'Glass Half Full' – by Superintendent Rob Glass

Have a question or comment? Just want to chat? Join me for one of the following dates/times for ‘Coffee and Conversation at Fogy Bottom:

• March 17th, 7-8 a.m.
• March 23rd, 7-8 p.m.
• April 21st, 7-8 a.m.

MEAP scores were just released on Friday, and I did the same thing I do every year. Adrenaline pumping, my competitive nature kicked in full-bore as I looked at our scores. Then, after savoring the moment for a good 30 seconds, I came back to my senses, acknowledging that these scores are very limited in both their use and their meaning. After all, districts who ‘live’ by the sword of standardized testing should beware lest they ultimately ‘die’ by them.

Somehow, there is a part of all of us that wants the quick and easy comparison. We want to know how we stack up against a standard and against each other. Standardized test scores can seem useful in this regard. In fact, it never ceases to amaze me how much people look at scores like MEAP when shopping for a school district. Yet, the longer I live and the longer I work in education, the more convinced I am that standardized testing in this era of No Child Left Behind has been elevated to an imbalanced level of importance. MEAP in particular is designed to tell us whether we are teaching what the state expects to a fairly minimal standard. If we are doing our job well, we should be providing an educational experience that is well beyond the reach of MEAP measurement. The more time  schools spend focused on teaching to the test, the more (in my opinion) we run the risk of omitting the kind of teaching and learning that will prepare our students for a future in the conceptual age.

Authors and leaders such as Daniel Pink and Dr. Yong Zhao are becoming more influential in making their case that the standards movement and No Child left Behind are taking us in the wrong direction. In his book Catching Up or Leading the Way, Dr. Zhao notes, “The current education reformers in the United States… have chosen test scores in a limited number of (core academic) subject areas over diversity, individual interests, creativity and the risk-taking spirit that has helped sustain a strong economy and society in the United States.” Zhao continues, ” China, South Korea, Singapore and Japan.. like the United States, have embarked on massive education reforms, but their reforms are moving in the opposite direction. These countries have been admired by Americans as models of excellence because of their impressive performance on international comparative tests… however, their reform efforts seem to be emulating American education: more local autonomy, more flexibility, more choice, less testing, less content, and less standardization”. Most recently, Diane Ravitch, an ardent advocate of the standards movement under the Bush administration, has recently reversed her position, becoming a staunch opponent.

When all is said and done, I think most of us know intuitively that a school system is about much more than test scores. Here in Dexter, the quality of our community, the commitment of our families, the dedication of our staff, the commitment to excellence that we all share– these things make a tangible, qualitative difference in the lives of children. Are we proud of our scores? Absolutely– but we are setting our sights on Champion Learning– something much richer than a score on a spreadsheet.

A group of 16 secondary educators from the UK spent a week studying American Education in Dexter. Wondering about their impressions? Check out this article in the Dexter Leader!

We’re rolling out the red carpet! This Thursday March 4th and 5th, Mill Creek Middle School hosts the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators (MAMSE) Statewide Conference. Hundreds of educators will be visiting our district and will get to see what makes Dexter so special! Many of our local organizations and officials will be on hand to greet visitors from all across the state. Mill Creek has been named a School To Watch and principal Jami Bronson was named this year’s Michigan Principal of the Year by both MAMSE and Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

First of all, thanks to those who came out to our ‘Coffee and Conversation’ last Thursday. One of the topics centered on ways that we can address the needs of the student who is able to progress more quickly or needs ‘more’ to stay engaged in the process of learning. I was elated to discuss this topic because I was able to say. ‘we’re already on it!’ (I love being able to say that!) This parent’s question touched upon personalization of learning which is one of the four areas in which we have engaged a feasibility study (along with K-12 world language, virtual learning and International Baccalaureate). Our personalization of learning study group conducted an asset inventory and discovered that we already have a lot of personalization measures in place, but we need to do more to formalize their implementation on a K-12 continuum. We also came up with some great new ideas that we will hope to soon wrap together in to a more cohesive program to meet the needs of every student. We already have some of the best staff and programs found anywhere, but we are excited about the gains we can make through enhanced personalization as we ‘Develop, Educate and Inspire’ our students!

