Sputnik and Innovation

Last week President Obama delivered his State of the Union address, and here is a short excerpt from that speech:

" The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do -- what America does better than anyone else -- is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We're the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It is how we make our living.

Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation. But because it's not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout our history, our government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with the support that they need. That's what planted the seeds for the Internet. That's what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs -- from manufacturing to retail -- that have come from these breakthroughs.

Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the moon. The science wasn't even there yet. NASA didn't exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.  This is our generation's Sputnik moment."

Our country is faced with increasing challenges on so many fronts, including how to make sure our education system responds to the changing world dynamics in a way that ensures our students are successful in that flat and competitive world.  I agree with President Obama that innovation is the key to our success, as well as our ability to seize the moment and change the way we deliver education.  We either become progressive and adapt to the new world we live in or risk becoming irrelevant and lost.  I am also thankful that our community and our district have come up with a mission and vision that accepts the challenges before us.  If we engage, challenge and inspire our students, they will learn.  If we teach them core academics well, and also prepare them with the 21^st Century skills, they will be successful.  And we are well on our way!

On Tuesday evening, our school board approved the TAP Agreement that was developed between LMUTA and the district.  Our negotiating teams used our district values of integrity, teamwork, innovation and resilience to come together and build an agreement that opens the door towards the implementation of the TIF grant using the TAP model at up to six of our schools.  This is a great achievement!  The fact that our teachers were willing to work with us, were willing to have an open mind and not be obstructionist says a lot about our teacher leadership and their willingness to embrace change.  The fact that our teachers voted to ratify this agreement and allow each potential TAP school to decide on TAP implementation says so much about who we are as a district.  Each site will cast their vote on February 25^th, and 75% of our teachers will need to vote yes to implement the system.  I have confidence that once the real benefits of this system-teacher mentoring, coaching and support, weekly cluster meetings and planning time, a proven model of instruction, increased teacher jobs through the addition of 7 master teachers-are understood and weighed against any trepidation, that teachers will decide to move forward with TAP. 

Maintaining the 'President Obama' theme of this message, the quote below communicates Mr. Obama's enthusiastic support for the TAP System:

"America's future depends on its teachers. And so today, I'm calling on a

new generation of Americans to step forward and serve our country in our

classrooms. If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation,

if you want to make the most of your talents and dedication, if you want

to make your mark with a legacy that will endure -- then join the

teaching profession. And if you do your part, then we'll do ours.

 That's why we're taking steps to prepare teachers for their difficult responsibilities, and

encourage them to stay in the profession. That's why we're creating new

pathways to teaching and new incentives to bring teachers to schools

where they're needed most. That's why we support offering extra pay to

Americans who teach math and science to end a teacher shortage in those

subjects. It's why we're building on the promising work being done in

places like South Carolina's Teacher Advancement Program , and making an

unprecedented commitment to ensure that anyone entrusted with educating

our children is doing the job as well as it can be done.

Now, here's what that commitment means: It means treating teachers like

the professionals they are while also holding them more accountable --

in up to 150 more school districts. New teachers will be mentored by

experienced ones. Good teachers will be rewarded with more money for

improved student achievement, and asked to accept more responsibilities

for lifting up their schools. Teachers throughout a school will benefit

from guidance and support to help them improve."

The TAP system is just one of the innovations we are acting on in Lucia Mar. Change is coming on a number of fronts as our schools look to other models and programs such as New Technology High, International Baccalaureate, Career Pathways, and the like are examined to see how they can help us address the 21^st century skills.  We are working hard to find the outside resources we need to implement these programs, which is an incredible challenge.  But we will succeed, we will move forward, and we will continue to engage our business partners, challenge our staff to find grant money, and inspire our fine teaching staff so that our students can succeed.  This is our time, this is our Sputnik moment.  Let's be bold and seize the opportunity to reinvent our educational system so that our growth becomes our students' growth; our willingness to change and learn becomes their willingness to change and learn.  We owe them that chance. 

Welcome Back Everyone!

The challenge of our times is to determine how to move forward in education towards our mission and vision in the midst of declining resources.  In order to be well prepared, our students must have BOTH the foundational, core academic skills they need as well as the 21st Century skills that are just as imperative.  Today as I write this our elementary grade level teachers are working together to review math and English common assessments, pacing guides, and interventions to make sure these foundational skills are in place.  At the same time, I encourage you to work together to make sure that students are also learning the seven 21st Century skills of communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, self-direction, technology, and global awareness.  My top priority is to do everything in my power to make sure you have the resources needed to ensure our students are successful, and towards that end I will continue to try and bring in additional resources to our district. 

As we look at our budget for the 2011-12 school year, I am confident we can meet the challenge of moving forward despite lean budget times.  In my opinion, Jerry Brown is on the right track in trying to both cut spending and ensure adequate revenue, and I am hopeful that his plan will succeed, particularly since K-12 education was spared further cuts in his Governor's budget that was presented on Monday.  You have my promise that I will do all that I can to move us forward and minimize the impact of limited resources.  Our school board and I have the same goal of closely examining every budget item to make sure we are spending our money wisely, and over the next six months we will conduct a careful and thorough review of district spending, both at school sites and at the district, to ensure we are being prudent.  At the same time, I will advocate for resources towards making sure we are moving towards implementing steps to implement our new mission and vision.  I am optimistic that we can continue to make the great progress we have started, and that Lucia Mar can become the model school district in the nation for 21st Century Learning.  My ultimate goal is that other districts will soon want to visit Lucia Mar to see all the great things that we are doing!

Last night at the school board meeting, I presented a report to the board that summarized our 21st Century education strategy.  As we begin a new year, I thought it would be helpful to lay out our goals and objectives in this regard.  I have attached this report to this email, and hope you will take a few moments to read it so you are aware of where we are going and the progress being made.

The board also approved the school calendar for the next two years, which I have also attached.  Many thanks to Michelle Ellis for being so organized and for getting the input of all of our stakeholders:  teachers, classified staff, administrators and parents, who each bring a much different perspective to the calendar discussion.  The board did approve draft "C", which is the calendar most preferred by teachers that includes a three week winter break. 

Finally, our wonderful interim Assistant Superintendent for Business, Janice Smith, presented the First Interim Financial Report to the Board, which as approved after a special session of discussion. 

Before we know it June will arrive, so I wish you a great second semester.  If you have any thoughts or comments about how things are going in the district, I would love to hear from you!


Jim Hogeboom