August Reflection
First day of school is an invigorating event in an educational system. For students; new shoes, school supplies, uniforms and meeting new friends. For school administrators; leadership team, teachers, successful first week of school, attendance rate, and implementation of school plans as well as meeting academic expectations. For Beginning and New teachers in the campus, what first day of school will look like and how to implement tremendous skills learned during summer in-service professional development. Classroom preparations, putting non-negotiable standards on the wall, furniture setting, and making copies of course outline and expectations. These festive frame of mind, allows administrators, students,and teachers to hope for a bright and successful school year.
First day of school is an invigorating event in an educational system. For students; new shoes, school supplies, uniforms and meeting new friends. For school administrators; leadership team, teachers, successful first week of school, attendance rate, and implementation of school plans as well as meeting academic expectations. For Beginning and New teachers in the campus, what first day of school will look like and how to implement tremendous skills learned during summer in-service professional development. Classroom preparations, putting non-negotiable standards on the wall, furniture setting, and making copies of course outline and expectations. These festive frame of mind, allows administrators, students,and teachers to hope for a bright and successful school year.
October Reflection
The engine warms up and instruction rolls on the sound of the bell. It's been a pretty good start for my cohort teachers. Ms. Telcy came to observe the class to see application of best practice on student engagement. Individual Professional Development Plan was created and several meetings were held to establish routine and constant support. Common Assessments were developed and students' tracking their data for teachers to analyze and drive instructions. This video summarizes mid August and early October activities. |
This video, shows transformation work being done in Sugar Grove Academy that include: Leadership, teaching, and instructional excellence. Also school design, social and emotional learning support, and family and community empowerment.These undertaking, provide much needed support to my cohort teachers.
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October Reflection continues. . .
ACHIEVE 180, is a research-based action plan to support, strengthen, and empower under-served and under performing schools in the district. In order to increase student achievement, best practices from successful school turnaround initiatives – including effective teachers, strong principal leadership, and an environment of high expectations for both students and staff – are incorporated into the plan. |
November Reflection
1. Problem Solving Community Meeting #2 at Lawson Middle School 2. Social Studies Department Chair Meeting 3.-7 pictures relate to Teacher Distressing session participated by Principal Reyna and Ms. Adriana Gil-Wilkerson, director of Counselling Center HGI. 8-9 Ednuity, Achieve 180 session with Betty Garcia Hill of DDI on students' achievement and growth.
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Meeting. . .meeting. . .Meeting!
"When am I gonna do my lesson plan?"
"When will I make phone call to the parent?"
"When will I can make copies?"
"Nobody is talking my student's referral seriously! I write the student up and send to Student Discipline office, and then after 10 minutes, student is back."
"grades are due tomorrow and I am overwhelm with work!"
The voice usually heard from teachers at this time. They are exhausted and overwhelm with responsibilities, they want the school year to be over. Being an experienced teacher, it pains me to apprehend what our teachers are going through. In an effort to ease the stress, images 3-7 show how Ms. Morales and I collaborated and conducted the Self-Care Detoxification session. This activity allows teachers to experience relaxation, self-evaluate, and focus on their own strength through the help of Texas-French Alliance for the Arts and HGI Counseling Center. This experience impacted teachers because instead of muttering, they share their encounter and expressed hope to have a follow-up session. Delighted by its effect, Karine Parker, CEO of Texas-French alliance for the Arts promised to pilot a program for teachers that will focus on the socio-emotional development and self-care to enhance self efficacy.
December Reflection
Happy holidays! The end of the semester needs a lot of feedback sessions on teacher's instructional progress, data tracking, pacing calendar, classroom management, and planning for second semester.What progress did my caseload teachers achieve? How are they after four months? I will not lie, they are struggling! However, with constant support from Teacher Leaders, they show progress based on how classes are conducted on I-9 and I-10. Ms.Telcy and Mr. Baxenbaum needs time to whet their methodology. Ms. Telcy showed huge progress in Domain I- student performance based from the District Level Assessment (DL).While Mr. Baxembaum is approaching in the same domain. Both teachers are enthusiastic in attending professional development offered by the district as well as Achieve 180 sessions. These teachers are very promising.
