Oct. 8, 2015 Teachers' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
10/8/15 12:25 PM
Oct. 8, 2015 Teachers' Biweekly Message
North Carolina Public Schools <NCPublicSchools@public.govdelivery.com>
Thu 10/8/2015 11:05 AM
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To: Lynda
Fuller <Lynda.Fuller@dpi.nc.gov>;
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Oct. 8, 2015
On Tuesday, I hosted our annual graduation recognition event for
schools that had a 100 percent graduation rate or the highest
graduation rates in the state. A total of 52 schools had a 100
percent graduation rate in 2014-15, a record high! In total, 11
districts and 60 schools were recognized at this luncheon
celebration.
I mention all of this to say that high school graduation is not the
sole province of high school teachers. Students are encouraged
and prepared for graduation on the first day of kindergarten and on
every school day in between kindergarten and graduation day. The
lessons they learn, the friendships and relationships they build and
the talents they develop all make a difference in students’ decisions
to stay in school and graduate or to leave school before they earn a
diploma.
Thank you for recognizing this and for working diligently with your students each year.
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Oct. 8, 2015 Teachers' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
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State Board of Education Meeting
Highlights
At last week’s Board meeting, members received reports on third
grade performance under Read to Achieve and teacher turnover in
2014-15.
Members approved the state’s READY Accountability results for
2014-15, the list of schools and districts identified as low
performing, guidelines for academically or intellectually gifted
programs, and Read to Achieve local alternative assessments.
Board members also recognized Guilford County Schools’ The Early/Middle College at Bennett for
receiving the 2015 National Schools of Character Award and three Guilford County schools for receiving
the 2015 North Carolina Schools of Character State Award: Brooks Global Studies Elementary, James
Y. Joyner Elementary and The Early/Middle College at Bennett.
A complete list of Board actions is available online.
Math News
NCDPI’s Mathematics team has released updated Notes and Unpacking Guides for teachers of Math I,
II and III as well as updated Indicators for Pre-Calculus, Discrete and AFM fourth courses. Teachers of
Math I, II and III will find updated clarifications on the Notes here.
Teachers of AFM, Discrete and Pre-Calculus: Indicators for Advanced Functions & Modeling, Discrete
Math and Precalculus have been added to the HS Math Wiki Page under Instructional Resources. These
documents, which include a list of vocabulary, skills, concepts and examples, are intended to help
teachers plan instruction for students in these 4th level math courses. Word and pdf versions of the
documents are included here.
Both of these resources were created and/or updated in collaboration with the NCDPI Accountability
Services Department and the Testing Section. If you have any questions, please contact one of our
secondary consultants Joseph Reaper or Lisa Ashe.
K-2 Math Assessments have been updated and revised. They are currently being vetted and will be
available later this month. If you have any questions, please contact one of NCDPI’s elementary
consultants Denise Schulz or Kitty Rutherford.
Don’t forget…mathematics support materials and resources are available on the NCDPI Math Wiki. Also,
elementary math teachers may want to consider joining the elementary mathematics listserv. Just send
an email message to join-k-5_math@lists.dpi.state.nc.us. Leave the subject line and the body of the
message blank. You will receive an email message when successfully subscribed. If you have any
problems contact Susan Hart.
One-Stop NCDPI Resource for All Educators Updated
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Oct. 8, 2015 Teachers' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
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Wikicentral provides a direct point of access for NCDPI wikis that
contain resources and materials for North Carolina educators.
The wikis, which are managed by various divisions within NCDPI,
include resources related to professional development, curriculum,
policy, tools and more.
Please spread the word to your colleagues about this valuable site.
For more information, please contact Educator Effectiveness
Director Lynne Johnson.
October is “Connected Educator Month”
As educators, it’s often challenging to remain current with professional knowledge while actively serving
our schools and districts. Being aware of resources that help keep us informed of current and emerging
trends in education is more valuable than ever. How do we reach beyond the walls of our school
buildings to seek out professional knowledge and growth opportunities?
Visit the Connected Educators website to find the answers to this questions. Educators are encouraged
to grow your professional learning network by engaging in virtual discussions with others, sharing
resources, tweeting, participating in national “Connected Educator Month” events and more.
Be sure to take a look at the Connected Educator Starter Kit. Tweet often, using the hashtag #CE15, as
you share your thoughts and activities. Stay tuned as the NCDPI Digital Teaching and Learning
Division shares weekly updates to assist you in the process of growing your “connectedness.”
Hope Street Group Seeks Teachers’ Opinions
The Hope Street Group NC Teacher Voice Network, led by 30 of your fellow teachers, is working with
the Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to collect teacher opinion on a
variety of topics related to Educator Effectiveness.
Please take this brief survey between now and Oct. 11 so that your opinions can be included in that
conversation. Hope Street Group will work with NCDPI on how the data will be used to improve
education policy in North Carolina, so stay tuned to hear the value of your voice.
Questions regarding the Hope Street Group may be directed to North Carolina Teacher Voice Network
Director Katharine Correll.
Interested in Being a NCVPS Teacher?
Did you know that all teachers with the North Carolina Virtual Public School are North Carolina certified
teachers? Most NCVPS teachers are in the traditional classroom during the day, and then they teach
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Oct. 8, 2015 Teachers' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
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our classes after school.
Please check out the Teach for NCVPS web page for information on how you be a part of the NCVPS
team. If you would like to learn more about NCVPS courses, check out this video.
America's Legislators Back to School Program
America's Legislators Back to School Program, sponsored by the National Conference of State
Legislatures, kicked off Sept. 14 and will run throughout the school year.
Educators are encouraged to extend invitations to their local representatives to visit and talk with
students about the legislative process and what it’s like to be a state legislator: the processes, the
pressures, and the debate - the negotiation and compromise that are the fabric of representative
democracy. Classroom discussions are being encouraged over school-wide assemblies.
North Carolina has actively participated in the America’s Legislators Back to School program since its
inception in 1999.
STEM Funding Opportunities Available
Many grant opportunities are offered to educators, students and
schools to enhance STEM education. Grants are offered on
national, regional and state levels.
Visit the NC STEM Center website to learn more.
Stay Connected with North Carolina Public Schools:
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Oct. 8, 2015 Teachers' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
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