline?
American Student
Achievement Institute
Team Activity:
Who will lead the advisory
visioning activity? When will it
occur annually?
Discuss at your table and write
action steps on your ACTION
PLAN form.
Also discuss what your team
would like to see change in your
school and with your staff.
How would your school & staff
be different?
Critical QUESTIONS when you have an
established program…
 Is your current structure working?
 What is/are the primary purpose(s) of advisory?
 Have you established expected student
outcomes?
 Have you established expected staff outcomes?
 Have you defined staff roles and responsibilities?
Advisory Types
 Use Resource 3 – Advisory types to discuss which, if
any other types of advisory your school will use in
addition to LINKS (Skills- based and Relational)
 Use Resource 4 to draft a basic schedule of the days of
the week you will hold advisory and list types.
Activity 2 – Establishing New Program Goals
Based on your discussions, what are some new
program goals or what are some goals that are
not being addressed?
1. What will the primary purpose(s) be?
Let’s Move! WV
-Paper Aerobics-
Physical Activity
Break
*Youth who are regularly active also have
a better chance of a healthy adulthood.*
LUNCH
Session III:
Website
Hands on Exploration
Cathy Grewe
Zigsaw Activity
 Team members will move to table with
website component best matching their role:
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Advisors
Counselors
Coordinators
Principals/Steering Team
 Others will select another component (if enough
team members)
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Students
Framework
Resources
Evaluation
Using LINKS Website
Record goals & steps on Action
Plan/Planning Calendar regarding
selecting your LINKS website
guru(s) and training your staff to
use the many resources on the
LINKS website
Session III:
Website
Roles and Responsibilities
Dr. Barb
Table Activity
Find a table with the ROLE of your choice
and study the bulleted “Roles and
Responsibilities” and prepare to present to
the group the primary responsibilities for
this role.
Use the appropriate RESOURCE 8 - 12
Post-implementation
Post-implementation
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Ongoing
Ongoing
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
PrePreimplementation
implementation
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Coordinator Responsibilities
Prepare
Student
Portfolios
Monthly
Follow-up
Trainings
Parent
Consent
Forms
Advisor
Training
Advisor
Logs
Advisor
Evaluation
Student
Feedback
Forms
Student &
Parent
Evaluation
Student &
Staff
Evaluation
Copy
Plans &
Handouts
Update
& store
portfolios
Public
Relations
Post-implementation
Post-implementation
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Ongoing
Ongoing
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
PrePreimplementation
implementation
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Principal Responsibilities
Learn
about
LINKS
Hold staff
accountable
Secure
resources
& support
Establish
Steering
Committee
Select
coordinator(s)
Monitor
program &
eliminate
barriers
Support
implementation
& evaluation
Recognize &
support
successful
implementation
Share evaluation
results
Develop
PD plan
Internal &
external
PR
Session III:
Website
Energizers and Ice Breakers
Cathy Grewe
Energizers and Icebreakers
Same and different – Resource #7
Let’s Move.. Mary Weikle
DIRECTIONS: Join another
table and in the next five
minutes, find five
similarities & differences as
possible. Keep in mind
EVERYONE must possess or
NOT possess these traits.
Research based…
Garden City High School, Garden City,
Kansas (2005)
Despite rapidly rising numbers of students, and even with a
more rigorous curriculum and higher graduation
requirements,
 the dropout rate fell from 15 percent in 1993-1994 to
3.4 percent in 2003-2004
 the attendance rose from 89 percent to 96 percent.
