West Virginia
State Board of Education
2011 Innovation Zone
Designation
COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATION
Applications Due:
December 15, 2010
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of School Improvement
Division of Educator Quality and System Support
Building 6, Room 617
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
Fairplains Elementary School
West Virginia Board of Education
2010-2011
Priscilla M. Haden, President
Jenny N. Phillips, Vice President
Robert W. Dunlevy, Secretary
Delores W. Cook, Member
Michael I. Green, Member
Burma Hatfield, Member
Lowell E. Johnson, Member
L. Wade Linger Jr., Member
Gayle C. Manchin, Member
Brian E. Noland, Ex Officio
Chancellor
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
James L. Skidmore, Ex Officio
Chancellor
West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education
Steven L. Paine, Ex Officio
State Superintendent of Schools
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Innovation Zones Competitive Grant Application
Who May Apply?
• A school
• One or more schools acting as a consortium
• A school seeking designation of a subdivision or department
• A group of schools seeking designation across the same subdivision or department of the
schools
• A higher education institution
How much money is available and to whom will recipients report?
The size of planning grant awards will be based upon a reasonable well-planned
projection of expenditures tied to the planning phase of developing the Innovation Zone
Plan. Applicants may apply for up to $50,000, (total funds available at this time
are approximately $435,000). The applicant must first be designated as an Innovation
Zone by the West Virginia Board of Education Innovation Selection Committee in order
to receive planning grant awards and begin the planning process.
Each Innovation Zone receiving a grant must report annually to the West Virginia Board
of Education regarding the progress in meeting the objectives described in its Innovation
Zone Plan.
What are the steps of the application and the plan?
Phase 1 (Planning Application)
1. Complete the application for Innovation Zone designation
2. *Approval by 80 percent of faculty (those affected by Innovation Proposal)
3. **Record of Support from Parents, LSIC, Business Partners, Students
4. Record of County Board Report (Support and Concerns) on application
5. Submit application, electronically and by mail, to the West Virginia Department of
Education Innovation Zone Selection Committee
IMPORTANT NOTES:
*To determine staff support, both the innovation application and plan must be submitted to all
employees affected by the design of the plan for a secret ballot vote at special meetings called to
determine the level of commitment to apply for designation as an Innovation Zone and for
commitment to the fully developed plan.
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The meeting is called with two weeks prior special notice, and the vote is conducted and certified
to the principal, superintendent, and county board president by a panel.
The panel must provide an absentee ballot to each employee eligible to vote who cannot attend
the meeting.
The panel consists of the elected officers of the faculty senate of the school or schools;
one representative of the service personnel of the school; and three parent
members appointed by the Local School Improvement Council (LSIC).
At least 80 percent of the employees who are eligible to vote must vote to apply for designation as
an Innovation Zone (Phase 1) and to approve the school’s Innovation Zone plan (Phase 2) before
the level of staff commitment at the school is sufficient for the school to apply for designation and
before the plan is approved by the school.
Any regular employee at a school applying for or designated as an Innovation Zone whose job
duties may be affected by implementation of the Innovation Zone plan or proposed plan may
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request a transfer to another school in the school district. The county board shall make every
reasonable effort to accommodate the transfer.
**Please make sure your application is submitted to your local board in time to receive their signature and
supports/concern before the application due date.
Completed grant application must be RECEIVED both by mail and electronic
submission by December 15, 2010 (see p. 5 of application).
Phase 1: Planning/Application
Please limit the total number of pages to eight using 1-inch margins on all sides appendices and cover page are not included in the number of pages.
Components of the Application:
A.
B.
C.
Cover Page
Applicant Information
Narratives for the Innovation Zone Application:
Fairplains Leadership Framework
2011 Innovation Zone Planning
Grant Proposal
Fairplains Leadership
Framework
Submitted for Consideration to
The West Virginia Board of Education
December 15, 2010
By
Fairplains Elementary School
Wood County
B.
Applicant Information:
Entity Applying for Innovation Zone Designation
__ x___ School
______Department or Subdivision of School
______Coalition of Schools (fill out multiple listings below)
______Higher Education Institution
Name of Entity Applying: Fairplains Elementary School
County: Wood
Superintendent: J. Patrick Law
Principal: Elizabeth Conrad
Number of Professional Personnel: 25
Number of Service Personnel: 9
Institution of Higher Education:
County Location:
_224 Number of students served/affected by the proposed Innovation Zone plan.
