(originally published in the Oct. 22 staff e-newsletter, Communicator)

Why didn't he talk about Carver Road Middle School?

Earlier this week, I saw outstanding teaching in an Expert 21 lab where the students were fully engaged in learning and having a good time. As soon as I walked into that room I could not only see and feel the energy, but the students told me they were excited to share what they were doing with Expert 21.

Later, I went into Carver Road's media center and saw a language arts teacher engaging her students in a writing workshop. Students were in five different groups. In one station they were using technology. When a question appeared on the board they used their student response systems to show their answers. The teacher responded with immediate feedback.  It was an excellent example of integrated technology - and the students were excited with what they were doing. They were really into it.

In the media center's back room were students writing about their visit to the fair. But, they were going above and beyond - they said, "We just can't say what others would say, we have to say what made it exciting!" They were challenging each other to come up with better paragraphs and word choices.

When I asked teachers how long it took them to prepare the writing workshop, they said, "Two weeks, but we will be in the workshop for about two days." And that's about right, two weeks of preparation for two days of class. But the students were so involved and so engaged it was well worth the time, and that's what the teachers told me.

Why didn't he talk about Cowan Road Elementary School?

This week, a Cowan Road Elementary teacher told me, "I have a group in the hallway doing a theater workshop working on their drama. Want to help?" And so I stayed and listened to their play. (It took me back to the days when I was in elementary school and we learned the way to speak and to act in front of a group.) The students were excited!

The Governor doesn't know about all of this because it's not what he and others see. What the public wants to see are high graduation rates, high SAT scores, and high percentage passing CRCTs. But something has to come before that. And what comes before that is what you do each and every day.

This week I received an information memorandum from Ashley Crawford, Director of Elementary Curriculum, of an analysis of Benchmark 1 for the subjects that were given in elementary schools. I got the same document for the middle schools from Dr. Cynthia Anderson (Director of Middle School Curriculum).

The results are excellent! We compared the results from this year with last year, and overall they are up. When we compare Benchmark 1 results with the diagnostics from the beginning of the school year, they are up. The board of education will hear a report on this during their November 2 meeting.

I know how well you're doing. You're doing a great job! Students are learning because you are teaching them, and we thank you! You're doing great things across the board.

Finally:

• Congratulations to Rehoboth Road Middle School Mustangs for winning the region championships 16 to 13. It was the first time since 2005 one of our middle schools has won the middle region.
  
  
• And lastly, on a sad note, some of you may know Lou Corsetti, a great individual who helped out at Griffin High School for years by writing a school newsletter. He worked hard out of love for students and journalism. He passed away this week. Lou was an outstanding individual, and he will be missed.

And with that, have a great week!

(originally published in the Oct. 22 staff e-newsletter, Communicator)

By now you've heard of the death of Michael Hollis, a Griffin High School student who died a week ago during the school day. Michael, a member of the GHS student body, was in the marching band as well as the drum line. His death is sad and affects many within our community. Our hearts and our thoughts are with his family.

(originally published in the Sept. 24 staff e-newsletter, Communicator)

Do you remember when Hillary Clinton ran a commercial during the 2008 presidential election that had a phone ringing at 3am in the morning and the question was asked, "Who do you want to answer this phone call?" 

(originally published in the Sept. 24 staff e-newsletter, Communicator)



Last weekend, the Griffin-Spalding County United Way campaign conducted its third annual boat race at Dundee Lake. The event gave Pacesetter organizations, such as ours, a chance to come together and build awareness of the importance of United Way to our community. 

 

Moore Elementary teachers Carmar Walker (back) and Wendy White (front) designed and paddled Moore's boat.

 

• class sizes
• reporting requirements,
• categorical allotment requirements,
• certification requirements,
• conditions of employment as it relates to duty free lunch,
• the organization of the schools,
• middle school programs, 
• scheduling and
• expenditure controls and QBE financing.

• talk with your principals and supervisors,
• do your own research and then
• let us know what you think.

• The diagnostic assessments that we did during the first two weeks of school,
• The CRCT Erasure Analysis investigation , and
• Current information about the education jobs bill

For this meeting we had an open agenda so council members could have an open dialogue. The first thing they asked me was about the Spalding High / Griffin High Football Game. The specific issue was, "Why didn't we have an email from you explaining what had happened and how we're responding?"

• Having wands so individuals could be scanned for concealed weapons.
• How the crowd interacts with players and students.
• Vehicle parking.

