Leadership Innovation

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12.13.16 | Competency Based Learning

As a typical high school student, Daniel was involved in many aspects of school, but he still wanted something different. He had learned how to learn using a textbook, he just rarely got the chance to apply his learning and make connections across content. In his mind, Daniel's learning was separated into silos.

This quarter, Daniel's education included an internship at Shelbyville's "The Bell House." Daniel was mentored by the head chef as well as the other adults working onsite. He prepared meals, repaired equipment, completed inventory, cleaned and served as needed. He also was required to communicate appropriately, act quickly, anticipate the needs of customers and teammates, and lead when the time was right. The real world reading, math, science and social skills that he applied on a daily basis were daunting. There were occasional challenges that some would call failures, but Daniel bounced back every time!

At the conclusion of this semester, Daniel hosted a small committee for his "Exhibition" in which he demonstrated his competency of skills learned during the internship. Competency-based learning refers to systems of instruction, assessment, grading and academic reporting that are based on the expectation that students demonstrate or prove what they learn as they progress through their education. This "exhibition" provided Daniel a chance to demonstrate his competency to a committee of six adults that included his mother, his grandmother, district level administration, a community leader and advisors from Shelby County's Big Picture Learning Academy.

During his Exhibition, Daniel greeted the committee, shared about his experiences, then prepared and served the meal. The committee got to speak with the Head Chef and Daniel's advisors while Daniel was preparing the entrees. They highlighted Daniel's growth in the kitchen, and as a young man.

10.17.16 | Innovation at Simpsonville Elementary

Shelby County Public Schools is full of innovative teams that are synergizing talents and passions to provide incredible learning experiences for our students. This month we highlight the efforts of our teachers at Simpsonville Elementary School.

According to George Couros’ book, an Innovator regularly displays eight characteristics. They are: Empathetic, Problem Finders, Risk Takers, Networked, Observant, Creators, Resilient and Reflective. Principal Jill Tingle, over the course of her tenure at Simpsonville, has intentionally hired professionals who regularly practice these mindsets in a way that engages students into the community.

In the coming weeks the first grade team is coordinating a project where their first graders will meet with the owners of Metzger’s Country Store to create a business model to care for and promote the placement of several animals that are currently housed at the facility. The design will come from the students who will then carry out the work necessary to make the plan successful.

Innovative Learning Spaces are all the rage at Simpsonville Elementary. The second grade team of teachers have collaborated to design comfortable classrooms that maximize flexibility and promotes small group work. While the Library Media Center’s recent upgrade allows more options that encourage students to branch out into a cozy corner or dive into a maker space.

In fourth grade, “The Odyssey” has taken over. Each Friday, students choose two of the four “electives” as guests speak on their passions and enlighten students to the world around them. Highlights have been Vex Robotics teams from the high schools and University of Louisville Football Players.

Lastly, the fifth grade team has been “Flipping” their classrooms for quite some time. Despite not having devices for every student until this year, some of the teachers have been creating powerful digital content. With the recent introduction of chromebooks to all students, their work will only accelerate through Schoology and Youtube. The link provided is to one of Mr. Phillip Wakeman’s video’s on youtube. Be sure to note that this particular video had over 34,000 views in October of 2016.

The team at Simpsonville is innovative! They demonstrate the eight characteristics of innovative educators and, because school is so much fun, they are creating innovators!

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10.26.16 | Counselors Tour Local Industry

To better understand the various careers available to students in their community, counselors and teachers from across the district attended an industry tour hosted by Libby Adams and Shelley Goodwin from Shelby County Associated Industries. As we continue to personalize the learning of each student, counselors must be able to match student aspiration with opportunities in the community. Making teachers aware of needed skills, making parents aware of how different manufacturing is in today's world and making students aware of the various internships and apprenticeships will help us merge community need and student aspiration.

Competency Based Learning & Assessment

Innovation at Simpsonville Elementary

Counselors & Teachers Tour Local Industry

What is Leadership Innovation?

2017 SLP Goals for Leadership Innovation

We want to make sure that Shelby students will not only be qualified for the careers of today, but prepared for the future careers we could not even begin to conceive. To that end, we will partner with the businesses of our local community and beyond to expand the idea of school beyond four walls. Technology will also be key to evolve learning, whether it be to personalize it, connect student passions to relevant world issues in need of solutions, or blend online environments with the brick and mortar of teacher-facilitated classrooms. Students in Shelby County should both master standards and demonstrate their abilities by applying competency-based skills.

Research community needs for additional Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses
All Area Technology Center (ATC)/CTE courses will be project based learning (PBL)
Increase personalized learning opportunities for students
Embed PBL according to pilot results
Evaluate personalized scheduling through continuous implementation
Growth of business partner and career pathway connections
District Instructional Coaches and Digital Learning Coordinator to support Flipped and Blended Learning as the main mode of learning at all levels
Growth of competency-based assessment

#3PTSC Site Visits

3.28.17 Personalized Learning Visits

Over 100 teachers, instructional coaches and administrators from several districts visited Heritage Elementary's Blend, Southside Elementary's Q.U.A.D., Clear Creek Elementary's Summit and Shelby County High School's 3PT on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. The visitors were treated to classroom visits, conversations with students, and a question and answer time with principals and teacher leaders. Personalized Learning was the focus of the visit as students engaged in learning about the Constitution, Math POPs (Plan on a Page), renewable energy and countless other experiences. Shelby County teachers and students continue to strive for the mission of mastering standards, leading by example and embracing social responsibility.

Leaders Rising

5.26.17 | Teacher Leaders Rising

All across Shelby County, teacher leaders are implementing engaging methods of instructional delivery that put STUDENTS at the CENTER of learning. Inside their classrooms, teacher leaders design lessons with empathy. Teachers know there will be things that students NEED to master, so they artfully tie these NEEDS to activities that align perfectly with things that MATTER to the students.

In the book Blended, by Michael Horn and Heather Staker, they share this research based practice as the "Jobs to Be Done Theory." The "Jobs to Be Done Theory" has three levels in it's architecture:

1. Identifying jobs that allow students to feel success, make progress and have fun with friends.

2. Identifying the experiences that allow the jobs to be done competently.

3. Identifying how to deliver these experiences.

Teachers at all levels in Shelby County are using the following experiences to personalize learning:

1. Student Agency

2. Individual Mastery

3. Access to actionable data and rapid feedback.

4. Transparency in learning goals.

5. Sustained periods of quiet reading and reflection time.

6. Meaningful work experiences.

7. Mentoring experiences.

8. Positive group experiences.

9. Exhibiting the work.

10. Blended Learning

To see more of how teachers in Shelby County Public Schools are implementing student-centered learning, follow them on Twitter or Instagram. Here are a few examples for you to follow:

@KellyAnneArnold at East Middle School
@shepherdscps at East Middle School
@chenzovz at The Summit at Clear Creek Elementary
@AnnaMarie0615 at The Blend at Heritage Elementary
@WamplerSCIENCE at Shelby County High School
@LindsayRicke at Shelby County High School
@SSEQUAD at The QUAD at Southside Elementary School
@thiggins829 at Simpsonville Elementary
@strangebobcats at Simpsonville Elementary
@angel_teach1 at Simpsonville Elementary
@AWarrenPSE at Painted Stone Elementary

There are numerous other teachers social media, even more who do not. Follow along and celebrate our growth together!

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