_ _25_ Number of teachers involved in the proposed Innovation Zone plan.
___9_ Number of service personnel involved in the proposed Innovation Zone plan.
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C.
Narratives for the Innovation Zone Application:
Phase I Planning – the initial application for the planning of the innovation.
1. Project Design:
a) Creative vision for the project
Fairplains Elementary School is located in south Parkersburg in Wood County.
Historically, education has not been a primary concern in our community, largely
because our families believe there is little to be gained from education. Our children
experience a myriad of challenges daily. Over the last decade, the percentage of
Fairplains’ students living in poverty has varied between 90%-94% with the current year
being slightly lower at 89%. On average, 42% of our students come from single parent
homes and 16% are homeless. Approximately 11% have reported some kind of domestic
violence and 19% report alcoholism or drug abuse in their household. Attendance
concerns comprise 16% of our students. An estimated 11% of our children have family
members who are incarcerated.
Our population is also very transient with the
percentage of transfers in and out by the 2nd month report each year at 39%. Students
are habitually displaced to other homes, family members, and receive services from
county agencies.
Deterioration of students’ personal lives are reflected in their erratic behaviors at school.
This resulted in an increase in both In School (ISS 28 days for 25 students) and Out of
School (OSS 42 days for 14 students) suspensions, which was a 40% increase. A Positive
Behavior Support Team was established in the fall of 2009. The Team trained students
in grades 3-5 in “Problem Solving Skills” and produced student led video vignettes
applicable for student, parent, and staff training on appropriate behaviors. Office
referrals have decreased, but students still lack the social skills needed for success.
WESTEST achievement results over 5 years held consistent at 75%+ proficient in math
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and reading/language arts. However, 2009-2010 WESTEST II scores showed a drop to
around 30% proficient, reflecting the increased difficulty of the test. The previous two
years of WESTEST II the scores have remained stable. Due to this drop in reading,
Fairplains’ strategic plan identified goals for reading improvement. One of the most
pressing needs in reading, at all grade levels, is making connections with the text, which
is a direct result of the students’ inability to relate with the characters and situations in
literature due to their lack of background knowledge and limited life experiences.
Fairplains provides opportunities for parents, teachers, students, and community
members to work collaboratively through our LSIC and our PTA. Fairplains has been an
established Professional Development School (PDS) for over 16 years. WVUParkersburg’s classroom management practicum is held at Fairplains, and the preservice teachers work with our teachers and children each Friday morning for 3 hours.
The education majors from WVU-Parkersburg and Fairplains teachers will work
together on Friday mornings to address our goals. This will improve the likelihood that
our students will become contributing members of society. Teachers meet with all
parents and students prior to the beginning of school to establish a good partnership.
Fairplains’ students lack a full understanding of what a leader is or awareness that they
can be leaders. We are convinced that providing an education founded on the principles
of leadership will allow students to develop the skills and confidence needed to prepare
them for the global economy.
According to Saunders, et al, children who develop
leadership skills at a young age will lead a life of extreme discipline and determination.
Research by the Girl Scouts of America shows that the desire to be a leader peaks
between the ages of 8 to 10, and their confidence in speaking up and leading dwindles by
fifth grade. This heightens the need to foster students’ leadership skills. As evidenced in
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The Leader in Me, the principles of Covey have received national recognition for their
emphasis on developing leadership in young children. Covey’s principles are grounded
in the belief that building cooperative relationships and nurturing responsibility,
kindness, and good judgment are the basis for creating a successful community of
learners. Student leadership qualities play an important role in getting higher marks in
school and a contributing to the community based on research by the 4-H organization.
Our vision began in 2008 when Liz Conrad, our principal, visited A.B. Combs
Leadership Magnet School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Muriel Summers, the principal of
A.B. Combs, advised that we take a team of teachers to Langford’s Quality Learning
Workshop (offered through RESA V) and become familiar with Covey’s 7 Habits of
Highly Effective People. Covey’s book was purchased, and a voluntary book study began
summer and fall of 2008. In 2009, Liz, our principal, and four teachers attended a 4 day
Langford Quality Learning workshop. During the summer of 2010, ten teachers, service
personnel, and Liz attended Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Signature
Program. Five teachers and Liz attended a 4-day Langford Quality Learning workshop.