• We will continue to maintain a minimum number of security officers at all ball games.
• We are adding two additional officers specifically tasked for using wands for security scans (at the officer's discretion).
• These two additional officers will clear the street in front of the stadium after halftime when tickets are no longer sold. We believe a lot of the problems come from people hanging outside the stadium waiting for the game to end.
• And we agreed to continue to look at other safety measures and to make decisions about next year's cross-town ball game. We will look at issues such as the day and time the game can be played and if it should be played.

• I believe we provide a safe environment for competition.
• I believe we are appropriately responding to last Friday's event.

There are so many things I want to share with you this week:

Georgia's being awarded a federal grant as part of the Race to the Top competition. We are one of 26 school districts participating.

A recent issue that has come up about internet filtering in schools. I've asked Rod Smith, our Director of Instructional Technology, to discuss this management function in today's Communicator.

The restraint training administrators attended a week ago and the excellent team work they displayed as we're beginning the steps to implement this new Georgia law.

The strategic meetings we are having with each school to review the way each school is implementing the GSCS strategy map.
There are so many great things that are happening in our school district! But this week, I want to talk to you about 98-35.

While I was at Futral Road Elementary earlier this week for their strategic meeting, a teacher came up to me and said, "You've got to see 98-35. It is amazing!"

I replied, "What are you talking about? What is 98-35?" She said, "It's one of our school buses. And while I know schools are implementing PBIS, I didn't really know it was being implemented on the buses. You just have to see what Ms. Pat is doing!" I told her I would return to the school the next day, and when I did, what I saw was outstanding!

To begin with, all six buses were all lined up waiting for the school to be dismissed. In the past Futral Road has had two fleets of buses; now they are able to dismiss all the students and put them on the buses at one time.

As I was waiting for school to dismiss, Principal Larry Jones shared with me the expected behavior students have learned this month because of PBIS. While he was sharing we walked to the cafeteria. There I saw bus drivers waiting, sharing stories, and preparing to take students home. And then Ms. Pat came in.

I think Mr. Jones had already shared with her that I was going to visit. She looked at me, and I asked, "What's going on with your bus?" Ms. Pat responded, "It's been 10 years since I've driven an elementary school bus, so this has been a change for me, but it's good."

Then I saw students being dismissed. As they came down the hall, Mr. Jones pointed out the expected behavior, and he shared that behavior, discipline, and safety is better this year.

But then Ms. Pat said, "Here comes my class." Notice that. She said, "My class".

Ms. Pat got on her bus. As students stepped on board, she stood, clapped her hands, talked to her students, and greeted them as they came onto the bus. They each greeted her, and they went to their seats.

I then noticed there were cut outs of different shapes by each seat. I saw she had separated students so girls were sitting on the driver's of the bus and boys were sitting on the other. She held up three fingers as the students boarded and students knew that meant three students to a seat.

After her entire class had boarded on the bus, I climbed on to look. Some of those cut outs had pictures so I asked, "What's that?" She said, "Some of the students brought me their pictures so I put them up where they sit."

In fact, she shared that she has partnered with a business and at the end of each week if there were no write-ups for discipline, that each student (66 of them) gets a popsicle. She said she has 3 students testing her, but for the most part, it is a good transition. Students are meeting her expectations. Their behavior is good. (After she finishes her elementary route, she goes on to her high school route.)

So, I share that story with you as another example of how we are a school system. This is another example that our day doesn't end when the bell rings - it's our responsibility to get students to that bus and to get them home. We're in this together.

It may have been 10 years since Ms. Pat last drove an elementary bus, but she's taken to it like a duck takes to water. Good job, Pat. I dare you to do better!

TSAC sounds like a word you hear during football season when linemen and linebackers are rushing in to sack the quarterback behind the line. But TSAC is something different. TSAC is an acronym for our Taylor Street Achievement Center, formally the alternative school. If you go visit, you will be amazed.
 
I was able to visit there earlier this week and I was thoroughly impressed. When I first walked in, one of the custodians said, "Doggone it!" I looked at him and asked, "Uh, what's the problem?"  He responded, "That door was supposed to be locked because we're trying to encourage all parents to use the front door. So I have to go back and make sure it's secure."
 
 He said, "But how do you like how the place looks, Dr. Jones?" I looked around. The floors were highly polished, the building was clean, it looked great - and I told him that. I saw pride in his eyes, and I heard pride in his voice when he said, "Yeah, this is a good looking place, and we're going to keep it that way!"
 