http://www.sreb.org/Programs/HSTW/publications/PubsDisplay.asp?SubSectionID=19
Grady High School Population
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1997-1998: 721
1998-1999: 706
1999-2000: 699
2000-2001: 740
2001-2002: 870
2002-2003: 892
2003-2004: 933
2004-2005: 1,010
2005-2006: 1,216
2006-2007: 1,285
2007-2008: 1,365
2008-2009: 1,337
11/6/2015
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Students Eligible to Receive
Free/Reduced Lunches
 2003-2004: 383, 41% of
students
700
600
 2004-2005: 465, 46% of
students
 2005-2006: 528, 43% of
students
500
400
300
200
100
 2006-2007: 557, 44% of
students
0
20032004
20042005
20052006
20062007
 2007-2008: 644, 47%
11/6/2015
95
20072008
Completion Rates
01-02
02-03
03-04
Grady
56%
68%
75% 89% 91% 87% 94%
State
62%
63%
65% 69% 71% 72% 75%
11/6/2015
04-05
05-06
06-07
96
07-08
Retention Rate
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
9th
Grade
27%
18%
13%
7.2%
8.3%
10th
Grade
17%
9%
5%
2%
2.6%
11th
Grade
18%
5%
6%
7.4%
2.58%
12th
Grade
6%
3%
7%
2.9%
5.59%
11/6/2015
97
Proven Results from Student Advisement
Programs
AP Enrollment Patterns
Between 1998 and 2005 the number of Grady
students taking at least one AP test more than
tripled from 48 to 175 and the number of tests
taken increased from 77 to 272, while the
percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher
increased slightly.
Average Student Attendance
 1997-98: 87%
 1998-99: 90.6%
 1999-00: 92.9%
 2000-01: 95%
 2001-02: 95.01%
11/6/2015
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Let’s Move! WV
Aerobic Rock-PaperScissors
Physical Activity Break
*Youth who are regularly active also have
a better chance of a healthy adulthood.*
Session V
LINKS Logistics
Structure
Dr. Barb
LINKS Structure…
Steering Team – Group Brainstorm
 Purpose
 Meeting Schedule
 Membership
Resource #15 &
Appendix A: Action Plan/Planning Calendar
LINKS Structure
Selecting Coordinators
 Grade Level
 School-wide
 Compensation
Who will the advisors be? (everyone/some?)
 Group size
 Meeting frequency
 Groupings (grade level? Career interests? Heterogeneous)
Team Time
 As a group or individually brainstorm regarding the questions in
Session V – Logistics.
 Who will be on your planning team
 Who will be your LINKS coordinator?
 How will you compensate
 Who will be your advisors?
 How will you group students
 Will you use the LINKS only or a blended curriculum… etc
 Create action steps and place on your
timeline.
40 Lesson Plans (per grade level)- Policy 2520.19
Course Code 7676
LINKS includes
40 lesson plans per grade level ( 9-12)
36 lesson plans per grade level ( 5-8)
And is….
Standards based (Policy 2520.19 allows schools to
offer for credit)
LINKS can be offered for credit
Course code 7676
 1 time per week 45/50 minutes
 ¼ credit per year = 1 full high school credit
Online Career Course www.cfwv.com
 1 time per week 45/50 minutes
 ¼ credit per year = 1 additional full high
school
credit for
Up to2 full high school credits.
Grading Rubric
 To grade or not to grade
Resource #20 – Grading rubric
Policy 2520.19 …Find under advisory section
Discuss question from Session IV that are
relevant to grading and/or granting credit.
 Do you need to add an Action Step
 Do you need to add step to calendar?
LINKS Lesson Plan
Staff Training
Power Points are
located under the
Resource Section
Group Activity
– Roles
and Responsibilities
Move to a table of the role that you may be playing or are
interested in learning more about.
Go to the LINKS website and find the roles and responsibility
chart and lists related to your groups.
Review and discuss these roles and how they relate to the
overall success of the LINKS program.
Be prepared to share the roles/responsibilities for your group
that stood out as most important.
Use Resources 8a-12a
What needs added to Action Plan/Timeline?
Advisor Role – Lesson Delivery
 LINKS is a facilitated learning experience. You
support and encourage students’ discussion!
 Everything you need is on the website
 Engaged learning rubrics
 Mentoring activities
Steering Team
 Grading Rubric
 LINKS coordinator provides copies of each lesson plan
and handouts in time for you to prepare.
 Important to look ahead at lessons; some require
school specific forms.
LINKS Lesson Plan
Resource #16
Session V
LINKS Logistics
Personalization
Curriculum Mapping
Resource #17
Grade level curriculum planning
meeting
 Examine LINKS lessons for that grade
 Do they fit?
 What are some topics that need addressed at
your school
 Are they addressed in other grade levels?
 Are they available in other state curriculums
Blending Curriculums
 Quest
 iLEAD
 College Summit
 www.cfwv.com
 Others
Resource #18
College Foundation of
WV
Career Activity
Correlations
www.cfwv.com
 Grade Level and Lesson Activities:
 Have students explore their Portfolio in CFWV.com. You may wish
to concentrate on one area within the Portfolio and have the
students fill out their relevant information.
