CSMS SIP Review and Visit

‘Purpose learning’

Each school year, each school board member meets with our individual School Advisory Enhancement Council assigned school administrators, to review their school’s School Improvement Plan (SIP) for the coming year. This is by no means my only visit to the school for the year, but it is a formal assigned meeting that our Citrus County School Board has in policy to provide us with a chance to sit down with the school’s administrator and learn more about not just the school’s plan but the students, staff and work at the school. One of those visits for me this year was at Citrus Springs Middle School where both my own children attended, and my wife formally taught for twelve years.

Principal John Weed and CSMS Curriculum Specialist, lycia Lulenski sat down to review the SIP and share about CSMS. Mr. Weed and Ms. Lulenski walked me through the CSMS SIP actions plan, but it was the frank conversation about focus at CSMS that I valued most. Mr. Weed explained that CSMS is focused on the district wide initiative, “5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning” with an initial focus on ‘Purpose’ learning. 5D was developed by the University of Washington from multiyear studies focused on the core elements of effective teaching. Mr. Weed explained it in part by saying, “in education we are transitioning our evaluation of teachers by not simply looking at the teacher during class, but rather, to turn our focus to look at the students, their engagement and their learning during class”. Mr. Weed empathized with our students and teachers during these complex and challenging times in public education, and the stressful role high-stake state assessments plays. To that end Mr. Weed explained that it made it all more vital that for students and teachers his goal is to “keep it purposeful– and keep it simple” when it comes to learning strategies and initiatives.

Following our review Mr. Weed toured me through some of the CSMS classrooms. One of the many that Mr. Weed was excited about was the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) taught by Terri Garcia. Students were group researching and debating the issue, ‘technological devices in vehicles’. The students had to take a position, research to reasoning, and provide clear rational for there debating position. It was most impressive.

I wish I could have visited more classrooms because with each room we went into it was obvious that “purposeful” instruction and learning was taking place. I cannot wait to visit CSMS again soon.

Comments Off on CSMS SIP Review and Visit
Filed under: News & Updates