 Then I noticed the school's resource officer who was in the center of the hallway where he could monitor what was going on. During a class change he was among the students. He was part of the staff, and it was efficient operation that just screamed, "We are reliable. You can trust us with your children."
 
 I went in a classroom to see what was going on. Turned out it was a science classroom and a former high school teacher of the year, Valeria Gladney, was the teacher. Her blackboard configuration was up-to-date, being implemented perfectly. The students were listening as she provided instructions and then it struck me... the students were all dressed the same.
 
 Quietly, without any controversy, TSAC students adopted a uniform, and they all were in compliance. I then went to the main office where I saw the principal, Mrs. Janet Ware, managing and running the office as her secretary was out on school errands.
 
 I share all of this with you simply to say, "We have a place we can be proud of." TSAC is up, operational, and doing great things for some of our system's most at-risk students. In fact, I would say that TSAC is almost as impressive as our Elementary Enrichment Center. So, if you get a chance, go by and check out TSAC. It's a place of pride!
 
And TSAC - don't get a big head - 'cause I dare you to do better!

I shared with you last week my middle child, Jaimon, was getting married. Well, at the wedding, my 7-year-old granddaughter looked at her uncle Jaimon, then looked at her grandma Evelyn, and said, "Kids. They grow up way too soon!" Evelyn looked at her and said, "What?" Our granddaughter smiled, "I heard that on TV."

Last Sunday, the day before school started, my wife, daughter and I were returning from Virginia where our daughter will begin medical school on Monday, August 9th.  As we were returning home, I was thinking not about the first few days of school that were about to come for us, but rather I was thinking about the following weekend. On August 7th, my youngest son is getting married - the first of our children to do so! So, in one case we are getting our daughter prepared for medical school, in the other our son is about to get married, and in between those two weekends are the first days of school. What an exciting week!
 
Between Open House and the first day of school, I have visited every school. What I have seen has been exciting! I have seen you implementing and living the Griffin-Spalding County School System values. 
 
COL DR
 
C - Competency
I visited two math classes - one in high school and one in elementary. I saw the teachers demonstrating math competency that was simply amazing. In one case, I knew the teacher had been to the math endorsement statistics class over the summer. It was good seeing increased math competency based on the math endorsement - which we know is important.

O - Open Communication
Later, I was in another classroom and the teacher was informing students they were going to become a learning community and would have to learn to trust one another. Part of that is being transparent and so this teacher modeled what she meant. She spoke about her life experiences, who she is, how she got into teaching, and why teaching is important to her.  What a great example of open communication between the teacher and the students! 
 
L - Loyalty
In another case, I heard a conversation among some classified staff about the upcoming Republican runoff for governor. They were discussing the impact on public education and what it means to us. I am able to associate this with our value of loyalty - loyalty not only to one another and to all GSCS schools, but also loyalty to public education. 
 
D - Defined Autonomy
As I visited classrooms, I looked to see if the GSCS strategy map had been displayed and in some cases I saw it. I heard a couple teachers explaining how they were going to conduct their classrooms as far as classroom management, rules, and structures are concerned. This idea of defined autonomy came through. They were demonstrating they are in charge of their classrooms, but they also realize that they are part of the school. Positive Behavior Interventions and Support is a great example of this, and I saw different schools implementing PBIS this very first week. 
 
R - Respect
I was able to sit in on a couple of teacher meetings where teachers were able to say to one another, "Yeah, we're going to issue lockers and this is how I do it," and others said, "Well, that doesn't quite work". While they disagreed, they were respectful in how they communicated and talked to one another.
We're continuing to work with students enrolling late. We continue to balance classes. And yes, we even had some problems getting district benchmarks conducted this week. But all that is to be expected - things don't always go according as planned. The key is we're working together to solve them.
 
Our values are in place and are being demonstrated not only by what we say but by what we do. I saw COL DR throughout the system, and it gave me continued optimism about this year.
 
We're off to a good start. So, thank you for a great week. I dare you to make next week better.

  -- "COL DR"

• Open House went very well, and many students are ready to return.
• I'm told the beginning of school meetings with our nutrition and transportation employees were extremely successful.
• I'm also told school faculty and staff meetings led by principals during this week of preplanning were also very productive.

• Let's continue to build the Griffin-Spalding County School System we want to have.
• Let's continue to work to make it the very best we can.
• Let's be a leader in the state in student achievement.

• Your continued support.
• The many good words you shared with me about my auditorium presentation.
• For being a professional educator helping improve education in Griffin-Spalding.

