Messages From Dr. Kasmarick
We welcomed our School Board to Richards last night and had the opportunity to share some of the work that we're engaged in this year. I was humbled and grateful to present alongside these fabulous staff members: Barb Ade (Grade 4), Sara Alter (Grade 3), Margot DeBot (Literacy Coach), Susan Jones (Instructional Resource Coordinator), Michelle Mooney (Grade 1), and Steven Shaw (Math Interventionist).
We shared highlights related to four themes:
World Class Universal Tier - our classrooms are the epicenter of our school where ALL students are valuable members. While additional support in alternate locations is sometimes needed, we want our classrooms to be world class and set up to promote success and belonging for all learners.
Equity - Our mission is to advance the learning of all students in our school. Through ongoing reflection on our own personal beliefs, culturally responsive and inclusive practice, the careful monitoring of achievement, behavioral, and participation data across student groups, and multi-level systems of support, we know that this is possible at Richards.
Capacity Building & Shared Leadership - Through collaboration coaches and professional learning communities at each grade level and department, and a variety of representative teams (Building Leadership, Richards Support/Pupil Services, Operations Chair, PBIS), leadership is shared and staff have multiple opportunities to learn from one another. Classroom teachers working alongside special educators, counselors, interventionists, coaches, and paraprofessionals builds shared ownership for student learning and can result in co-designed instruction that better meets the needs of diverse learners.
Adults as Continuous Learners/Growth Mindset - Continual reflection and growth is important for all staff members. During this presentation, we highlighted our Model Classroom Teachers in both reading and math who work closely with an instructional coach to create learning labs within the school. The work done here is shared with team members through videotaped lessons, live visits, and grade level conversations.
All of this is resulting in learning for students that is more integrated across classrooms and subjects, more active, authentic, and collaborative. The journey never ends, but we know that we're on the right path!
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