Three teachers attended a two day Leader in Me (Covey) education summit in
Pittsburgh, PA. In the fall of 2010, two teachers traveled to Charleston, WV to hear
Muriel Summers speak and to gather more information about teaching leadership skills
to students. A small group of teachers and Liz attend monthly meetings at RESA V to
brainstorm and review how to best use Langford’s Quality Learning Tools. We are now
at the point where we need help to be able to provide training for the remainder of the
staff and other stakeholders as well as planning for implementation.
b) Goals and objectives for the project:
Develop a collective vision and school culture that inspires innovation and success
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● Create a common leadership language that includes The 7 Habits and Quality
Tools to be monitored through walk-throughs and staff/student interviews.
● Use of Quality Tools by staff and students to be monitored by review of lesson
plans, student data notebooks, and walk-throughs.
● Foster a culture of Literacy that encompasses students, teachers, administrators,
families and communities as evidenced by four Family Literacy Nights per year.
● Foster an atmosphere of “Can Do” Leadership through problem solving,
mentoring (WVU-P Partnership Project) and student showcases to be monitored
● by student interviews, review of WVU-P student lesson plans, walk-throughs, and
exhibit of student projects.
Enhance the future leadership opportunities of our students
● Develop students’ strengths in interpersonal skills, communication, technology,
writing, and performance (arts and service) and showcase those strengths at least
two times per year.
● Expect each child to identify themselves as a school leader in some aspect of the
school by participating in monthly leadership clubs.
● Partner with our community to provide opportunities that students would not
normally have (i.e. music lessons, art lessons, 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
wrestling, dance).
● Provide opportunities for virtual field trips, actual field trips, community
involvement and service projects in order to increase global awareness.
Improve behavior
● Decrease the number of student discipline referrals by 20%
● Decrease the number of suspensions (in and out of school) by 20%
● Decrease the number of tardies by 10%
● Increase student responsibility and “buy in” measured through student goals and
charts in student/class data notebooks.
Use data to track progress, drive instruction, and increase academic achievement
● Use “I Can” statements and capacity matrices based on CSO’s/Power Standards
that have been modified by Fairplains Staff
● Use of student Data Journals/Notebooks and Goal Setting
● Improve WESTEST scores over the next 5 years to 80% of all students at or
above Mastery
c) Activities necessary to implement and achieve the goals/objectives
of the innovation initiative:
Phase I will focus on the development of common language and skill sets regarding
leadership and the role of personal responsibility among all stakeholders. The staff will
complete the development of the Fairplains Leadership Framework (FLF) during Phase
I. The FLF is a graphic organizer showing the relationship of all the pieces of the
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proposed innovation and will guide the implementation of our leadership model. The
curriculum for teaching the framework will be developed during Phase I. Staff that have
not been trained, some members of the community, and some WVU-P education
instructors will be trained in the use of Covey’s 7 Habits by attending a 3 day training.
Review sessions will be provided for previously trained staff. Book studies will be
completed on The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens and/or The 7 Habits of Happy
Kids. Covey’s 7 Habits will support the concept of developing the whole child while
fostering a climate of principle-centered and personal leadership. The 7 Habits are: Be
Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First, Think Win-Win, Seek
First to Understand, Then to be Understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the Saw.
As part of a continuous improvement process, Quality Tools will be used to help
facilitate effective and efficient data-based problem solving, prioritizing, and goal
setting. Some examples of Quality Tools are Affinity Diagrams, Interrelationship
Digraphs, Consensograms, Capacity Matrices, and Graphs. Staff and WVU-Parkersburg
pre-service teachers will be trained and mentored in the use of Quality Tools and The 7
Habits. Using a combination of The 7 Habits series written by Stephen R. and/or Sean
Covey and David Langford’s Quality Tools, we will be able to create a new mindset
throughout our school and community. With the proper training and support, this
project will be able to be sustained and become an integral part of our school culture.
This innovative change will change the way our school operates in several ways. First,
our school climate will reflect the common mission and goals of both students and
teachers. Next, teachers will instill leadership traits in students to improve behavior and
respect toward teachers, peers, and property. Last, and most important, our students
will benefit because the 7 Habits will help them develop an inherent desire for success.
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Students will use their leadership strengths and problem solving skills to address social
disagreements and academic struggles, therefore decreasing discipline problems.
Positive academic experiences will establish the school as a safe learning environment,
consequently test scores will rise. Our school will transform into a place where
creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and authentic learning is the
norm; in other words, an educational transformation.