 Resources:
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Lesson Plan – Creating Your Own Overall Personal Portfolio and
Career Portfolio
Lesson Plan – Introduction to Lifelong Portfolios
Lesson Plan – Storing Your Portfolio Plus More
SAMPLE Correlation – Appendix E
Heather McChesney [email protected]
LINKing Activities
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Policy 4373 – Crosswalk (on table)
Other School Initiatives
Making High School Count
Club Assemblies
Motivational Assemblies
Orientations
Rachel’s Challenge
Challenge Day
Career Day Programs
Others???
Resource #21
Glance through Policy
2520.19. Discuss at your
table school-wide or grade
level activities that you are
doing or would like to do that
relate to the grade level
standards that could add
minutes to LINKS.
Scheduling
Dr. Barb
Activity 4: Building the Daily Schedule
Sample Advisory Types
Add the total # of minutes you have for each day and build your schedule
based on the your goals for each school day. (Don’t forget class change time)
Period
1st
Check and
Connect
7:45 – 8:32
(47 min)
Curriculumbased Advisory
(LINKS)
7:45 – 8:26 (42 1st
min)
2nd
AA
Period
2nd
10 minutes
50 minutes
3rd
3rd
LUNC
H
May be a little
LUNC
shorter this day H
4th
4th
5th
5th
6th
6th
7th
7th
Regular School
Day
7:45 – 8:35
(50 min)
Websites to assist with scheduling
 http://www.nassp.org/Content.aspx?topic=57
198
 http://msinab.wikispaces.com/file/view/Middle
-School-Advisory-Activities.pdf
http://www.schoolschedulingassociates.com/handouts/MiddleSchool102408.pdf
 ANNOUNCEMENTS 8:25 – 8:30
 PERIOD 1
8:30 – 9:16(46)
 PERIOD 2
9:19 – 10:05(46)
8:30 – 9:18(48)
9:22 – 10:14(48)
ANNOUNCEMENTS(4)
10:18 – 11:06(48)
 PERIOD 3
10:08 – 10:54(46)
GRADE 6
 Lunch
10:56 – 11:26(30) 12:24 – 12:54(30)
 4th period
11:29 – 12:15(46) 11:10 – 12:02(52)
 5th period
12:18 – 1:04(46)
12:02 – 12:22(Advisory)
GRADE 7
 4th period
10:57 – 11:43(46)(Advisory) 11:10 - 11:46(36)
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11:45 – 12:15(30)
12:18 – 1:04(46)
GRADE 8
4th period
10:57 – 11:43(46)
5th period
11:46 – 12:32(46)
Lunch
12:34 – 1:04(30)
PERIOD 6
1:07 – 1:53(46) 5
PERIOD 7
1:56 – 2:42(46) 6
PERIOD 8
2:45 – 3:30(45) 7
Lunch
5th period
11:47 – 12:17(30)
12:18 – 12:34(16)
11:42 – 12:34(52)
12:34 – 12:54(Advisory)
11:10 – 11:40(30)
12:58 – 1:46(48)
1:50 – 2:38(48)
2:42 – 3:30(48)
Let’s Move! WV
School Wide Physical
Activity
Physical Activity Break
*Youth who are regularly active also have
a better chance of a healthy adulthood.*
Securing Buy –in:
Overcoming Resistance
Dr. Barb
You want me to do what?
When are things ever going to
stop coming at me?
Barriers to Change/Buy In
 Legislated school reform (RTI, NCLB)
 Expiring initiatives before full implementation
 Change-related chaos
 Frequent administrator and staff turnover
helps perpetuate this upheaval
Barriers to Change/Buy In
 Poor management of staff (no one in charge)
 Limited or poor management of resources
…some lessons require additional information
(signs, games, free resources not ordered)
 Weak Leadership skills and management
practices
 lack of skills to manage the change process
 does not personalize the change process and secure support
for struggling staff members.
Barriers to Change/Buy In
 Inadequate staff development: Processes are
not in place to ensure staff learning that enables
deep understanding of desired practices and the
development of new mental habits, content
knowledge, required skills and behavior.