• Click here for the PowerPoint (in PDF) of Dr. Jones' 2010 State of the System Address
  
  
• Click here for audio of Dr. Jones' 2010 State of the System Address (Please allow several minutes to load!)

• Had the opportunity to look at differentiated instruction - The Griffin-Spalding County School System way.
• Learned about Performance Matters from our Curriculum and Instruction staff.
• Learned about ethics.
• Even did some preliminary work in Infinite Campus.

This 36th week of school is the one we've all been looking forward to.

• It's time to celebrate. This is a happy time.
• We've finished classroom instruction.
• We've finished standardized testing.
• We're starting to recognize students for their academic achievements.
• Banquets are occurring.
• Field trips are coming to an end.

• We should be proud of our efforts this year which made it a success.
• We should be proud of our students, the growth they have made, and the achievements they have accomplished.

Okay, I know you're saying, "It's just the first part of May... we haven't gotten to summer yet! I can't wait for it to start!"

• I received an email from a teacher I used to work with. Her daughter, Mary Cole, a 7th grader at Rehoboth Road Middle School, qualified for the Duke TIP Program (Talent Identification Program) - a super accomplishment that not only mom and daughter but also elementary and middle schools teachers should be proud of. It just felt good to see a child I have known since birth come into our school system and succeed.

• I also went to the UGA Griffin Campus Pavilion (a gorgeous facility) and had lunch with our retiring staff. We recognized this tremendous group of individuals, dedicated educators and staff who have given their professional lives to help improve education in Griffin-Spalding. It was good to see not only the excitement they still have about education but also the excitement about the next phase of their lives.

• Yesterday I went to Spalding High School's JROTC Annual Federal Inspection. Seeing the cadets march onto the parade field reminded me of not only my days in JROTC but also the excitement of the cadets. It was the words of their battalion commander, who said this year has been the most fulfilling of her high school career, that put it in perspective for me: the success of the year being captured in one event.

• As I compose this blog I'm getting ready to go to Griffin High School's Annual Federal Inspection and see their cadets give their presentation and parade. I'm sure its going to go well. Tomorrow I'll be with some of those students again during their military ball - another exciting event for students but also a chance for us adults to see these young people begin to rise to their level of potential. 
   

• Last night (Thursday) I had the good fortune to drive a van full of concerned citizens representing Griffin-Spalding to Henry County High School as we participated with another 50 or 60 individuals to discuss our view of what public education should look like in Georgia. This community conversation was one of several sponsored by the Georgia School Boards Association and the Georgia School Superintendents Association. It's good to know we were well represented in sharing our ideas.

• And did I mention that at Tuesday night's board of education meeting our board approved the new mission and vision statements you helped develop?
   

• Administrators
• Teachers
• Classified staff
• Parents

1. We're still continuing to save on utilities. Each one of us can try to save energy.
   
   
   A few weeks ago a bus driver told me, "Col. Jones, every time I go by your office I look inside the window and I can see a lamp that's on. You tell us to turn those lamps off." My lamp is now turned off.
   
   
2. The school system will use a four-day work week this summer consisting of four ten-hour days.
   
   
   This will probably cover a period of five weeks. We anticipate for each Friday that all of our buildings are closed, we'll save between $8,000 and $10,000 in utility costs. While $50,000 of potential savings may not sound like much, it is equal to the salaries of 4 or 5 paraprofessionals or classified staff. We're taking this measure very seriously.

Did any of you see the NCAA National Basketball Championships in March?

Called "March Madness", 64 of the best college teams compete and play for the national championship.

This year, the Duke Blue Devils played Butler University Bulldogs in the finals. Butler was the Hoosiers for this year - a small school that played very well with a lot of support across the country. The little guy was able to go up against the big machine.

But the Duke Blue Devils played an outstanding game throughout the championships.

Coach "K" (who happens to be a West Point graduate and coached the Army football team for 5 years - just a little something I thought you wanted to know) coached the Blue Devils team for the 30th year.

There's a lot to learn from Coach K (Krzyzewski).

I just finished reading his book, "THE GOLD STANDARD: Building a World-Class Team."

One of the things that Coach K says is what happens during game time is what you've been doing in practice. If your practice has been intense, if situations have been real, if players have really come together as a team, it will help you when the pressure is on in the real game and when the championship is on the line.

The same is true for us in education. March Madness in basketball is for us testing time in the spring.

• Our high school students have completed taking the Georgia High School Graduation Test.
• We're closing in on the end of the CRCT.
• In early May, our high schools will go into a second part of testing - the End of Course Test.

