Fall 2006 Leading Change

Ingham Intermediate School District Plays a Supporting Role in High School Reform Efforts

by Shirley Beckman, Contributing Writer

With the end goal of enhanced educational opportunities in mind, schools are zeroing in on the three “Rs” of high school reform—rigor, relevance, and relationships. Intermediate school districts (ISDs) have become a driving force behind these efforts. ISDs and regional service agencies across the state are supporting high school redesign through a variety of efforts. For example, Ingham ISD purposely aligns high school redesign efforts with the Michigan School Improvement Framework strands: Teaching for Learning, Leadership, Personnel and Professional Development, School and Community Relations, and Data and Information Management (see www.michigan.gov/highschool for more information about the School Improvement Framework and other high school reform efforts).

Ingham Intermediate School District also has developed a cross-functional team of consultants and supervisors to address high school redesign that represents general education, special education, and career services/technical education. The needs of the districts served by Ingham ISD were initially explored in a series of meetings with representatives from local districts who served as an advisory team to help provide input as an important first step for identifying the right resources and processes to assist schools.

A major focus of the work is to ensure that all students will be equally competitive in the economically driven world market. “Providing a rigorous curriculum and high expectations for all students, with intentionally planned systems of support to ensure student success, is a major part of the work,” according to Nancy Fahner, the general education consultant on the team.

ISDs also support efforts to transition students to postsecondary education and career goals. Local school districts can gain and share information through ISD efforts. Ingham ISD offers a School Improvement Update, a School Development Services Web page, a variety of professional development offerings, and customized service to meet the specific needs of individual skills and districts. Ingham ISD also serves as a link for local districts to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).

Ingham ISD, like all education service agencies across the state, will continue to work with local high schools to share information and to facilitate planning efforts.

For more information, contact: Nancy Fahner, (517) 244-1225, nfahner@inghamisd.org; Sheila Dunham, (517) 244-1360, sdunham@inghamisd.org; or Jeanne Tomlinson, (517) 244-1394, jtomlins@inghamisd.org.

Professional Development Opportunities Offered Through Ingham ISD Help Teachers Embrace Reform

Now that the new Michigan Merit Curriculum high school graduation requirements are law, professional development will be key to preparing and empowering teachers as they support students toward improved outcomes. Ingham ISD has set up numerous professional development offerings for the 2006-07 school year for developing skills, ranging from improving adolescent literacy to adapting teaching techniques so all students can find success in their classrooms.

Leadership Café Breakfast Series
Leadership Café is a series of breakfast sessions devoted to timely educational topics. This year Kathleen Cushman, author of Fires in the Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from High School Students and Sent to the Principal: Students Talk About Making High Schools Better, will begin the series stressing the importance of including students in the conversations of high school reform, as well as the danger in omitting their often forgotten voices. Michael Hock, Associate Director for the University of Kansas Center for Research, will address the importance of improving adolescent literacy, as well as provide a framework that includes a systems approach to supporting literacy. Hock is also expected to outline a literacy continuum for engaging students with quality instructional methods proven effective. Carol Commodore, founding member of Leadership, Learning, and Assessment completes the series by addressing the topic of motivation and learning, and what educators can do to promote learned optimism and confidence in children which is paramount to their being successful learners.
Five Part Coffee Series
Based on input from its local school districts, Ingham ISD is also offering a five-part coffee series that addresses the following topics: Structures of Support for Students; Incorporating Rigor, Relevancy, and Relationships into Instruction; Empowering Students in Their Own Education; Incorporating Career Services and Technical Education Opportunities; and Scheduling Options. Sessions begin in September and go throughout the year.
Counselor Professional Development
Counselors play a critical role in supporting student success in achieving the new high school graduation requirements. They also serve the important role of contributing to the development and delivery of guidance lessons designed to increase student achievement. A comprehensive series entitled Professional School Counseling Matters! will provide school counselors with thorough knowledge of the American School Counselor Association standards and model school counseling programs, as well as networking opportunities and suggestions for impacting the school improvement process.
The New Michigan Merit Exam
Demystifying the New Michigan Merit Exam is a workshop provided through the Mid-Michigan Consortium of which Ingham ISD is a member. This session will provide an overview of the major components of the Michigan Merit Exam and an opportunity to read and discuss sample assessments as well as discuss implications it has for classroom assessment and instructional practices.
Differentiated Instruction
To help address the variety of students’ interests, learning styles, and abilities, a five-part series is being offered on the topic of Differentiated Instruction. Educators will become familiar with a variety of different approaches to differentiate the learning experience so all students can be successful. Educators will also implement instructional strategies learned between the sessions. Extensive dialog among educators, as well as looking at student work, will be important elements of this series.
Best Practices
There are many slices of excellence in regards to effective practices currently being implemented in Ingham county. The session Best Practice in High School Redesign, scheduled for February of 2007, will provide an opportunity for local schools to showcase their successful practices and share them with their colleagues.

For information about these and other professional development offerings, visit: www.inghamisd.org and click on “Professional Development.” For more information on Ingham ISD activities, contact: Nancy Fahner, (517) 244-1225, nfahner@inghamisd.org; Sheila Dunham, (517) 244-1360, sdunham@inghamisd.org; or Jeanne Tomlinson, (517) 244-1394, jtomlins@inghamisd.org.