Teacher-Admin+Agreements

= nex+gen Academy Teacher Advisory: A Framework of Possibilities=

= Background = Albuquerque Public Schools included in their Capital Master Plan a revitalization strategy for the Del Norte Community. A traditional comprehensive high school, Del Norte has seen a reduction over the past 15 years in student population. In addition, the building and its infrastructure has worn down. A general obligation bond provided the capital to re-build the school. At the same time, community leaders from Sandia National Laboratories, Intel Corp, and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce along with district leaders researched the New Tech Network high school model as a framework to enhance education while attracting students back to the Del Norte community. Architectural design plans changed in January 2009 to support a three-phase project. First, came a new two-story 48,000 sq ft school for an autonomous New Tech Magnet High School, nex+gen Academy, in the northeast corner of the campus. Phase Two includes a new three story building supporting small learning communities for 1300 Del Norte students while Phase Three provides finish work to the campus, cafeteria, and CTE labs. APS presented its application to the New Tech Network to ultimately become its 43rd partner school opening in Fall 2010 with 220 9th and 10th grade students growing to over 400 in grades 9 through 12 by Fall of 2012. The application was accepted and the District made the following agreements: · Students will get all of their core curriculum through the school · Core courses will all meet state requirements for college readiness. · Nex+gen will have a non-selective admissions policy. · Students and staff fully implement the PeBL™ tools to facilitate a student-centered learning environment. · All courses will implement Project-Based Learning as the primary instructional methodology in the classroom. · Team teaching, cross-curricular projects, and/or integrated courses is expected in all subjects. · Staff must be supported with professional development and curriculum development resources so that they can contribute to the shared Project Library. · Assessment strategies need to reflect both subject matter and 21st Century skills. · Staff works with students to create an adult, professional climate that relies on trust and responsibility to develop a positive culture. · 1:1 student to networked computer ratio. · Key staff members will attend a shadowing experience at one of the schools already open. · All staff will attend a 5-day training on PBL unit development and technology in the months prior to the school opening. · Participation in New Tech Network Teacher and Director Development Programs. · School will have a full-time principal · School principal will have significant autonomy from involuntary or undesirable transfers from other schools. Hiring and assessment procedures must reflect the specific requirements of the model. · Teachers and principals are full-time employees of the school and will not have their assignments divided with other schools. ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> One lead teacher will be designated as an on-site advocate for staff and liaison with NTN, with stipend from. ?? ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Facilities support a unique identity and are physically separate from other schools. ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Classrooms are large enough and organized to support team teaching in a technology-rich environment. In addition, nex+gen Academy is aligning its learning outcomes for students to the International Society for Technology in Education. ISTE is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving learning and teaching by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and higher education. ISTE defined the fundamental concepts, knowledge, skills, and attitudes for teachers for applying technology in educational settings. **[|ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T)]** will provide a framework for the nex+gen staff to use as they transition schools from Industrial Age to Digital Age places of learning. The teacher standards are as follows:
 * 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity ** . Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
 * 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments ** . Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.
 * 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning ** . Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.
 * 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility ** . Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.
 * 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership ** . Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Purpose of the nex+gen Academy Teacher Advisory = The nex+gen/ATF Teacher Advisory was established to co-construct the necessary teacher and leadership agreements between nex+gen leadership and its future teachers in collaboration with representative members of ATF. The task force is charged with making teacher and leadership agreements and commitments that will be the key element of the hiring process for teachers to staff nex+gen Academy. The members of the nex+gen/ATF Teacher Advisory respectfully submit this report: Michael Stanton, nex+gen Academy Principal Ellen Bernstein, ATF President Jay English, nex+gen Staff Amelia Milazzo, nex+gen Teacher Blake Learmouth, ATF Teacher Jill Hartmon, ATF Teacher Chris Welsh, ATF Teacher Deb Dooley, Teacher Allison Floyd, Teacher Jennifer Schneider, Teacher Rachel Weihe, Teacher Tamela Rhoton, ATF Teacher