What happened in March Madness will happen to us. 

• How well our students practiced will be evident.
• How well our teachers have prepared our students will be evident.

I think we can be proud of the results that we will achieve.

Another piece of advice from Coach K in his book is committing to self-evaluation. Once again, I think students, teachers, and administrators can all learn from him.

Just as basketball players continue to practice, look at their performance, and decide what their individual goals will be, so can our students. As we finish this testing season, this is an opportunity for students to see where they've been, where they are, and how they met their goals.

Sometimes it is this one-on-one conversation to help students conduct a self-evaluation that helps them find that intrinsic motivation. It's just something for us to think about and share. It's another opportunity to create a lasting and more effective relationship.

Take the weekend and relax. Let's finish the CRCTs and continue on with our year.

Things are going well. You should be proud. I know I am proud of you, but I still dare us to do better.

The Griffin-Spalding County School System is an outstanding school system. It is outstanding because of the individuals who work in all of our schools - teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, nutrition workers, custodians, and yes, even administrators.

We have individuals who come to work and do their very best to help students learn and to better understand the world in which they live and the world that one day they will lead.

Research tells us that the single most important variable in helping a student learn is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. So, I looked at data to see how well we are doing with our attendance - with being at work every day.

Collectively we have taken more than 10,700 days of leave from July 1, 2009, to January 20, 2010.  This includes sick leave, personal leave, professional leave, leave for jury duty, leave for student support team, and vacation days.

10,700 days. That's an average of more than 6.5 days out of work for every employee.

The employee absences in dollars alone cost us more than $895,000 for substitute pay not to mention the instruction lost or other work not completed.

On the plus side, we do receive $150 per position for a substitute teacher. Multiply that by our 700 teacher employees eligible for substitutes, and the total is $105,000. That leaves a huge gap between our costs and our eligible revenue.

I know that when you're sick we don't want you to come to school or work.  I also know that we have people who come to work everyday.

In these economic times, when we are trying our best to find the most effective ways to save money, shouldn't one of them be to decrease the amount of money that we spend on substitute pay?

Years ago the system tried awarding employees with perfect attendance with a monetary incentive. Our data showed there was no improvement in staff attendance. But I don't think we ought to give up.

I ask you:

• What ideas do you have to help us increase the number of employees who come to work everyday?
• What ideas do you have to decrease the amount of money being spent on substitute teachers' pay?

It will benefit all of us if we can find good answers. So please, if you have ideas, share them with me.
 
My number is 4. I've taken 2 personal days and 2 professional learning days. What's your number?

And as always, I dare you to do better.
 

 
We should be proud of our graduates.

On December 18, 2009, I had the great fortune to have a conversation about improving our school system with 18 recent graduates. They were equally divided between our two high schools, and 17 of them are currently enrolled in college.

We began our conversation by my asking what made good teachers great. They said the one thing that separated great teachers from good teachers was that great teachers respected students.

The graduates said it was easy to tell when a teacher didn't really care about the subject, when a teacher was teaching out of field, or was uncomfortable with the subject matter. They could tell when a teacher was there only for a paycheck.

What was obvious is that students will care when they know you care. Respect is a two-way street, and those students respected by teachers gave respect in return. There was respect because of the relationship that the teacher established with each student, not because the teacher gave a lot of classwork, homework, or extra-hard tests.

The graduates also shared that school should prepare them to think, not simply to memorize dates, places, or facts.

They want to know how to think about a problem mathematically, how to think about a problem from a language arts perspective or a social studies perspective. They want to know how to be able to prove their argument with information they had already learned.

Interestingly, the graduates said they needed more opportunities to stand up in front of a group and actually present what they think and not just write it or respond in short answers.

One said, "Every course could just be teaching me how to think, how to prioritize, how to get to what is important."

Another perspective this group shared was their belief that we made school too easy for them. They believe too many tests were given, too much homework was assigned, and too much emphasis was placed on grades.

In college and life they now realize that assessments are few but when they do happen, they're important. Their suggestion was to have fewer more meaningful assessments.

The graduates asked for opportunities to return to their alma mater to talk to students. They suggested students in our high schools talk to middle school students; middle school students talk to elementary students, especially in transition grades where extra challenges exist.

I believe that our graduates shared great ideas on how to improve. I thank them for coming on a wet, cold, and rainy afternoon to help us change our way of doing business.

I challenge you to include students in more decision-making processes at the district level, the school level, and in the classroom. I dare each of you to talk with students to let them help you improve your practice.