So many exciting and challenging things are happening in Dexter! We are exploring/piloting exciting new programs as we maximize our ‘Dexterity’ to meet difficult state funding challenges. Just a couple examples: We are studying together possible changes to our Transportation department (our next meeting is Tuesday 2/22 at 6:30 in the Creekside Cafe), and we are combining Community Education and Athletics into one exciting new department that will allow us to maintain athletic programs while expanding the programs available to our community. So much happening… So little time to talk about it… But if you’ve missed a meeting or would just like to sit down with superintendent Rob Glass, here’s a chance to do so in a relaxed atmosphere:

• Thursday, February 25th at Foggy Bottom anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday March 9th at Foggy Botton anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

You may be familiar with the term, ‘Untouchables’, taken from the caste system of India. In today’s economy, Thomas Friedman, author of several bestselling books including The World is Flat, has applied the term in a different way. Please take a moment to read his brief New York Times article, and tell me what you think. It’s a GREAT article and will provide context for what follows.

As I read Friedman’s piece, I found myself encouraged that our strategic plan is pointing us in this direction: A GLOBAL emphasis, developing INNOVATION and  21ST CENTURY SKILLS, while focusing on INDIVIDUAL STUDENT STRENGTHS AND NEEDS. I also found myself challenged that (due to incredible budget pressures) we are having to design this QUICKLY, and that OUR OWN CREATIVITY AND CAPACITY is being stretched incredibly in our endeavors. I personally graduated from one of Michigan’s best high schools, as well as some of Michigan’s top universities, as have many of you– and yet I find myself wondering how much better equipped I might feel in meeting our current challenges had I been given the kind of education that we are trying to create for our current students!

Apparently not satiated after roundly clocking the right side of my head, Friedman then ferociously turned and whacked me on the left side with this notion: If we accept Friedman’s basic economic premise, we are not in a temporary recession, or even a depression– we are in a RECALIBRATION. That is why we cannot afford to adopt a ‘ride it out until things return to normal’ mentality. Those who are not convinced that schools need to change based upon the CREATIVITY/INNOVATION/UNTOUCHABLES argument need look no further than the ECONOMIC argument. It is highly likely that schools as we currently know them may not continue to be economically sustainable. So, I think it is appropriate to consider carefully whether the redesign initiatives we are currently undertaking represent change meaningful enough to enable ALL of our students become UNTOUCHABLES as we endure this RECALIBRATION, or rather are they incremental improvements to an existing system that may not be economically viable in the coming years?

What are the implications for the typical K-12 school system in a RECALIBRATING ECONOMY? Are WE, as a school system, UNTOUCHABLE? I’m pretty convinced that schools are going to have to rapidly morph much more radically than most of us expect. Web 2.0 and globalization are beginning to change just about EVERYTHING to one degree or another– including the 20th century school platform upon which most schools are still operating. I would suggest that as we look into our collective crystal ball, that we not underestimate the extent of the change we are likely to see. As we embrace change and begin redesigning our existing programs in a manner that aligns with our strategic plan, we will maintain our reputation as innovators while making ourselves individually and collectively UNTOUCHABLE. More importantly we’ll help ensure that our students all graduate as the UNTOUCHABLES they deserve to be!

There are two significant developments underway right now relative to Transportation (one locally and one at the county level) as we look for ways to reduce expenses in every department.

Locally: As part of the bond, we engaged Midwestern Consulting to conduct a Transportation Study to determine the feasibility and savings of operating transportation from the current site vs. relocating it to the central campus (avoiding a lot of ‘deadhead’ miles). The study also projected savings possible through optimization of current routes (which impacts the kind/number of busses to be purchased under the bond) and the feasibility of a one-tier system, including the kind of bus pickup/drop-off loop that we might construct as part of the bond. The study has been concluded and is available on our website. The study findings will be shared with the public in a series of four open meetings to be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. In the Creekside Cafeteria. Please come to any and all meetings of particular interest to you. These meetings will be facilitated by Mr. David Hulings, with technical assistance from Mr. Jim Valenta of Midwestern Consulting.