 Staff may simply be weary of trying the next flavor
of the year.
Barriers to Change/Buy In
 Staff may simply be weary of trying the next flavor
of the year.
 Advisor’s Belief systems (not my job, I teach
Math)
 Advisor’s fear they don’t have the skills to be an
advisor (may think they are expected to be
counselors)
Barrier to Change
 Allowing negative ‘power’ to ensue
Pilots
Passengers
Prisoners
Highjackers
Who has the power in your school, the minority
or the majority?
RESISTANCE
is the
outward
expression of the fear
of losing something
Reactions to Change
 Denial
 Anger
 Bargaining
 Depression
 Acceptance
Similar to the grief process …Ask yourself this
question “What do staff fear losing?
Changing Attitudes: Sending new messages
FROM: This too shall pass
TO: This is here to stay
FROM: Too much to do
TO: A lot to do now, but the payoff is well
worth it
More time to teach
Fewer behavior problems
Changing Attitudes: Sending New Messages
FROM: Losing Instructional Time
TO: Every minute is a learning opportunity
This IS instructional time
FROM: This won’t work here.
TO: What can I do to make this work?
AND
If we were getting the results we want we wouldn’t need to change
Changing Attitudes: Sending New Messages
FROM: Kids won’t take it seriously
TO: LINKS can be offered for credit and kids
take it seriously if YOU take it seriously
FROM: Kids don’t care about this stuff
TO: Kids need to know how much YOU care
FROM: This is not my job
TO: Helping students succeed is everyone’s
job. It is what we are all about.
Table Talk
 What are some attitudes that you think will be
most prevalent at your school?
 Who are your highjackers?
 How can you turn highjackers into pilots?
Moving toward change…
Early-Implementation
FULL Implementation
Pre-implementation
Calabrese, R. L. (2002). The leadership assignment: Creating change. Boston: Allyn & Bacon
Stage 1: Pre-Implementation
Select School Planning/Steering Get the Right People on THE Bus!
Attend Training – Raise Personal Awareness
Get BUY IN of steering team
Begin early stages of planning.
Set specific work plan with dates and who does what
Follow through when you return to your site
Stage 1: Pre-Implementation
Create YOUR Structure of Support
Stage I: Define Roles
Establish who will do what/when
Who will coordinator be? What will he/she do?
What will advisors do?
What will the counselors do?
What will your leadership team do?
 COMMIT TO FULFILLING YOUR ROLE!!!!
Stage I:Awareness
Steering Committee Continues to meet
Complete “Questions to Ask”
Set Preliminary Timeline
Plan Staff Development to Introduce LINKS
Invite staff to set vision for school
Invite staff’s input on curriculum…by grade level
Stage I:Awareness
Steering Committee Continues to meet
Complete “Questions to Ask”
Set Preliminary Timeline
Plan Staff Development to Introduce LINKS
Invite staff to set vision for school
Invite staff’s input on curriculum…by grade level
Stage I:Awareness
Define YOUR Expectations from LINKS
Implementation
What are things you want to happen?
What do you not want to happen?
How do you feel about being here?
Do you have negative feelings that may keep you
from fully benefiting?
How can you change that?
Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is contagious…
but so is the perpetual cycle of
negativity and cynicism
What will you perpetuate?
School data: Vision for change
 Completion rate
 Retention rate by grade level
 Increase in number of students taking higher
level courses
 Disciplinary referrals (% of ISS, OSS)
 Attendance Rate
 Number of students participating in extra help
Stage 1: Creating the VISION
Describe your ideal student.
What character traits will he exhibit
What does he know?
How does he behave?
How does he think?
How does he interact?
Source: Jerry North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
http://www.mdk12.org/process/leading/shared_vision.html
Stage 1: Creating the VISION
Describe your ideal classroom.
What does it sound like?
How are students behaving?
How do they interact?
How do I feel?
How do I interact with my students?
Source: Jerry North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
http://www.mdk12.org/process/leading/shared_vision.html
Stage 2: Learning, acquiring, practicing
 How do your support your staff?
 Ongoing job-embedded professional development
 Team teaching
How do you use and support your coordinator(s)
Professional learning communities
Preparing for lessons in advance
Discussing what went well
Staying solution focused…how can you solve
challenges
Stage I:Awareness
How will you promote LINKS to
Other staff
Central office
Students
Parents
?????
