Martha
L. Slack
Cathryn L. McDevitt
Patrick H. Brady
Assistant Principal &
Principal
Dean of Students
Director of Athletics
Extension 3100
Extension 3104
Extension 3122
September 18
2000
Douglas Huntley, Superintendent
Massena Central School
District
84 Nightengale Avenue
Massena, New York
13662
Dear Mr. Huntley,
The Massena Central
School District is pleased to be able to continue vvith the Learner
Centered Classroom/Standards
Focused Initiative under the Targeted Instructional Staff
Development Grant.
Over the past several
years. Masseria High School Teachers have enthusiastically
participated in some
aspect of this opportunity. Beginning with the River Project two
years ago, our students
had the experience of learning through a totally integrated,
experiential, standards
- based program. A cross - section of students from several
disciplines as weIl
as parents participated in this study. The thrust of their work
continued last year
and was even expanded to include more teachers and specific teacher
training. Additionally
more students hid the opportunity actively to participate in this
constructivist approach
to teaching and learning.
This grant is very
valuable to the continuing efforts that Masseria Central is making to
create both the climate
and conditions necessary for all of our students to be suecessful
with the new standards.
The conditions and strategies of the constructivist methodology
are at the core of
our guidelines for the site based School Leadership Teams. We've
incorporated the strategies
into the on-going CDEP planning, have instituted twoPDP
teams with corresponding
roll - out teachers, have utilized research and materials in
working out AIS planning
as well as use of time and scheduling issues. It is also a
clearly valuable methodology
for teachers who will be instructing the International
Baccalaureate courses
in the very near future.
The staff development
for the fifteen teachers form MCHS participating in this grant will
compliment the outstanding
training in technology and lesson / unit design that the
district is emphasizing.
I've used much of the research to support instructional leadership
directions that I'm
advocating. It has also proven to be very useful (and successful) for
teachers working with
all kinds of student needs and abilities. It has been so crucial to
have this model of
staff development because we can't possibly accomplish all we need
to on the several
days available to us each year. More importantly this method of staff
development is far
superior to the "one shot" exposure to ideas. The power to staff
collaboration and
support also should not be underestimated.
The PDP team and roll
out teachers will be working closely together after having
completed seven to
ten days of learning and planning together in August 2000. They
have a partner teacher
to support their efforts and all PDP staff will mentor their
colleague. During
each Faculty Meeting during the year they will briefly highlight their
activities and findings
to the entire staff. Grant resources will also allow them to have the
"tools" to be successful
with their ideas and plans. Formal evaluation methods have been
set up within the
school but also by the grant's team of leaders to monitor overall student
achievement.
I know that the Massena
Central District has committed more than lip service to this
grant by the involvement
of our personnel, in-kind contributions and anticipation of both
elementary and secondary
staff in this model. It is clearly a district priority and our
students will be well
served.
In closing, I would
like to say that I'm proud that Massena Central has embraced this
project and research
based development effort. I only hope that the efforts can be
sustained in the future
with similar support as training is made available to even more
staff members.
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