By ANNE ATWELL
In my new role as communications consultant for the Vashon Island School District, I find that I am more perplexed each day by the intricacies of the system.
As a public institution, VISD is beholden to its broad and highly opinionated constituency. Thus, with each decision, there are at least two, but usually many more, points of view that must be considered. Speaking plainly, it’s a wonder anything gets done around here.
Perhaps the secret to the school district’s successes (of which there are many) is a common understanding that student achievement is the ultimate prize. The district is blessed to have many outstanding teachers who nurture a love of learning and derive great satisfaction from watching students grow.
There is so much more the district can do to support Vashon’s teachers in their efforts to bring the best out in each individual student. VISD is taking several bold steps in this direction, and over the next six months, I will have a column in The Beachcomber once monthly to share these plans with the community.
At the top of the list are professional learning communities. This collaborative approach to professional development began last winter at Chautauqua Elementary School and McMurray Middle School and will likely take root at Vashon High School next fall. The new method allows teachers to brainstorm and test new instructional techniques in small workgroups with other teachers. The goal is to apply their combined knowledge and experience toward strategies that meet the needs of all types of learners.
Fourth-grade teacher Mary Heath said she believes the approach may ultimately result in improved learning.
While traditionally, teachers teach from a predetermined lesson plan, even a well thought out lesson “may not address the particular needs of current students,” she said. The new method starts from analyzing student work and determining future class content from there.
If fourth-grade teachers see some students having a hard time concluding an essay, teachers can “share strategies and then continue to meet and analyze student work until the students show progress,” Heath said.
While the professional learning commmunities haven’t been able to measure their success against student performance yet, Chautauqua Principal Kate Baehr is confident that the approach will have a positive impact on a number of levels.
“I like it because it puts the student at the center and compels all of us to come up with effective solutions for reaching different kinds of learners,” she said. “It also gives teachers an opportunity to work together, which is so much more satisfying and meaningful than working in isolation.”
Greg Allison, McMurray’s principal, said he has found the structured nature of professional learning communities gives teachers a good methodology for defining what they want students to learn and how to get there.
“I think the results will show that students are benefitting greatly from this targeted approach,” he said.
Will this experiment pan out? I suppose it’s too early to tell, though I think many teachers agree that the collaboration in and of itself is worthwhile. In the meantime, it’s just one of several professional development approaches that VISD is taking to support teachers in their quest for student achievement.
If you have thoughts on other ways we can communicate, send me an e-mail at aatwell@vashonsd.org. And if you’d like to support professional development for our teachers, please consider attending the PTSA auction on May 3.
— Anne Atwell is a mother of three in the Vashon schools.
