Gator Run Friday Focus - May 22, 2015

     So now that we have released the roster and map for next year, I wanted to talk to you a little bit about our plan going forward for next year and beyond.  The great thing is that this plan ties in with Broward County's announcement this week that we will be focusing on more than just one test score to determine who a child is.  I was lucky enough to be invited to Superintendent Runcie's press conference on Tuesday morning where he announced that third grade students will not have to wait until the Florida Standards Assessment results come in in order to determine whether they will be promoted to fourth grade.  With this week's announcement, third grade students can be promoted according to one out of a menu of different types of criteria, one of which is a student earning at least a "C" for each marking period.  This is beneficial because our students will not have to worry about the FSA results.  This is also a huge decision because it shows that Broward County Schools is ready to take the next step in lessening the impact of standardized testing on our lives.  Time will tell if this holds true, but I believe that this is the first step in a major revolution.
     This connects to what we are going to do at Gator Run because we are going to refocus our priorities to what really matters at our school - what happens in the classrooms.  The classrooms are where the true work of the school takes place and where our attention needs to be.  We will not become the elite school that I know we can be if we do not shift our priority to teaching and learning.  When I say "we", I am referring to those of us in support positions in the school.  My belief is that our purpose in schools is to make students' lives better.  Our role as administrators and support staff is to make teachers' lives better so that they can make students' lives better.  So we will shift our focus away from those operational activities that can take up our time, but ultimately do not help us with our true purpose.  I am not saying that we won't be working on these operational tasks, but we will not make those the focus of what we do.  We will be prioritizing being in classrooms and working with teachers and students.
     Next year we will have a second Assistant Principal.  This will allow all administrators to split up our operational tasks and be in classrooms on a regular basis.  Every classroom will receive regular visits so that we can identify amazing learning experiences, innovative strategies and areas where we need more support.  We want to celebrate success, share best practices, and provide assistance to those who need it.  This assistance will come from Mrs. Knapik and our ESOL Resource Teacher.  These individuals will observe teaching, provide feedback, model lessons, share resources, and coach those in need of support.  We will also have a second Guidance Counselor, Lindsay Weinstock.  Mrs. Powers and Ms. Weinstock will work together to ensure that our students' needs are met.  They will work with groups, meet with individual students and provide classroom lessons.  Through having two Guidance Counselors, we will be able to meet the demand of our population on a more regular basis.  While Mrs. Powers and Ms. Weinstock will work together to ensure that mandatory testing takes place, they will not place testing as the priority of their jobs.  Administration will provide support as necessary so that our Guidance Counselors can do what they do best, which is to meet the academic, social and personal needs of our students.  Administration and support staff will also continue to work on the RtI process, ensuring that students who needs additional support and interventions receive exactly what we can offer.
     In summary, next year begins a time of great opportunity for Gator Run.  We will be focusing on feedback, support and growth.  This in turn will ensure that our students are always receiving the best education possible.  We will discuss this plan further at the beginning of the next school year.

Next Week at a Glance:

• No school on Monday.  Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend!
• Report Cards are due to Team Leaders on Wednesday and to Ms. Felton on Friday. 
• Team Collaboration is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
• 4th Quarter Honor Roll is Thursday at 8:15.
• Pre-K Graduation is Friday at 8:30.

Quote of the Week - "You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage, pleasantly, smilingly, yet unapologetically, to say no to other things." - Buzz Williams.  In other words, that which you prioritize becomes the most important thing.  So when I say that what takes place in the classroom will be our highest priority, then that is the most important thing at Gator Run.  Testing, desk work, and other tasks that take away from our priority will be minimized as we move forward.