October 20, 2009
Dear Parents and Caring Adults:
We have a lot of promising signs that our schools are heading in the right direction, and we are dedicated to continuous improvement. At the district, we’re looking at ways to support innovation in our classrooms and our district operations to better support the work that schools are doing.
Just because times are tough financially doesn’t mean we should give up on our commitment to innovation; it is the cornerstone of continuous improvement. In fact, innovation can yield more cost effective solutions to problems.
For example, this year we are expanding technology solutions that have up-front costs but which will ultimately contribute to student learning and save the district millions. School Loop, a new electronic parent-to-school communication tool, will mean less paper and time will be required to enter grades and attendance; a new point of sale system for our school cafeterias will make collecting reimbursement for free and reduced lunch and/or payments more seamless; and the installation of new cable to allow wide area networks will eventually mean that schools can more easily use online resources for teaching and learning, saving money on other instructional materials.
But technology isn’t the only way we are supporting innovation. At our school sites we are encouraging teachers and administrators to convene in small, structured study groups to conduct evidence-based inquiry. For example, a group of fourth grade teachers may meet to discuss what does this student’s work tell us about what he or she learned? Then these teachers may cross-pollinate ways to improve the lesson or suggest strategies to specifically give additional help to the student.
These “professional learning communities,” when done well, are at the heart of our most important innovation – classroom practice that is engaging and joyful and yields high academic achievement.
Warm regards,
Carlos A. Garcia
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