Finance+5342+Week+4+Part+3

Group 2 - Week 4, Part 3

Analysis of Differentiated Staffing on a Campus - Campus of Jacque Morris Goals for Marti Elementary Staff of 55 General Ed 20, Life Skills 2, Inclusion 1, ESL 1,Gt 1, Dys 2 1/2 time, paras 5, PE 1/1 aide, 5 cafeteria, 3 custodial, 1 AP, 1 counselor, 1/2 nurse, 3 office, 1 principal


 * //To Continue to Meet AYP and achieve receive 100% rating by 2014//**
 * All staff from cafeteria to principal is involved in the developing positive relationship with students throughout the campus. Each person has 1-2 students that they partner up with during the week who need extra motivation, encouragement, academic support, etc. This provides extra one on one time for student and adult to bond and develop relationships that lead to successful lifelong learners.**
 * Another way we are differentiating our staff is through "Walking in my Boots". Once a six weeks,my teachers trade places for a day to different grade levels. This allows them to truly get a better idea of what is being done in the grade levels that they are not as familiar with. It allows them to learn the different TEKS and curriclum. It puts them in connection with others. This strengthens my team and allows them to use their skills, styles and strengths with other students in the building. I also believe it will expand the relationships among my staff as they have to brainstorm together to work in different subjects and grade levels.**


 * //To receive effective, timely assistance to increase the number of students who are successful on grade level and who successfully transition from early childhood to elementary and beyond to graduation.//**


 * We have a program called Marti Academy. On Fridays we have a schedule that provides my teachers with 1/1/2 hours of planning time. During this time the grade level teams, horizontal teams and vertical alignment teams meet to discuss planning, interventions, and instruction necessary for our students to be successful. While the grade level and special populations teachers are meeting, my counselor and paraprofessionals are conducting the Academy classes for the students. Science, Math, Reading, Writing Enrichment activities, Guidance, Art and Wii classes are being provided to reward and motivate my students.**


 * //To provide opportunities to grow professionally so that 100% of the teaching staff will remain highly qualified in academic core subject area classes//**


 * One of our goals for this year was for our entire staff to complete the ESL certification. We have an ESL teacher who serves as our lead teacher for our ELL students but to continue to service our population to the best of our ability our site-base committee wanted all to be trained. In leading by example as to what is important to me as an instructional leader, my assistant principal and I are also completing the training with our staff. All will be certified at the end of this year which will allow by lead teacher provide more specialized training and instruction to the entire staff and benefit my student populations needs more efficiently and effectively.**
 * This year because of budgetary cut backs my campus lost paraprofessional positions. In order to still provide Art to my students, my librarian is now teaching PE on Fridays and my PE aid is teaching Art. This trade in expertise allows my students the benefits of both areas because my staff is willing to differentiate.**


 * //To increase parent and community stakeholders to be full partners with educators in the education of students//**


 * Wrangler Partners is a program developed to utilize our parents and community members. This enables adults to come be a part of our enrichment program for students who need mentoring and enriching. Students of all grade levels and ability levels are involved in the program. School adaptors, parents, grandparents, retired teachers all participate in the program. Together, with the teachers, these volunteers in public schools program allows my staff more time to work in different areas of instructions while aiding others to implement skills that these students need to develop. Not only are they improving academically, but socially and emotionally as well**.


 * //To integrate technology into the teaching and learning process//**


 * Technology is where we want to stand out in our differienation, and this year our staffing has had to differentiate. Staffing has consolidated in several positions, but we are utilizing our staff in areas of technology. A classroom teacher with tremendous technology skills is now the computer lab teacher for our big lab, thus allowing her interests and expertize to be used in more than one classroom setting. Our small computer lab is now open for all teachers to use during the day. Now all teachers will have opportunity to develop their technology skills and those of their students by using the small lab. Each grade level now has a member who is the technology lead and with that responsibility comes the opportunity to teach their peers how to be more proficient in technology. We also have a technology specialist for our district that provides training to our campus.**
 * Another technology opportunity we are going to implement is through Ipads. I am being trained through a program from TEPAS. I will then turn around and train my teachers how to use them in the classroom. My role,as principal, is an instructional leader. Being an instructional leader as an administrator allows my staff to develop their skills in ways that might not be introduced to them otherwise.**


 * //To provide safe and energy efficient facilities that supports the educational needs of all students//**


 * One of our most wonderful facilities is our outdoor learning center. This was donated by our PTA but all classrooms have the opportunity to use it. Several staff members, who have a love for gardening, now help PTA in the ownership of responsibility. Our students plant the sections of flowers, vegetables and plants each year and help to maintain the facility. This facility has helped focus on environmental needs. It also calls on my staffs expertize and loves which help to create learning opportunities.**


 * //To maintain an appropriate overall financial condition of the district through effective planning and efficient//** //**management**// **//of the budget//**


 * This year custodial staff has been cut on my campus and the hours have changed to have one custodian on campus during the day and two on campus after hours. This has been put into effect to help with the financial aspect. In the lunchroom all personnel are being utilized to help with lunch duty. In years past lunch monitors were hired for this. Teachers now help monitor their students, the assistant principal, counselor and principal are also on duty at times. At first glance you think how could this be differentiated staffing? It appears to be using all staff for this duty. But as it stands, this is one of the best tools I have seen to be able to get to know the students in a casual non-threatening environment. This budgetary need has helped to develop a campus camaraderie that might not have otherwise been discovered.**


 * In learning about differentiated staffing, I realize that there are many areas to develop. It has really opened my eyes to some ideas that I would love to implement at my campus. My staff is supportive on new ideas and like the challenge. Flexible grouping is something we do for tutorials but more within the grade levels at this time. I am anxious to discuss the idea of expanding that to the grade above and the grade below. Being a teacher of gifted students for many years, I always looked for ways to expand my curriculum to be able to fit the needs of my students. The possibility of grouping children by abilities not age has always been a dream to me. In researching about differentiated staffing I gathered information where that was discussed. I can see how that could benefit all students. The article also discussed the career ladder where incentives were given to teachers for added responsibilities and professional growth.( Some business strategies brought to education were not bad…but the pendulum swings.) My district gave master's stipends and Doctorial stipends for incentives, but that is not occuring this year.**
 * Group Two analysed all of our districts' ways of differentiating staffing. Each of us have very creative ways that use personnel to the best of our advantages. Staffing is always an issue and in today's financial situation it will continue to be challenging. Our consensus on this group project is that we will continue to use methods, processes, programs, and personnel to provide our students with the best instructional processes available and will always look for ways to improve our campuses and district to produce life long learners.**