Guiding Principles
The Principal, union leaders and teachers made up the membership of the nex+gen/ATF Teacher Advisory. Each person brought a unique perspective to meeting the principles of the New Tech Network-APS partnership. Through our process of research and deliberations, we agreed that the following principles would guide our recommendations for new policies and practices in nex+gen Academy. 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Every child in nex+gen Academy will be successful in achieving their academic goals if given the resources and support to do so. The school is focused on student centered learning. 2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Collaborative decisions about curriculum and instructional programs that are based on long-term progress and success of students, and the deepening of professional expertise will result in success at nex+gen Academy. 3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Highly qualified teachers--essential to the success of nex+gen Academy--require specialized support that is customized to the demanding environment of a New Tech Network partner school. 4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Inclusive governance and site-based collaboration through the entire staff in collaboration, known as the Instructional Council at nex+gen Academy, will result in an understanding of what is needed for successful teaching and learning and how to solve problems. 5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Money and resources within the existing District budget will be allocated toward authentic efforts to reduce barriers and increase supports that ensure student success at this unique magnet high school. 6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The correlation between addressing the needs of the whole child, integrating 21st Century Skills and student success cannot be ignored. Nex+gen Academy will be given support for its innovative programs planned to improve the health and welfare of students and their families. <span style="font-family: Garamond,helvetica,sans-serif;">**Site-Based Plan nex+gen Academy** APS and ATF are committed to providing support for change and improvement to our district’s schools. Nex+gen Academy will greatly benefit from its partnership with the New Tech Network and its proven model of success. Based on this fact, the members of this committee are engaged in a deeply collaborative and thoughtful process to create a site-based plan of agreements and commitments for teachers and leadership. The site-based plan will be based on: ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The APS-nex+gen Academy Application: Download File ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The New Tech Commitment Criteria: ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The nex+gen Academy/ATF //Framework of Possibilities// ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) ·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 21st Century Student Outcomes from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills [|Download copy here] 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Quality Instruction 2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Governance and Leadership 3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> School Resources and Working Conditions 4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Health and Welfare of Students, Families and Communities All school staff, including principals and teachers will be required to make a firm agreement and commitment to work in nex+gen Academy and to fulfill the mission as outlined in the school’s plan. Only those applicants who do agree to work on and support the collaboratively created plan for the school will be granted an interview for consideration to work at the school. This plan is the basis of a reciprocal agreement between the employees and the employer**.** The nex+gen/ATF Plan will specify: The agreement between employees and employer will be articulated in a signed commitment letter. The union and the district agree to assist schools in asking for waivers of any board policy, district procedures and directives and contract language that inhibits the plan from going forward. Based on the school’s plan the district and the union agree to create or modify contract language when necessary. <span style="font-family: Garamond,helvetica,sans-serif;"> 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Attend the APS/ATF Symposium on October 29th to learn more about wall-to-wall project based learning. All secondary staff were welcome. 2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Convene a group of people to draft the plan. Both Ellen Bernstein and Mike Stanton will meet with the teacher advisory. Ellen provides support throughout the process as the plan is developed. Mike provides facilitation and connection to the new knowledge needed by the teacher advisory members 3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Review of the plan elements. 4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Agreement on the most critical elements for nex+gen Academy. 5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Decide together how the employee and the employer will achieve the critical elements that have been identified for nex+gen Academy. 6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Write the plan using the elements on pages 5-7. 7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Prioritize elements to the needs of nex+gen Academy. 8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Write agreements in a commitment letter (sample included).
 * The Plan: How the school will address the new school design in four areas ** . (See Plan Elements below.)
 * The Employee’s Agreements: ** //the terms and conditions of employment that the employee is committing to at this school.//
 * The Employer’s Agreements: ** //the reciprocal commitment in the form of help requested from the district and union in order to accomplish the plan and support employees to fulfill their commitment//
 * The Plan will be developed in a collaborative manner in the following steps:**

**Addressing nex+gen Academy Needs (Plan Elements)**
====**1)<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Quality Instruction: All students deserve highly qualified, knowledgeable, dedicated, and caring teachers in order to succeed. Teachers—through their union—must become responsible for faculty training, developing and assessing curriculum to address state standards and ensuring that teachers and support personnel provide high quality services. Elements of quality instruction include:**==== **Curriculum** a) A well-rounded enriched course of study focused on critical thinking, creativity, problem solving and assessments that require students to solve complex real-world problems and defend their ideas orally and in writing. b) A rigorous, diverse and engaging student-centered curriculum that promotes relevant intellectual work. c) Engaging projects, activities, and advisory program to develop the whole child. d) Interdisciplinary curriculum collaboratively designed with a co-teacher and/or team that aims to meet the (add link) learning outcomes of the school and its mission.

