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Tennessee
Volume 4

 

August 2014


Building Professional Learning Communities
 SeiversandSmith

Dr. Lana Seivers, Dean of the College of Education at Middle Tennessee State University and Dr.

Connie J. Smith, Director of AdvancED Tennessee co-hosted a gathering to provide opportunities for various stakeholders in Tennessee to have informal conversations around the use of effective practices for improving teaching and learning, educational policy issues, school/school system improvement and AdvancED Performance Accreditation in Tennessee.  The gathering was held July 9 at the home of Dr. Seivers in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with 78 attendees.

Among those attending the event were members of the higher education community from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Technological University.  In addition to Dr. Robert Eaker, author and expert on Building Professional Learning Communities, Dr. Gary Nixon, Executive Director of the Tennessee Board of Education and members of the Tennessee Board of Education; representatives from the Tennessee Education Association; the Tennessee Department of Education; judges and legislators were in attendance. 

Some discussion topics heard throughout the evening included student teacher placement; use of school and system data, development of Professional Learning Communities; Common Core State Standards; the AdvancED Protocol for School Systems; inclusion and special education practices; career and technical education and its place in the curriculum; External Reviews and effective practices related to curriculum and common assessments. 

Dr. Smith and Dr. Seivers introduced key people and began dialogues that would benefit students and educators across Tennessee.  By bringing together the diverse set of stakeholders, Smith and Seivers achieved an opportunity for an informal forum to answer the questions: 

  • How can we all work together to improve student achievement using AdvancED Standards for Quality and AdvancED Performance Accreditation?
  • How can the stakeholders present assist each other to pursue an improved education system in Tennessee?

AdvancED Tennessee is excited about partnering with Middle Tennessee State University to continue the dialogue about how we can build Professional Learning Communities between K-12 and Higher Education.


TNCommunity
Quick Links
 
Did You Know?
Did you know that AdvancED’s Performance Accreditation for Early Learning Schools meets both national and state criteria?  We recently updated our Early Learning Accreditation Protocol to align with both national and state requirements, simplifying the overall accreditation process for early learning education providers.  Our AdvancED Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools, which serve as the foundation of the AdvancED Performance Accreditation, provide a roadmap for early learning schools to achieve the conditions necessary to support young children in their learning, growth and development.  Many of our early learning schools are preparing for their 2014-15 External Reviews.  We have several tools and resources available to assist with this process including self assessment workbooks.  If you have questions about these tools and resources or your upcoming External Review, please contact our office.

We also have great news for schools that have preschools seeking state Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) recognition.  The use of the Early Learning Accreditation Protocol should assist your preschool with meeting the QRIS recognition requirements.  Please contact our office for further guidance on how the Early Learning Accreditation Protocol is applicable to preschools seeking QRIS recognition.  These preschools must use the AdvancED Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools.  You can contact us for assistance with accessing the required materials or any necessary adjustments to your External Review.  If your preschool is not seeking QRIS approval, the preschool will be included in the school’s internal review process. 
Update Your Demographics
Don’t forget to update your school or school system demographics in the AdvancED database. We depend on you to ensure that your demographics are kept current. To update your demographics, please go to the AdvancED Website and login with your email address and password. Select ASSIST and access the Profile in the headings. Please access the Demographics Update link to review and make corrections as needed. If you need assistance, please contact Theilia Raines in our office at 888.413.3669, ext. 5752.
AdvancED Tennessee Regional Summit III
The AdvancED Tennessee Managing Office is planning our Annual School Improvement, Accreditation and Effective Practices Regional Summit III to allow educators to share effective practices, learn about accreditation practices and processes, and to give leading educators the opportunity to become trained as Lead Evaluators for AdvancED Performance Accreditation.  And as an extra-added bonus, Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL) credit is offered.

As a convenience for our constituents, this year we will be offering the same curriculum, content and training in three regional locations.  As many schools and school systems are faced with decreasing revenues and increasing demands on their time, AdvancED Tennessee is affording this opportunity to share and learn with colleagues at three locations.  You will be able to select the location that best fits your location and schedule.  The locations with dates are listed below. Be sure to click on each link to obtain more information about the training.

West Tennessee: September 22-24, 2014           

East Tennessee: October 6-8, 2014    

Middle Tennessee: October 13-15, 2014            

The third day of each regional meeting will provide an update for Lead Evaluators only.  Registration is available now through our Professional Development Calendar on the AdvancED Tennessee Web page.  Schools and School Systems hosting External Reviews this year and in the future are strongly encouraged to attend. 

School and system personnel are encouraged to share effective practices.  If you have an improvement strategy that works and would be willing to share at the Summit, please email Colleen Goss with a your name, short description of the strategy and your email address.  We will follow-up via email.

Expand Your Horizons: Volunteer to Serve
AdvancED Performance Accreditation is largely dependent upon volunteers.  Through AdvancED Performance Accreditation, schools and school systems engage in external review with a team of professionals known as the External Review Team. These professionals volunteer to spend time onsite with educators, administrators, students and parents.  They even visit classrooms, review performance data and look over improvement plans—all for the sake of driving action and making a difference for the benefit of learners.

Many former team members have remarked that being part of an External Review has allowed them to help their school complete the AdvancED Performance Accreditation with greater knowledge and comfort because someone on staff has been part of a recent External Review.  External Review Team members also return with a plethora of new ideas garnered from the school they reviewed and from fellow team members. 

If you are interested in becoming a team member, please email your name, email address, contact information (address and phone) as well as your area(s) of expertise to our managing office to Colleen Goss or Theilia Raines.  We will contact you regarding opportunities to serve on a team. After serving successfully on several school review teams, educators may attend training during the annual School Improvement, Accreditation and Effective Practices Summit to become certified to be a Lead Evaluator.  If you are interested in becoming a Lead Evaluator, please email the office regarding your wish to attend Lead Evaluator training.

Join us and become part of the AdvancED Tennessee volunteer network!

 
AdvancED, the home of NCA CASI, NWAC and SACS CASI, is dedicated to
advancing excellence in education worldwide.



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