College and Career Readiness

June 2016

Alina Edgar
Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Overview of Project
Supporting the STEM vision of the school
Implementing and expanding CTE pathways
Seeking postsecondary articulation agreements
Building the collaborative culture of the school

Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Rationale/Need Addressed
Hillcrest High School opened in 2012 as a comprehensive STEM

high school
STEM programs needed to be elaborated and built
PLTW Integrated CTE courses provided opportunities for students
The STEM school had a non-STEM reputation perpetuated by its
own teachers

Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Teacher Leader Model Standards

IV. Facilitating Improvements in Instruction and Student Learning
4.1 Facilitates the collection, analysis, and use of classroom- and school-based data to
identify opportunities to improve curriculum, instruction, assessment, school
organization, and school culture;

The new and existing pathways have been researched and analyzed for student engagement.

4.2 Engages in reflective dialogues with colleagues based on observation of instruction,

student work, and assessment data, and helps make connections to research-based
effective practice;
4.3 Supports colleagues individual and collective reflection and professional growth by
serving in roles such as mentor, coach, and content facilitator;

The Collaborative Learning walks have served as a way to observe instruction and to promote self-reflections

4.5 Uses knowledge of existing and emerging technologies to guide colleagues in

helping students skillfully and appropriately navigate the universe of knowledge

available on the Internet, use social media to promote collaborative learning, and
connect with people and resources around the globe; and
4.6 Promotes instructional strategies that address issues of diversity and equity in the
classroom and ensures that individual student learning needs remain the central focus
of instruction.

Through the Collaborative Learning Walks and promoting the STEM pathways awareness of educational
technology and best practices have been shared.

Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Project Vision/Goals
This capstone project will increase opportunities and equity for students and

increase collaborative teacher culture.List the measurable goals you hope to

achieve
Goal: Expand STEM

course offerings that are

integrated with CTE, and
provide postsecondary
opportunities for students.
Goal: Help to change the
perception of the school by
offering more STEM
pathways and publicizing to
teachers
Goal: Change the
collaborative culture of the
school by promoting open,
transparent
classrooms
Courage

Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Research
Career Technical Education tracks positively impact students that enroll in a

pathway of vocational courses. The many benefits, especially in regards to highrisk, underperforming students include higher attendance rates, higher
graduation rates and lower dropout rates. Increased attendance rates have been
shown to contribute to a lessening of the achievement gap.
Some characteristics that successful schools share include taking collective
responsibility for student learning and ongoing staff development. Collaborative
Learning Walks can be part of the pursuit of equity. Ongoing
professional development and building of staff capacity are import ingredients
for school improvement and core of a student centered learning climate and
shared leadership to drive change (Blankenstein, 2014). Collaborative Learning
Walks empower staff to take charge of their own professional practice and
student success as well as building the professional learning culture of the
school.
Allen, Ann Sundstrom, and Kathleen Topolka-Jorissen. "Using Teacher Learning Walks to Build Capacity in a Rural Elementary School: Repurposing a Supervisory
Tool." Professional Development in Education 40.5 (2013): 822-37.
Blankstein, Alan M., Pedro Noguera, Lorena Kelly, and Desmond Tutu. Excellence through Equity: Five Principles of Courageous Leadership to Guide Achievement for Every
Student. Thousand Oaks: CORWIN, 2015. Print.
City, Eliabeth A. "Learning from Instructional Rounds." Educational Leadership 69.2 (2011): 36-41.
"Instructional Rounds in Education: A Network Approach to Improving Teaching and Learning." Choice Reviews Online 47.07 (2010)

Courage
Inclusiveness

James-Ward, Cheryl, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Diane Lapp. Using Data To Focus Instructional Improvement. Alexandria: ASCD, 2013. Print.

Innovation Integrity

Troen, Vivian, and Katherine C. Boles. "Rounds: Puts Teachers in Charge of Learning." Learning Forward 35.2 (2014): 20-28.

Action Steps/Implementation
Collaboratively developing a

vision
Obtain Administrative Support
Work with multiple teams
Partner for leaning walks
Colleges
District curriculum team
Teachers for learning walks,

curriculum, etc.

Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Evidence of Success
Three new STEM CTE courses

will be offered next year

Articulation agreements have
been established for five high
school courses for a total of 13
college units

Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Next Steps for the Project

Continue implementation of new

courses
Teacher training
Classroom supplies

Make Learning Walks sustainable

Skys the limit

Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Leveraging the Five Practices of

Exemplary Leadership

How did you apply the five practices of exemplary

leadership to implement the project?

Model the Way Students first! Seek out opportunities to support

students.
Inspire a Shared Vision What is best for students
Challenge the Process Articulated college credit
Enable Others to Act Enable teachers to follow their passion for
teaching. Empowering them to continue the process
Encourage the Heart Staff training on importance of
relationships

Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity

Learning/Growth
Leadership CAN be learned. Leaders

can always grow.

TLCA has given me the confidence to lead

and to be myself. I have had the pleasure to

stand on the shoulder of giants and I have
tried my best to continue their work. TLCA
has made me realize that I can be a giant
myself. Leaders pave a road so those that
follow can go further.
TLCA's LPI has shown me my weaknesses
that I knew already existed, but has also
given me the tools to work on my
weaknesses and make them my strengths.
Courage
Inclusiveness

Innovation Integrity