Mar+5+Meeting

NAIS STEM highlights (presented by Susan):

 * 1) Every school should have design thinking
 * 2) Backward design - looking at outcomes first
 * 3) The big shifts in education:
 * 4) Knowing to doing
 * 5) Teacher to student-centered
 * 6) From I to team
 * 7) Construction of meaning
 * 8) Individual to networks of schools (professional learning community)
 * 9) Boundaries between school and work are less concrete than previously

Items to discuss:
1. Make connections with strategic planning group. 2. Reach out to begin making community connections. 3. Review small group agenda.

Items to accomplish in school groups:
1. Brainstorm: based on what we've learned so far, what would an ideal STEM program at SP LS/MS/US look like? 2. Plan visits to other schools to occur between now and April 23.

Discussion notes:

 * 1) Possible to work more teacher collab time into schedule? Lakeside - 3 hours per week. Would wreck teacher/mentor/coach model.
 * 2) We need to be careful about our language - we're not out to make SP a STEM school. This should be communicated. If we focus on 21st century skills.
 * 3) Collaborating for excellence. Opens up the conversation and impacts.
 * 4) What is it we need to do at the highest level of excellence for our students?
 * 5) Have someone from outside, motivating speaker, come in regarding 21st century skills and innovating.
 * 6) Big barrier in changing the minds of teachers to accept collaborating for excellence.
 * 7) Curriculum coordinator role?
 * 8) There's got to be faculty input.
 * 9) Try things you've never done before, it's okay to fail. This is good philosophy for changing a traditional independent school education. Are you willing to fail? Are you willing to let someone else succeed?
 * 10) PD is always a complaint. A considerable amount of time, energy, money must be put into it. PD curriculum?
 * 11) We've increased the number of days for students (180), but haven't increased the number for faculty.

Realms of Recommendations:

 * Infrastructure
 * Advisory/service learning
 * Curriculum
 * Faculty development
 * Schedule
 * Leadership/administration

Questions to ask schools:
**COLLABORATING FOR EXCELLENCE** Recognizing the need for 21st century students to acquire a enhanced set of skills that will enhance their position in the global marketplace, we support the development of curricula that is driven by student – centered problem solving, collaboration, exploration, and discovery. In their efforts, they will utilize the most current and effective technological resources available.
 * What vehicle do you use to manage an integrated curriculum?
 * What's your mission statement?
 * [Susan will complete this list.]


 * FIELD RESEARCH**

The committee agreed that the following schools should be visited or called before the April 23rd meeting:


 * ** School ** ||  ** Committee member(s) **  ||  ** Location **  ||  ** Focus **  || ** Contacted ** ||
 * Cromwell Valley Elementary ||  Smith, Mitcherling, Pollard  ||  Baltimore  ||  Innovation  || Yes - Rebecca ||
 * Bullis ||  Woods, Holgate, Kearney  ||  DC Metro  ||  Innovation  || Yes - Darren ||
 * Potomac ||  Woods, Mitcherling, Pollard  ||  DC Metro  ||  Innovation  || Yes - Darren ||
 * Collegiate ||  Kearney, Mitcherling, Scott, Global?  ||  Richmond  ||  Global  || Yes - Darren ||
 * British School of Washington ||  Stine, Global?  ||  DC  ||  Global/IB  || Yes - Darren ||
 * Cary Academy ||  Stine, Global?  ||  NC  ||  Global  ||   ||
 * Hathaway Brown ||  Kearney, Scott, Global?  ||  Ohio  ||  Global/Innovation  || Yes - Susan ||
 * St. Gregory’s Preparatory ||  Smith, Koska, Global?  ||  AZ  ||  Global/Innovation  || Yes - Darren ||
 * Lawrenceville School ||  Kearney, Dimitriades,  ||  NJ  ||  International/Boarding  || Yes - Nancy ||
 * The HUN School of Princeton ||  Kearney, Dimitriades  ||  NJ  ||  International/Boarding  || Yes - Nancy ||