Instructional Leadership Teams celebrate the Vision Network

Innovation in the Classroom

As NASCAR fans and champion race car drivers swarm to Dover for this weekend’s races, Dover Downs’ winners circle also overflowed with world-class classroom champions as Vision 2015 hosted the third annual Vision Network Celebration on Thursday evening.

Over 150 teachers, principals, administrators, state officials, community leaders, and members of the business community joined together to celebrate the work of all 25 Vision Network schools. 

Instructional Leadership Teams from Christina and Lake Forest School Districts, Thomas Edison Charter School, and Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences presented success stories from their third year of training. Remarks by Darren Guido of Central Middle School, Monica Callender of Kuumba Academy, and Mike Stetter, Director of Curriculum for the Delaware Department of Education, highlighted the impact of participants’ hard work and the important role of Vision 2015 as Delaware moves toward world-class schools.

In his remarks, Principal Guido said, “Our work in the Vision Network has helped us set our instructional focus, set internal and external goals and identify research-based instructional practices to be utilized in every class, every day for every student. ... As Central Middle School continues its work with the Vision Network, we will refine our vision and associated tasks to create the best educational environment for our students; to become their hope for a better world.”

Click here for more information about the Vision Network.

Spelling it Out

Delaware Lawyer magazine devoted its entire spring 2010 issue to education in the First State, with articles written by educators and community leaders who have played key roles in shaping the future of Delaware public schools.

Marvin “Skip” Schoenhals, Vision 2015 Chair and Chairman of WSFS Bank, authored “Vision 2015: The Legacy Our Future Demands.”  Click here to read about the history of education reform in Delaware, the goals of Vision 2015, and how we’re ensuring that every public school in Delaware is world-class by 2015.

Vision 2015 Applauds 2009 Superstars

On Monday, May 3, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce honored seven schools and districts throughout the state as 2009 Superstars in Education, recognizing the creative programs and distinctive teaching practices that are improving student learning and test scores.

Special awards also were made to several Vision Network participants:  

• Indian River School District was recognized with the Sustainability Award for its program: “Walk the Talk,” which has spread learning-focused strategies for teaching and learning throughout the whole district.
• Central Middle School received a Replication Award for Meet the Challenge 4, a program that began in Indian River School District and that has been replicated in Chipman Middle School, another Vision Network school. Central Middle School Principal Darren Guido noted that through the Vision Network he has shared the Meet the Challenge model with five additional schools.
• Howard High School of Technology received one of the first-ever Parental Involvement Awards from Lt. Governor Matt Denn.

May – National Family Month

May 15 – Appoquinimink School District Education Fair

May 17 – New Castle County Combined Boards of Education Meeting

May 18 – Christina School District Community Forum on the CSD operating referendum

May 18 – Race to the Top Program Information Sessions for Districts and Charters

Teachers Racing to the Top

As state leaders and school administrators plan for the distribution of Delaware’s $100 million Race to the Top funds, teachers are wondering how these funds will benefit their classrooms.

Based on the First State’s Race to the Top application, here are just some of the ways: 

• Online assessments to help you benchmark student progress and tailor your instruction.

• Data coaches to help you use the new wealth of information regarding your students’ performance.

• Opportunities to take on leadership roles while staying in the classroom.

• Professional development on the new standards and on AP.

Click here to learn more about what Race to the Top will mean for you.

Merci+Gracias+Danke+Mahalo = Thanks to our Sponsors!

Vision 2015 is extending a tremendous “Thank You!” to members of the Delaware Business Roundtable and our other supporters for your continued support. Your leadership has been critical to the success of education reform in Delaware. In fact, one of the strengths of Delaware’s Race to the Top application was its broad support – among state leaders, teachers, administrators, and the business and philanthropic community.

Click here to see a list of our generous supporters.

An Opportunity to Improve…

According to a recent annual survey by the National Institute for Early Education Research, Delaware ranks 31^st out of all states for pre-K access.  Delaware provides pre-K access to 4-year-olds; however, we serve no 3-year-olds – and 25 other states do. While Delaware does provide pre-K access to most eligible 4-year-olds -- those from families living in poverty -- many other states have no income requirement, or if they do, have made more children eligible. Delaware only serves about 7 percent of our 4-year-olds, while some states serve 10 times as many. And while we rank 7^th in spending per child, the investment has decreased in recent years using adjusted dollars.

Vision 2015  and Policy Matters recommend serving all 3- and 4-year-olds within 200% of poverty, and strides are being made to improve early childhood education access and quality statewide.

Putting Teachers Words into Action

At a dinner in their honor earlier this week, seventy-three high school seniors from across the state were honored as Secretary of Education Scholars for their dedication, determination, and discipline in reaching their goals.  Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery congratulated the students for reaching well beyond their own, their families’, and their teachers’ expectations.

Click here to learn more about the Secretary of Education Scholars and see a complete list of the awardees.

VISION-aries

“…Good parenting and family involvement in schools are essential if children are going to flourish and fulfill their dreams. … Parenting is the most important job that every parent takes on. No other activity in our lives carries the same degree of responsibility or influence.”

-U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the first-annual Mom Congress, held on May 3 at Georgetown University.

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Contact us!

For more information on how to become involved with Vision 2015, please visit our web site, http://www.vision2015delaware.org, or e-mail us at info@vision2015delaware.org.