John Merritt and Allyson Schoenlein
Title Program Directors in Wood and Cabell Counties
 Think about a school in your district that’s in
need of improvement.
 For the next 2 minutes, jot down several of the
biggest issues at that school. Keep adding to
the list until time is up.
 Compare results in Table Groups to select 3-5 of
their BIGGEST common issues.
“Your liver, you say!
That’s too bad. Today I’m treating
broken bones. Come back later
if you break your arm.
Oh, and if you’d like, you can ask
the nurse for an appointment on
Liver Day.”
A County Rx
(broken arm):
 Disaggregate WESTEST2
 Add Formative Assessment:
SMI, DIBELS, Acuity, IDMS
 Post Data Walls
 Differentiate Instruction: SPL
 Map the CSO’s
 Integrate Technology
 Maintain Fidelity to the Core
 Use WV Writes
 Promote Parent Involvement
School Symptoms
(liver problems):
 Lapse in Leadership
 Haphazard Routines and
Procedures
 Toxic, Demoralized Staff
 Many Discipline Referrals
 Unmotivated Students
 Pitying instead of Caring
 DOK Levels 2 and 3?
 Rule: No PD after 3:00
 Family Stress/Transience
Is there an Elephant in the Room?
…We Can’t Fix What We Ignore
82% of ABC Elementary School students qualify as Low
SES and the neighborhood crime rate is very high. The school’s
talented, veteran staff built a record of academic excellence
despite these challenges. But when personal problems left the
principal unfocused, the teachers closed their doors and hunkered
down. Collaboration virtually ceased.
The principal wasn’t worried about ABCE at the time. She
expected her terrific teachers to carry on without much guidance.
Instead they kept following her lead, spiraling lower and lower.
WESTEST2 scores at the school plummeted to the lowest
in the district. County administrators helped the principal of
ABCE realize she had led the decline. As she resumed
leadership, teacher collaboration rose to an all time high. Staff
now hold an annual student retreat prior to WESTEST2 where
kids prepare for the test. Students at ABCE once again are
excelling. The school won County math field day 2 years in a row.
80% of EFG Elementary School students qualify for
Free and Reduced lunch. The school’s previous principal
had just retired while the school was on improvement and a
new principal was put into place. Shortly after taking over,
control issues arose and the climate and culture completely
dissolved. Collaboration did not occur and trust was
absent. WESTEST2 scores at the school plummeted to the
lowest in the state.
The county made personnel changes and gave more
power to the principal. Solution Tree focused for a year on
culture and climate.
The county level support team guided the PD steps.
Climate and Culture are now at an all time high. School is
poised to improve WESTEST2 scores.
“When staff members work with children
raised in poverty, a common observation
is, ‘Bless their hearts, they come from
such terrible circumstances.’ The
problem with that sentiment is that it leads
to lowered expectations. Establish a
school culture of caring, not of giving up.
from Teaching with Poverty in Mind
by Eric Jensen (2009)
The teachers and principal at XYZ Elementary could be
compared to missionaries, devoting their lives to students. Their
professional development was intense. They taught solid lessons, but
weren’t too surprised when their WESTEST2 scores ranked among the
lowest in WV. After all, their kids came from poverty …80% Low SES.
Staff tried to plug-in the gaps for their Low SES students. They
gave food, clothing and love in abundance. When students slept
during class, didn’t turn in work or misbehaved, the staff expected it.
Out-of-school suspensions were common.
Multiple advisors told the staff their low expectations were toxic.
Only after being targeted for WVDE school improvement did they agree.
They adopted a new school motto, ‘No Excuses’ for failure and
a theme song, Miley Cyrus’s ‘We are Climbing.’ The Respect and
Protect program of positive student support shifted responsibility for
good behavior to the students. In a few months time, discipline
referrals dropped and learning rose. Next, teachers began using the
Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) to discuss and increase student
engagement. Scores climbed on WESTEST2. Teachers now give
students what they need most, high expectations.
 Professional Learning Communities (Solution Tree – Tim
Brown)
 School Culture and Climate (Solution Tree - Anthony
Muhammad)
 Title I Workshops (Math, Strategic Planning, Reading)
 Technology Integration Specialists
 Author Workshops
 Instructional Coaches for Math, Reading, and Sp. Ed.
 Teacher Parent Training
 Parenting classes
 Common Assessments
 Instructional Practices Inventory
 Flexibility in PD schedule
 WVDE Support
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Organizational Health (organizationalhealth.com)
Professional Learning Communities (allthingsplc.info)
Technology Integration Specialists
Instructional Coaches for Math and Reading
Common Assessments
Invitational Education (invitationaleducation.net)
Respect and Protect Positive Student Support
Instructional Practices Inventory – Jerry Valentine
(education.missouri.edu)
Project Based Learning
DBQ – Document Based Questioning
Depth of Knowledge training
Identify ‘Tight vs. Loose’ Practices
Director John Merritt
Wood County
jmerritt@access.k12.wv.us
Director Allyson Schoenlein
Cabell County
aschoenl@access.k12.wv.us
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All Staff Accountable for All Kids
Student Led Conferences
Student Portfolios/ Data Notebooks
High Expectations for Students
Writing Across the Curriculum
Technology Integration & TechSteps
PLC’s (Collaboration & Sharing)
Using Teacher Strengths
School Goals made Simple
School Goals Posted in Classes
Data Walls posted in Office
Common Assessments
Homework Help
Parent Involvement meetings
Walk to Interventions (Fluidity)
Universal Breakfast and Lunch
Morning Exercise
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Small Group Work in Core
Instruction
Personalized Learning based on
Students’ Interests
Personalized Learning based on
Students’ Learning Styles
Personalized Learning based on
Students’
Loosen time restraints
See students potential not poverty
Teachers Have a Voice in Decisions
Committees, PLC’s, Grade Level
teams all have Norms, Agendas
and Minutes
Veteran Staff Mentor New Teachers
Special Programs (Career Day,
Math Facts, Ashlock, AR, etc.)
Preparation and Organization
PRINCIPAL
OPERATIONAL
ADVISORY
LEADERSHIP TEAM
SAFETY
DISCIPLINE
INSTRUCTIONAL
LEADERSHIP ADVISORY
TEAM
A
B
C
D
E
F
Faculty
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP ADVISORY TEAM:
•Curriculum, Instruction, Professional Development
•Appointed Department Heads for staggered three year terms
OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP ADVISORY TEAM:
•Operational agenda, schedule, discipline, policy, etc.
•Faculty elected team
F
SP ED
ADVOCACY
INTERNALIZATION
SUPPORT
ACCEPTANCE
CLARITY
UNCLEAR