This video captures the fun and professional activities for December.. From holiday ugly sweeter day, teacher self-care session, feedback meetings, and PSCs that help improve foster positive school climate.
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January Reflection
Back to school: New beginnings, same goal, focus on student performance and academic growth. As incentive to all scholars who showed performance grow from previous District assessment each grade level provided incentive to our young scholars; pizza party, field trip, painting , sports, and musical instrument activities. I strongly believe that incentives is like a bulb, a key or a tiny object that has an astonishing power to motivate change.
This video collates various incentives provided because of hard work and willingness to grow. Though, providing incentives for our scholars is quite challenging, it makes me happy to see them proud of what they accomplish. |
February Reflection
Sugar Grove Academy celebrated its Literacy and Family Night with the theme. . .For the Love of Literacy. February is when teachers meet with assigned appraiser and discuss mid-year performance rating.Pacing calendar is phasing out. There are few more standards to teach. When ever school year is almost over, I remember the time I spent with my students and cohort teachers.I think I did not do much to help. However, as I see my students improve every assessment, their growth is mine and success is theirs. I will continue to put my best foot forward everyday until they leave the Campus. For my cohort; Ms. Telcy and Mr. Boxembaun, there are so many things to learn, box full of tools to use, resources to discover and relationships to build. You have all the support around you. Ask and you will be helped. I promise to contentiously support you. Have a great summer!
March Reflection
or me. it has been a wonderful year as a Teacher Leader. I have attended workshops and training in and out of the state ( Virginia Institute of Technology, Harris County Department of Education, Rice and Stanford University). I met people and personalities that impacted my growth personally and professionally (Dr. Lathan, District Superintendent, Siomara Saenz-Phillips, SSO West Area, Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca District VI, Dr. Tom Ewing, Virginia Tech and National Endowment Director, Ms. Janice Dingayan, Career Pathways Manage, and Principal Reyna).
I have made decisions that others have issues accepting the truthfulness of it. I have suggestions and programs that made a difference in my cohort's professional life and show impact in their classroom. I have worked hard to share my skills to those who needed most ( Ms. Telcy and Mr. Baxembaum). I strongly believe with the progress my students are showing, I will make a significant change in our previous score.
For my cohort; Ms. Telcy and Mr. Boxembaum might not be there yet, but these two teachers survived the turmoil of urban classroom as first time educators. The effort put in by these teachers in their respective classes ( differentiation, data tracking, after school and Saturday tutorials, group and tier students) are noteworthy to achieve student performance growth.
Finally, I started strong because of Career Pathways Teacher Leader Program. Without a shadow of doubt, I am stronger as the year ends. Thank you Janice, Vanessa, Kristy, Biben, Gail, and all of you in Career Pathways.Y'all Rock!
Thank you Ms. Telcy and Mr. Baxenbaum. . . thank you for your time. I hope you take teaching to the next level to impact more students as well as yourself.
I have made decisions that others have issues accepting the truthfulness of it. I have suggestions and programs that made a difference in my cohort's professional life and show impact in their classroom. I have worked hard to share my skills to those who needed most ( Ms. Telcy and Mr. Baxembaum). I strongly believe with the progress my students are showing, I will make a significant change in our previous score.
For my cohort; Ms. Telcy and Mr. Boxembaum might not be there yet, but these two teachers survived the turmoil of urban classroom as first time educators. The effort put in by these teachers in their respective classes ( differentiation, data tracking, after school and Saturday tutorials, group and tier students) are noteworthy to achieve student performance growth.
Finally, I started strong because of Career Pathways Teacher Leader Program. Without a shadow of doubt, I am stronger as the year ends. Thank you Janice, Vanessa, Kristy, Biben, Gail, and all of you in Career Pathways.Y'all Rock!
Thank you Ms. Telcy and Mr. Baxenbaum. . . thank you for your time. I hope you take teaching to the next level to impact more students as well as yourself.
Career Pathways Teacher Leader Focus Group: Thank you Cecilia and Marco for facilitating this forum.Thank you Career Pathways for every thing you do for us Teacher Leaders and in Hisd. Salamat!
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