Embedded Files
A cross-functional leadership team sets a clear vision for the school, its culture, and what teaching
and learning look like before putting technology in classrooms.
Implementing powerful learning experiences for students and teachers: School and District Leadership
Implementing powerful learning experiences for students and teachers: School and District Leadership
Guiding question:
How does the school leadership team collaborate to support VILS goals??
The principal and VILS coach hold weekly meetings
These meetings provide an opportunity to:
keep each other updated on VILS-related requirements and deadlines
collaborate on strategies to support the staff in digital learning
review data from teacher observations/coaching and TTS
The Instructional Leadership Team holds weekly meetings
These meetings allow the school's instructional leaders to:
review relevant data, including assessment data, survey data, and student work
brainstorm strategies for addressing gaps
review interventions and supports
The Teacher Leader Corps meet semi-regularly
This meeting allows teacher leaders to:
offer ideas for integrating technology into instruction
plan for ways to support colleagues
provide confidence to open model classrooms
Guiding question:
How does the district leadership team support innovation and collaboration related to technology?
The district leadership team supports innovation and collaboration by prioritizing aspects of digital learning and future-readiness, such as:
As highlighted on the Home page of this portfolio site, Future Readiness has been identified as one of the five strategic priorities in Norwalk Public Schools' current strategic operating plan.
Furthermore, the digital learning department has expanded to include an assistant superintendent, a coordinator of digital learning, digital learning coaches, and library media specialists.
Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, content and digital learning instructional coaches have been included in monthly district leadership meetings with principals and assistant principals. These meetings provide opportunities to reflect, collaborate, and plan for ways to improve instructional efforts.
Through our participation in VILS, our staff has been able to receive job-embedded professional development on implementing instructional technology and digital learning, especially in the areas of digital collaboration and equity.
Guiding question:
Could you provide examples of how your Professional Learning and Information Technology practices have been adapted based on your reflections and insights gained from fellow members of the VILS network?
Device Care
On subsequent pages in this portfolio, you will see evidence of how the school supports policies around device care as well as safety and security, such as resources designed by the student tech team around digital citizenship and collaborations between the principal and VILS coach to utilize live morning announcements to deliver important information to students and staff related to device care and management.
Repair Ticketing
Our repair ticketing system along with the Device Data Usage Dashboard by Qualtrics provides necessary data to inform us about device care and usage. Additionally, more evidence can be seen in examples such as the system for submitting repair tickets that was created by the school's leadership team and shared by the assistant principal. It can be seen on the "Consistent Access" page of this portfolio.
Device Checks
As per our sustainability plan, we strive to conduct strategic device checks throughout the year. The first was held during the winter and the second will be conducted during the early spring. They each provide evidence that highlights our strength in limiting the number of missing devices. They also highlight a weakness in the area of the large number of devices that needed repair. Evidence of our efforts to rectify this area of weakness has shown through a collaboration between the principal, coach, IT techinician, and library media specialist to streamline the repair process as well as to obtain and distribute more loaner devices.
Device Check email.pdfImproving teaching practices for technology integration: Teacher Leader Corps
Improving teaching practices for technology integration: Teacher Leader Corps
Guiding question:
How do the TLC members impact school improvement or student learning? If not, how can you leverage their expertise?
West Rocks Middle School values teacher collaboration and leadership through a Professional Community (PLC) model. As such, several committees exist within the school to promote teacher empowerment. The Teacher Leader Corps (TLC) is a committee comprised of 7 teacher leaders. The TLC meets semi-regularly.
Between meetings, TLC members and the VILS Coach meet one-on-one as part of coaching cycles and in small groups, when possible, to work on being ambassadors for digital learning platforms. Examples shown in the photos to the right represent members of the TLC supporting other members of grade level or content area PLC teams.
The TLC has impacted school improvement efforts and student learning by being eager to try new digital learning tools and instructional strategies. The TLC searches for ways to make learning more relevant and authentic. Additionally, the TLC models these new strategies for other teachers on grade level and content area teams.
Reflection
Reflection
Self-Reflection: Use the portfolio guide and self-reflect on your progress (Choose one: Emerging, Aligning, or Optimizing).
Aligning
How does your school demonstrate excellence in showcasing the outcomes listed above?
Strengths in this area include a more dedicated effort to hold planning meetings between the principal and VILS Coach as well as including VILS in meetings with the ILT. Additionally, strengths can be seen in the efforts made around device care and building the STT up as leaders.
Next Steps: What are your next steps to implement powerful learning experiences for students and teachers and improve teaching practices for technology integration?
This year, our school staff have not been formed into committees as they were in the past. Therefore, since there are few opportunities for the TLC to meet formally, the TLC has not met this year. An implementation plan for the rest of the year and start of next year is in place.
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