Project Evaluation:
At project end, our school will have shared values, beliefs, and strategies that will enable
our students to become leaders at school and in our community. With these leadership
skills, student academics will increase while inappropriate behavior will decrease.
WVEIS will be used to measure improved behavior (discipline referrals and tardies) and
students’ grades in grades 3-5. WESTEST II scores will also be used for evaluation in
grades 3-5. Remaining goals/objectives will be evaluated by using walk-throughs,
interviews with staff/students, review of lesson plans, student data notebooks, capacity
matrices, and goal setting. Attendance rosters, meeting minutes, and surveys will be
used to gauge the effectiveness of our collective vision and leadership goals. Results
from this Innovation Zone project will be reported to the West Virginia Department of
Education and our local Board of Education.
Scalability and Sustainability:
This innovation can be used at schools throughout the state by using a mentor model.
By pairing with a school that has already completed the process, we will be able to
continue with our innovation beyond the initial funding period.
Abstract:
Fairplains Elementary School intends to become a Leadership School based on the work
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of Muriel Summers (The Leader in Me), Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People),
and Langford (Quality Learning Tools) while under the mentorship of Belmont
Elementary principal, Becky Griffith and her staff. Our goals are to (1) develop a
collective vision and school culture that inspires innovation and success, (2) enhance the
future leadership opportunities of our students, (3) improve behavior, and (4) use data
to track progress, drive instruction, and increase academic achievement. Teachers, staff,
students, and pre-service teachers will be trained in Covey’s 7 Habits and Langford’s
Quality Tools in order to embed data-driven decision making processes throughout the
school community. Ongoing evaluation of the grant will be based on walk-throughs,
staff/student interviews, collaboration meeting minutes, lesson plans, student
exhibits/projects, leadership club minutes, and review of “I Can” statements and
student data notebooks. Accountability for student achievement will be growth on the
WESTEST2. Fairplains is requesting a waiver from Policy 2510 5.3.1, 5.4.1, and 5.5.1 so
that core subjects can be integrated with leadership training during the first two weeks
of school and on Friday mornings when pre-service teachers in our professional
development school (PDS) will work collaboratively with Fairplains teachers to embed
leadership with the core subjects.
Indicate the policies or code that prohibit or constrain the design:
• _____ Specific waiver requested of county policy.
• 2510 Specific waiver requested of WVBOE policy.
• _____ Specific waiver requested of WV code/statute.
Please record policy or code waiver requests in the following chart:
Innovation Zone
School/Consortium
State Code Waiver
Request (specify
section and article)
Fairplains
Elementary School,
Wood County
Fairplains Leadership Framework
State Policy Waiver
Request (specify
section and article)
Impact of the waiver - What will
the waiver enable the school to
do differently?
2510; 5.3.1, 5.4.1,
5.5.1
Core subjects will be
integrated with leadership
training first 2 weeks of
school and Friday mornings.
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Budget Justification:
Budget Item
Narrative
Description of Item
Proposed
Amount
Funded by Others
Staff
Development
Fairplains
Leadership
Framework (FLF)
Subs. (2/11)
Covey Training 3 days x
20 staff x $150, 3 staff &
2 parents funded by
others
$ 9,000
3 staff /3 days x $150
= $1,350 LSIC Grant
& parents released by
employers
Books for Staff
Dev. (2/11)
27 copies 7 Habits
(signature series) @ $80
per unit
20 x $80 =
$1,600
3 x $80 = $240 LSIC
Grant & 2x$80 =
$160 PTA
Facilitator
Stipend for Covey
certified trainer for 3 day
training
$600
Principal also monitor
salary Wood BOE
FLF Training 3/11
4 one hour sessions x 25
staff x $25
$2,500
FLF facilitator
Planning & Conduct LF
$150
Curriculum
Development
Student FLF Immersion
packets and lessons 15
two hr. sessions x $50 x
25 staff
$ 18,750
4/11 – 6/11
Facilitator Stipend FLF Student Leadership
Curriculum
Immersion plan, model
Development
15 two hr. sessions
Substitutes
4/11-5/11
Principal also monitor
salary Wood BOE
$500
Principal will also
monitor salary Wood
BOE
4 subs. Teacher visit
mentor Belmont Elem.