• February 9: Optimizing current routing; filling busses to capacity, expanding no-transport zones, changing routes, etc.
• February 11: One-Tier System- Consolidation of K-12 ridership that puts all students on busses for a single ride time
• February18: Relocating the Transportation facility to the main campus
• February 23: Summary meeting and opportunity to provide input toward the administrative decision

Countywide: The Washtenaw Intermediate School District has contracted with Xavier Leadership and Transportation Strategies to construct a model for countywide transportation operated by WISD (not a private firm). The goal is to have this operational by September of 2010. Each Washtenaw school district will have input into designing this system, and then each school Board will decide whether to participate. Dexter is participating in both studies and at the conclusion of both will have the best possible information at hand when making a decision about how to proceed. As you can see, neither option involves privatization. Please see website to download the full Transportation Study or Summary.

As you can see by visiting our website, there is a lot happening! Please feel free to attend the following meetings for more information or to provide input: Come to any or all of the meetings of interest to you!

• February 5: Coffee and Conversation at Foggy Bottom 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• February 8: Community meeting on Dexterity Plan- 7:00 p.m. in Creekside Cafeteria.
• February 9: Transportation Study Findings on Optimizing current routing; filling busses, expanding no-transport zones, etc.
• February 11: Transportation Study Findings on One-Tier System- K-12 students riding together with schools starting and dismissing at about the same times
• February 16: Regular Board Meeting- Opportunity for Public Input
• February 18: Transportation Study Findings on Relocating the Transportation facility to the main campus
• February 23: Transportation Study Summary meeting and opportunity to provide input to administration
• February 25: Coffee and Conversation at Foggy Bottom 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• March 1: Regular Board Meeting opportunity for Public Input
• March 9: Coffee and Conversation with the Community at Foggy Bottom 5:30-9:30 p.m.
• Every Friday until further notice: Coffee and Conversation with Staff at Foggy Bottom every Friday from 3-5 p.m.

Per Strategic Plan Goal #1 we are in the final stages of feasibility studies on four programming elements:

1. International Baccalaureate: Dexter High School is in the initial application phase and will soon decide whether this program can be offered beginning in 2011-12. The IB brings a global focus and an approach to learning that produces excellence that is recognized worldwide. Every school in Dexter is exploring the implementation of this dynamic program, and a districtwide committee will have a recommendation in February. Please visit the IB website for more information.
2. World Language K-12: We currently offer world language in grades 6-12 and a limited amount of Spanish in out World Cultures experience, but in the global environment our student swill be entering, bilingual fluency is becoming more important. We are studying the possibility of offering more intensive language experiences in earlier grades.
3. Virtual Learning- Anytime, anywhere learning is now becoming more of a reality through the technologies at our disposal. We want to be less concerned with ’seat time’ and more concerned with learning. Our committee is investigating the new possibilities we should be implementing.
4. Personalized Learning- We have a committee exploring the world of ‘mass customization’ as it relates to K-12 education. We already do so much to personalize learning, but we want to see if it can be take to the next level.

One last comment– Dexter High School is also piloting a ‘Foundation House’ experience for next year’s incoming freshmen. This exciting concept will place students with a team of teachers for a large block of time each day, strengthening relationships and helping students see the connections between subject areas. Our goal is to have students ‘College Ready’ per the ACT by the end of 10th grade so that they can move to ANOTHER exciting experience we are developing, known as the Focus House (which can include the IB for student s who choose it). Focus houses are still under development but will offer students the opportunity to dig deeper in an area of interest through project-centered learning, internships and real-world experiences. All that I have described here is just the tip of the iceberg. Our staff is energized and focused on the possibilities we can create for our students!