The school improvement process is critical to the success of Project Gateway.  Each parish/school participating in the grant has varying processes for development of school improvement plans.  These processes include developed strengths and areas that need further development that are unique to each school as well as parish.  However, two concepts in support of the school improvement process are fundamental in the proposal across the three parishes:

1) the provision of an administrative school improvement management consultant with a focus on building leadership capacity to insure the school improvement process and 2) provision of an instructional coach for intensive classroom support that addresses the issues identified in the school improvement plan.  The job descriptions contained within the scope of the administrative consultant and instructional coach support reflects unique school and district needs.  The proposed expenditures include the following:

 

1.  Administrative School Improvement Management Consultant

Project Gateway Administrative School Improvement Management Consultants, who are paid by the grant funds, will work with school/district to improve the educational climate and resources within each school that will ensure sustained student achievement.  Contracted professional assistance from the JBHM Education Group provides each participating school with a highly trained administrative school improvement consultant, who will spend two days per week in the school (for a total of fifty-six days per year).  All work completed finds its focus in improvement and derives from the Correlation of Effective Schools research. The administrative school improvement management consultant will provide a weekly written report to the district superintendent and will report to the parish school board as appropriate.  

 

Scope of Work:

·        Provide a school audit with a focus on reading to determine areas needing improvement.  This may be done in conjunction with a district assistance team and/or school improvement team.  Report results of the audit to the district superintendent.

 

·        Assist the principals to set the foundation for school improvement in the following areas:  reading curriculum in all content areas, job descriptions and evaluations, integrating Louisiana Department of Education and parish tools into the classroom, critical indicators of effective instruction and leadership, allocation or reallocation of resources (time, space, finding personnel etc.).

 

 

 

 

·        Using the research on effective teaching, develop training and support strategies that result in the deployment of effective reading instructional activities in all the school’s classrooms.

 

·        Provide training for all teachers on their role in assisting and impacting students with disabilities through implementation of research based reading interventions for inclusive settings.

 

·        Provide weekly written reports to the district superintendent.  Provide reports to the parish school board as appropriate. 

 

2.      Instructional Coach

The District Instructional Coach/ JBHM Education Group Instructional Coach will work alongside teachers in the classroom modeling lessons and providing the necessary follow-up and one-on-one assistance required to implement and sustains standards-based teaching and learning strategies in reading.  Full-time Instructional Coaches, funded by this project, will spend at least 80% of their time working directly with participating teachers to effect reading instruction in Beauregard and Calcasieu Parish. The JBHM Education Group will provide a contracted Reading Instructional Coach that will work for a minimum of 20 days in the targeted school in Cameron Parish.  The goal of the instructional coach is to provide intensive leadership for instructional change in general education settings; as well as, in special education support services that are based on the school improvement plan. The full time instructional coach shall have a minimum of five years successful teaching experience at the middle school level, and certification or significant coursework in assessment, and reading instruction.

 

Scope of Work:

·        Work alongside teachers in the classroom modeling lessons and providing the necessary follow-up and one-on-one assistance required to implement and sustain reading standards-based teaching and learning strategies

 

·        Using the research on effective teaching, develop training and support strategies that result in the deployment of effective reading instructional activities in all the schools’ classrooms.

 

·        Assist in collecting diagnostic data that can be utilized by school building level committees for individually designed student interventions.

 

·        Consult with principal, administrative consultant, central office leadership, and faculty regarding curriculum and program needs.

 

·        Design and assist in implementing intervention with low performing and identified special education students in general education settings prior to, during, and after the referral process.

 

·        Provide leadership in focused faculty study and grade level meetings that focus on elements of reading that impact school and student improvement.

 

·        Provide technical support to teachers through conferencing and mentoring.

 

 

·        Review with principal, director/supervisor of special education and director/supervisor of curriculum and instruction results of technical assistance support activities.

 

·        Assist IEP teams in the development of instructional plans that monitor and reflect progress in the general curriculum.

 

·        Assist IEP teams in the development of accommodations and modifications that reflect evidenced based educational practices

·        Assist and facilitate the analysis of data by teachers with a focus on data driven, long range classroom planning. 

·         Collect artifacts and conduct classroom observations in participating classrooms required in the on-going evaluation of Project Gateway.