Stage II: Early Implementation
 Leadership is key
School principal must…
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Be chief promoter of LINKS
Actively monitor program
Hold everyone accountable
Be solution-focused… not problem focused
 Don’t get caught up admiring the problem
 Provide ongoing professional development
 See Do’s and Don’ts
 COMMIT TO FULFILLING YOUR ROLE!!!!
THE BALANCE OF TENSION
E
VISION
DATA
CURRENT
DATA
F
American Student
Achievement Institute
BUILDING COMMITMENT
Trust
Passion / Excitement
Clear Communications
High Expectations
Low Ego / High Results
Toughness
American Student
Achievement Institute
Collaborative Teams
How will you use collaborative teams to ensure
ongoing conversations, planning, time for
lesson review, curriculum planning, etc.
Action Plan… Who will be in charge of
Curriculum Mapping
Advisor training (ongoing)
Student/staff/parent surveys
Student portfolios
Lesson plans and handouts
Public relations
Trouble shooting
Ongoing support
Principal monitoring
COACHING (Resource…
Stage 3: Full Implementation
 Continually look at school data: Are we addressing
school needs?
 Staff development for changes
 Staff development for new teachers
 Lesson supports
 Evaluate
 Address needs
 Reward exemplary practice
 Opportunities for sharing
Session IV
Voices from the Field: WV
Examples
Randolph County LINKS Program
Deb Super, Assistant Superintendent
LINKS sample schools to discuss…
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How did LINKS got started?
Who took the county-level lead?
Who took the school level lead?
What do the LINKS Day schedules look like? Bring
samples.
What programs are integrated together?
How has your data changed since implementing LINKS?
What else has changed?
How do you keep the momentum going?
Morning Break
SWOT Analysis – Team Activity
 Use Resource 25 to assess:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
 Draw SWOT on flipchart. Post on wall when
finished. Be prepared to share.
Advisor Role – Lesson Delivery
 LINKS is a facilitated learning experience. You
support and encourage students’ discussion!
 Everything you need is on the website
 Engaged learning rubrics
 Mentoring activities
Steering Team
 Grading Rubric
 LINKS coordinator provides copies of each lesson plan
and handouts in time for you to prepare.
 Important to look ahead at lessons; some require
school specific forms.
LINKS Lesson Plan Demonstrations
As a team, select a
lesson plan, prepare to
discuss and demonstrate lesson
plan with the large group, using
at least one engaging activity.
 What did you like?
 What would you change
 Additional ideas/resources
Continuous Improvement
Fundamental change will occur in an
environment supportive of change
 Collaborative discussion, dialog, critique,
and research
 Everyone is a learner and a leader
 Commitment to core convictions
American Student
Achievement Institute
System of Support
 Structure
 Professional Learning Communities
 Time in School Schedule
 Fitting into existing system
 Involvement = buy in
 A system of support
 Providing adequate support
 High expectations - accountability
LINKS Teams…Professional
Learning Communities/Teams
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Steering Committee (also decides on logistics)
Public Relations
LINKS Curriculum Team
Professional Development
Portfolio Development
Evaluation
Parental Involvement
Senior projects
Culminating Activity (Annual)
Community Service
Extra-Curricular
Ongoing Professional Development
 Professional learning communities
 Grade level teams …lesson plan delivery
Teams by Topic
 curriculum map – Grade Level Teams
 customizing lesson plans
 portfolios
 Project Based Learning
 ISTP
 Parent activities
 Book Clubs
Timeline Suggested Activities – Appendix B, C & D
Group Work Action Plan
 Next STEPS…
Group Work (throughout the training)
 Appendix A – Action Plan
 Resource 1 – Questions to Ask
 Timeline
GOAL….
 Work to complete an implementation Plan to return to
your schools with a draft plan.
Personalizing the Learning Environment
“High schools of the 21st century must be much
more student-centered and above all much more
personalized in programs, support services and
intellectual rigor.” This means every student
should have a personal adult advocate and a
Personal Plan of Progress.
NASSP. (2004). Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform
Courage, Courage, Courage!!
Not everything that is faced can be
changed, but nothing can be changed
unless it is faced
James Baldwin
Final Thoughts???
Safe Travels