Social discussion of CS in K-12

[Pattsi Petrie <pattsi2 AT gmail.com>]

Hi again, one last thought to add to the ongoing conversation. I encourage folks to begin exploring just how the delivery of education will change during the next 1-5 decades and how this relates to the whole Unit 4 building renovations. At least, I have heard none of such and I base this one the designs being put forth.

P2

On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 1:47 PM, Charles Schultz <sacrophyte AT gmail.com> wrote:

I encourage folks to send comments directly to the board via email (u4boe AT u4sd.org) and/or the Unit 4 Board Corner Blog (http://u4boardcorner.blogspot.com/2016/08/referendum-finalized-for-november.html#comment-form).

Note that the Focus Groups are going to be held *AFTER* the pool of candidates are finalized. I think it would be important to shape the kind of superintendent the board is looking for *PRIOR* to getting to that point (a "good fit", as the salesmen said).

On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 1:42 PM, Cari Vanderpool <cvanderp AT life.uiuc.edu> wrote:

The meeting last night was kind of weird, IMO. It was a sales pitch by these guys representing an executive search organization who want the board to hire them to coordinate the search. I felt like they were basically the typical salesmen. It WAS clear that the board wants to make sure there is community input. They talked about having 2 days worth of focus groups so that they could get input from both teachers and members of the community. This is in addition to an online survey that they (the salesmen) were really jazzed about. Kathleen made the excellent point that we should ask students what's important. I seconded that, and added that if we're serious about getting input from a diverse cross section of our community, we can't rely on the online survey. They kind of half-heartedly said they could do a paper survey in addition.

I had prepared some remarks about what I think is a really important issue in this district. I did not end up speaking about this last night because it didn't seem like the right time. However, I'll attach them in hopes that others might also join with me in advocating for this district to pay attention to more than just academics and testing. The old school "traditional" disciplinary structure is hurting our students and disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations. If we want children to be able to learn (and consequently see those test scores go up), we have to have schools where kids feel safe and understood and supported. Then and ONLY then will they be able to really benefit from the outstanding and innovative academic initiatives that this group cares about (e.g., computational thinking at Kenwood, where my kids go).

Sorry this is long- I wanted to provide my thoughts because I doubt I'll be able to come tonight since we have open house at Kenwood this evening. How long are you all usually there?

Draft of prepared remarks (not delivered) is attached. Would love feedback in the event that I ever speak about this at a board meeting.

Cari

On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 12:00 PM Pattsi Petrie <pattsi2 AT gmail.com> wrote:

I hope that a number of people mention that within the job description is included the criteria that applicants need to have a knowledge of urban planning. Unit 4 desperately needs an urban planner as part of the administrative staff. Past history is that administrators have had no knowledge or understand of the importance of such as a staff member. Therefore it is in the best interest of the district to engage any new administrator who has such an understanding. Maybe even a joint degree of urban planning and education administration.

P2

On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 9:17 AM, Charles Schultz <sacrophyte AT gmail.com> wrote:

FYI

The school board is having a special board meeting tonight to kick of the official superintendent search. The only thing published on the agenda is the following:

"As part of the Superintendent selection process, the Board is considering the Executive Search services offered by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB).  This evening a representative from IASB will highlight the services offered and a tentative timeline for the search."

On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 12:39 PM, Charles Schultz <sacrophyte AT gmail.com> wrote:

Minsoo,

I very much appreciate your response. I see you have set a challenge before this group, and I hope the group responds. :)

Minsoo, how would you answer your own question(s)?

Here are some ways I would answer your questions about acting as a whole, tangible outcomes, and actions. (the number 20, which appears a few times below, is more or less arbitrary *grin*)

Superintendent search (2017)

Dr. Judy Wiegand has announced she will be retiring in 2017. The BOE will conduct an official search and select a new superintendent, per all the mumbo jumbo written in the IL State School Code. The action I propose for this group is two-fold:

1. formalize a list of characteristics and priorities they would like to see in a new superintendent (and make it very public)

2. have a minimum of 20 of us commit to engaging all board members to discuss said list and secure an agreement to hire a certain kind of superintendent (keeping in mind that there will be an election in April for three board member positions)

The tangible outcome being, aside from the obvious (the list), a superintendent selection process that seeks a certain kind of superintendent. I would even go further and say that this would also result in healthy agruments/deliberation from other people/groups that have different priorities. I would personally welcome such opportunities.

Student needs

Have 20 'Shifters commit to engaging a wide cross-section of students to ask what they need. Follow-up with a discussion (including students, if possible) of the results, with a sub-goal of facilitating a resolution of needs.

Teacher needs

Have 20 'Shifters commit to engaging a wide cross-section of teachers to ask what they need. Follow-up with a discussion (including teachers, if possible) of the results, with a sub-goal of facilitating a resolution of needs.

On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 11:33 AM, Minsoo Park <parkmin AT u4sd.org> wrote:

Charles, 

Thanks for sharing as always. 

The initiative at Kenwood is based on that mindset, giving agency to students, providing the opportunities to explore and to produce. 

Don't get me wrong. We still got long ways to go. In that same line, these discussions may be a good reminder at times but I have to ask what are we going to do as Ctrl-Shifters to support our local school district? Some of us individually are doing things, but how do we organize our group so that the group is acting as a whole and not just as individual parts?

What are tangible outcomes and actions that we could take as a group or organization? 

There is a deficit mindset that we often do and say, "we can't do that because.... "

Are we, as shifters who's genuinely passionate about our children's future, following that same mindset? 

Isn't it time for actions about now? 

I am asking this question in hope for shifters' discussions to be more constructive, and I really hope this email doesn't come across wrong to anyone. 

Sent with MailTrack

Sincerely,

Minsoo Park

 

Enrichment teacher

Kenwood Elementary School

Email: parkmin@u4sd.org 

Phone: 217.351-3815

No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it.

- Einstein

On Wed, May 4, 2016 at 12:37 PM, Charles Schultz <sacrophyte AT gmail.com> wrote:

Maya, just wanted to say thanks for recommending Todd Rose's "The End of Average". It certainly makes a very strong case how wrong it is to place so much emphasis on aggregate data without taking the individual into context.

After a chat with Katrina, I looked up Reggio Emilia - I really love the core principles:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach

• Children must have some control over the direction of their learning;
• Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, and observing;
• Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be allowed to explore;
• Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.

These are the kinds of things I want to work on pushing into public school. I want to find out from our school leaders (at the local and state levels) why our current system emphasizes an adult-centric approach, and furthermore, why we keep propogating an adult-centric approach given all that we now know.

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Charles Schultz

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Charles Schultz

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Charles Schultz

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Pattsi Petrie, PhD, FAICP
P2 Consulting
Champaign County Board, Chair , district 6,
Retired, Department of Urban and Regional Planning/DURP
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/UIUC
<mailto:pattsi AT uiuc.edu>

College of Fellows, American Institute of Certified Planners

Professional Education and Outreach Programs
Past Chair APA Planning Women Division  

_______________________________________________
Ctrl-Shift mailing list
Ctrl-Shift AT lists.mste.illinois.edu
https://lists.mste.illinois.edu/listinfo/ctrl-shift

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Charles Schultz

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Pattsi Petrie, PhD, FAICP
P2 Consulting
Champaign County Board, Chair , district 6,
Retired, Department of Urban and Regional Planning/DURP
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/UIUC
<mailto:pattsi AT uiuc.edu>

College of Fellows, American Institute of Certified Planners

Professional Education and Outreach Programs
Past Chair APA Planning Women Division