e) Optimized conditions and resources for effective teaching and learning including but not limited to: instructional materials, available and reliable technology, protecting instructional time. f) A culture of inquiry, collaboration, support, and trust. g) School structures created based on the belief that all students deserve a well-rounded education and enriched course of study. h) Careful consideration given to all learning needs of students. i) Collaborative hiring team that includes the principal and a committee of teachers.
 * School Culture**

j) Significant investment in training and support for teachers, counselors, and administrators in effective integration of 21st Century Skills including technology to maximize educational quality for students. k) Time for professional development based on analysis of assessments, program development and implementation.
 * Professional Support**

====2)<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Inclusive governance, site-based collaboration, decision-making and effective leadership: Democratic governance is essential. More decision-making should reside at the school site to encourage innovation, reflection, responsiveness, flexibility and inclusiveness—all of which characterize a successful school. The school administrator, in particular, must be able to collaborate with staff as instructional leader and engage the community in a meaningful way. Inclusive governance affirms that staff and communities have an existing desire to improve and to do it in a non-punitive, supportive environment. Elements of nex+gen Academy’s governance and leadership include:==== a)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> An empowered Council of all teachers, the principal and other school employees, parent group representative, student group representative, and the community/business group representative with the training and time to plan curriculum, determine site budgets and school schedules, select teachers and administrators, and monitor and evaluate the school implementation plan and its impact on academic achievement. b)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Distributed leadership, including effective teacher leaders. c)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Provide professional development to further the governance of the school, continuous improvement, and goal teams. d)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Implementation of continuous improvement principles.

==== **3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Adequate school resources and working conditions:** A successful alternative/magnet high school relies on adequate school resources. We are going to remove obstacles that impair and impede learning while adding necessary resources and supports to ensure positive outcomes. Elements of adequate resources include: ====  a) professional development is applicable to the school's learning outcomes and supports individualized, site based professional growth. b)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Adequate custodial and food services. c)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Resources for the programs unique to the New Tech Network Model including but no limited to the following: access to the teaching learning portal, intensive initial new teacher training in PBL, ongoing coaching in PBL and other learning outcomes, and annual meetings with subject matter peers and other New Tech annual training events d) Basics for every student such as instructional materials and computers, desks, chairs. e) Basics for every teacher such as a desk, chair, and a locking file cabinet, reliable access to up to date technology. f) Align resources to the learning outcomes of the school. g) A supportive atmosphere for the principal to support the needs of this alternative school. ====**4)<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Support for the health and welfare of students, their families and our communities: nex+gen Academy’s ability to meet the needs of and further develop the needs of the whole child is key to academic achievement and later success in life. In order for nex+gen Academy to help provide the supports for our diverse population and of our “digital native” students the inclusion of necessary resources and supports of students include:**==== <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a) Innovation that is driven by the student needs and interests. b) Counseling, community action, and mentorship from community members in job shadow, internship, and project support. c) Access to District before school, after school and summer programs. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> d) Community/school partnerships.

To download the site-based plan of agreements and commitments for teachers and leadership:[[file:Teacher_Admin_Agreement_v2.doc]]
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Key Dates for Teachers planning to apply to nex+gen Academy:

 * **January 19, 2010**: Teacher Positions Advertised through APS HR
 * **January 20, 2010**: nex+gen Teacher Open House at room 127 Del Norte HS
 * **January 25, 2010**: New Teacher Interviews Begin
 * **February 12, 2010**: Teacher Application Period Closes
 * **February 3, 2010**: Teacher Finalist Observations Begin
 * **February 19, 2010**: New nex+gen Teachers Announced
 * **March 9, 2010**: New Teacher Welcome Event 4:00-7:00pm
 * **April 14 and 15, 2010**: All Staff Shadowing and New Tech PD in Coppell, Tx
 * **June 1-3, 2010**: nex+gen Planning Workshop
 * **June 8-11, 2010**: Intel Teach, Thinking Skills and Learning Workshop
 * **June 21-25, 2010** New Tech Network New Schools Conference, Indianapolis, In
 * **June 29 and 30, 2010**: New Tech PD on Learning Management System
 * **August 11-13, 2010**: nex+gen Academy Start of School PD Days