4 x $150
$600 Wood County
BOE
Substitutes
4 subs. Belmont mentor
teachers to collaborate
4 x $150 =
$600
“I Can” academic
materials creation
stipends &
printing 4/11-6/11
Develop “I Can” CSO &
FLF materials by Teams
12 hrs. x 4 teams x
$25printing $500
Stipends
$1,200
Printing Wood BOE
$500
Literary resources Literary Resources for
Students & Staff
use in planning & training
FLF for students & staff
Students @
$8,000Staff
@ $4,000
TOTAL
$46,900 $2,850
Supporting Documents Required:
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WVDE Office Use
Only
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Institutions of higher education must attach documents that include:
1. Approval from county board with jurisdiction over the school district in which the
new school is planned to be located and approval of the establishment of the new
Innovation Zone School.
2. Cooperative agreements with the county board or county boards whose students
attend the new Innovation Zone School that include:
a. Protocols for required reporting on student attendance
b. Protocols for reporting academic progress and other matters relating to
administration, operation and support of the school, and agreed to by the institution
and the boards or boards
c. Agreement on the participation of students enrolled in the Innovation Zone School
in the curricular or extracurricular activities at the county school in which they are
enrolled
d. Agreement between the state institution of higher education and participating
county board or boards of education to meet the accountability requirements for
student assessment under all applicable assessment programs administered by the
West Virginia Department of Education and provisions of law or policy required
by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Law No. 107-110 or other federal
law.
Application is submitted to WVBOE Selection Committee
What resources are available to help complete this application?
Interactive information sessions for prospective applicants to explain the application
process and answer questions will be held on dates and locations to be announced on the
Innovation Zone website. Registration for these sessions may be accessed at
http://wvde.state.wv.us/innovationzones.
Address application packets to:
Applicants must submit their application electronically at the Innovation Zone website at
http://wvde.state.wv.us/innovationzones
AND ALSO
Mail application to:
Donna Peduto, coordinator Innovation Zone Initiative
Office of School Improvement
Division of Educator Quality and System Support
Building 6, Room 617
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
Formatting and Submission Requirements:
•
•
Application narratives should be double-spaced, 12 point font.
Applicants are asked to adhere to the total page limitation of eight pages using 1inch margins on all sides. Page limits do not apply to the cover sheet and any
additional appendices (optional).
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•
•
•
•
Pages must be numbered with the school/consortium name on each page (footer).
Send loose leaf, do not bind or staple in any manner. Use only temporary
fasteners.
Faxed applications will not be accepted.
Please submit applications both by traditional mail (see address above)
and electronically by uploading to
 http://wvde.state.wv.us/innovationzones/form.php. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to contact Donna Peduto to verify receipt of the document.
 Pages requiring original signatures must be received by the WVDE
accompanying the application no later than 5 p.m. on December 15, 2010,
by mail.
Phase 2: Implementation Plan
Provide an explanation as to how the innovation plan will be implemented.
Once designated by the West Virginia Board of Education as an Innovation
Zone in Phase I, the following components are included in the submission of
the Phase II Implementation Plan in Spring 2011:
A. Scalability
• Describe how the implementation of the project will be documented.
• How will the practices used to create the changes be recorded so that others can
replicate the project?
B. Monitoring and Adjusting
• Create a timeline of implementation activities.
• Outline the responsibilities of activities/persons responsible.
• Identify the benchmarks to be used to monitor the implementation of the plan
and determine the necessary adjustments.
C. Evaluation
• Describe methods for providing pre- and post-measurement of all the goals and
objectives and student achievement outcomes of the activities to be able to
measure improvement against baseline data.
Please note: Only designated Innovation Zones which are selected in
January 2011, are required to submit Phase II Implementation Plans in
Spring 2011.
WVDE technical assistance will be provided in completing the Phase II Implementation
Plan, if desired.
1. Expand upon and fully develop the components of the Planning Process from
Phase I
2. Gain approval of 80 percent of faculty (those affected by the Phase II Innovation
Plan)
3. Record of County Board Report (Support and Concerns) on Plan
4. Submit plan, either electronically or by mail, to the West Virginia Department of
Education Innovation Zone Committee
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Who do we contact for assistance?
For additional assistance or questions related to the Innovation Zone application or plan,
please contact:
Donna Peduto, coordinator Innovation Zone Initiative
Office of School Improvement
Division of Educator Quality and System Support
Building 6, Room 617
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
304-558-3199
dpeduto@access.k12.wv.us
Dr. Steven L. Paine
State Superintendent of Schools
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