September 16,2011

Please remember to complete your site report on Monday if you haven't completed it for September.


Dr. Hammett may be at our staff meeting on Monday.  When I sent him our list of meetings, he indicated he would be in attendance at the Sept. meeting. 


Please drive a van to any State Dept Meetings, or any meetings or PD that occur out of our InService Area (ASTA, ACTM).  If there is a reason you can't drive a van to an out of town PD/meeting, please, in advance, talk to Kay or Tanya concerning this matter.

Please submit a list by email to Kay and Tanya concerning any PD or meetings or training (you are attending or leading) that will take you out of the  schools. This includes any specialists PLTs that have formed around the state.   The list of dates below was shared on June 3rd and this is what we have scheduled our school plans around these dates. Please, always share in advance, any dates you receive that Tanya and Kay do not have.  We need to have discussion before agreeing to any dates not on the list.  Some specialists have been asked to attend monthly meetings around the state and honestly, that is too much. I'm in discussion with the SDE concerning that now and will bring it up at the next Director's meeting.

PCN meetings:  I think  CE Hanna, Moody M and Springville Middle are participating so this is a great opportunity to interact with those schools.  They will all be at the elementary meeting not the secondary meeting.  If you sit at their tables be sure to count those as contact hours.


New Dates: 
Director's meetings:
September 27-28, 2011
November 29-30, 2011
February 7th-8th and maybe 9th with Joanne
May 8th and 9th and maybe 10th with Joanne

Statewide Staff meetings
October 10th-13th  everyone
April 16th - 19th everyone
June 25th - 29th everyone

Possible TTT
February 21-23:  Math
February 27- March 2: Science
February 28- March 1: Math
March 5-8: Math

Science will hold one training for the whole state and math will hold one in the North, one in Central and one in the South.  Which date if for North, Central or South has not been decided.

Materials Manager meetings
September 13-14
April 3-4

Wording:

Just a side note!
In one of the books I'm reading for Key Leader, it says,  "monkeys receive training and people receive professional development".   Let's do our best not to refer to sessions we offer as training but as professional development.  I'm also trying to stop referring to them as workshops because people tend to think of a workshop as a one shot deal which we know research says is ineffective.  I am usually successful when I type it but it is taking a lot for me to stop saying training.   And the extended onsite support is really embedded professional development too.  


Brief Meeting
Monday around 1:30, we need to have a brief meeting to discuss the "staff" procedure notebook I'm getting together.  It will  take around 30 minutes. 

September 9th, 2011

Wow, long time since the last blog.

Staff updates:
Cy Wagner began working with the Material Staff in August.  Welcome Cy.

I’m happy to announce our new K-5 math specialist is Amber Trantham from Alexandria Elementary.  She will begin November 1.

Instructional Services Project  PD


We will not have a staff meeting before this PD, so please get together on Monday and make travel plans.  I have a van reserved for each day so decide who will pick up the van, leaving time, etc.  Please register on STIPD.   I have placed a copy of the PD memo on your desk.  The STIPD codeis on the second page.

 It is my understanding the PD begins at 10 AM and ends at 3 PM.

Donna Mullinax and Melanie Griffis will attend on Friday, September 16 at the Gordon Persons Building. 

Polly Crow, Sue McDaniel, Cherie Prickett and Tara Hood will attend on Wednesday, September 21 at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center.

Kay Johnson and Tanya Barnes will attend on Thursday, September 22 at Wallace State Community College – Hanceville. 

Travel forms:

Please complete and submit all travel forms for the month of September by end of the day September 26th.  You should know your schedule for that week.  Go ahead and print maps and write your mileage for that week.  Banner, ie. the system, will shut down to make the transition from FY 2011 to FY 2012 and all expenses for FY2011 must be submited.  Please submit all forms to Lynn by the end of the day on September 26th.

Math PD 

Monday is the ACHE math PD.  It begins at 8:30-3:30.  Phase II ACHE schools:  White Plains E, Alexandria E, Donehoo E, Floyd E.  Striplin and Walnut Park are also participating. 

Data meeting:

Monday, Sept 12 at Striplin
Monday, Sept 19 at Floyd

Handbook for AMSTI JSU

I would like to create a handbook on “This is how we do “this”  at AMSTI JSU”. 

Please send me any thoughts and or comments on what should be included.  I want to include things to that there aren’t any unwritten rules that we forget to share with new folks.

Examples:

Never leave the van without fuel.  Fuel it up before returning it and give the gas receipt to Lynn.  

Inservice Center issues CEUs and uses My Learning Plan, not STIPD.  

There is a white notebook for every school which contains data and anything else we need to document about a school.  ( One day, I’m going to get sustainability schedules printed and placed in there.)

The filing cabinets in Lynn’s office contain training records for every teachers that has been through AMSTI JSU. 

Complete a material needs form, 48 hours in advance, if you need supplies from the warehouse.  

If you empty the copier of paper, fill it up. 

The van keys are kept in Barry’s desk drawer.

Simple stuff like that.  It’s too much for one to remember to “tell” so I want to put together a handbook so we will all be on the same page.    

Think about when you first started to work here, think about the things you  "found out" but it would have been nice if someone would have told you.  

 I’m not looking for JSU or AMSTI Policy.  There are guidelines and handbooks for that.  Looking for the stuff that we all know to do.   I would like to have the handbook completed before October 1 so if you have anything  you would like to add, please email  it to me by September 23^rd.  

June 24, 2011

State Meeting:
Specialists, can we plan to meet during lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday?  I will go get lunch for everyone and we can have a working lunch.  We need to get on the same page with our plans for the upcoming year before the summer training.  I want to share with you the principals request.  

Sustainability plans

Thank you for sending an electronic copy of anything you have used during extended onsite support (sustainability) cycles.  We have been asked to share whatever we are using so I will be sharing it with the other directors.  I will remove all names.  

THhs is what I think I know:  Tanya, Kay, and Melanie will leave on Sunday and take the van.  Sue and Polly will car pool with Lynn Vaughn each day.  Cherie is going early on Sunday to shop and will meet us at the hotel.

Melanie and Sue, please bring a copy of the spreadsheet / chart you will use to document embedded training. 

Summer Training updates

Equipment for Trainers
Trainers have sent me their request and I have the list.  Please do not check out any equipment to trainers.  


Please bring all laptops, document cameras and projectors that you use in case we need them for trainers.  


The ones from the vault will be packed. 


We will  meet at 7 AM at OMS on July 5th-8th.  We will not report to the site, except for Lynn.  She will "hold down the fort".    We will leave by 3:30 each day, maybe earlier depeniding on what we get done and how HOT it is those days.  Bring something to drink.  I will be a cooler with ice.  DRINK DRINK DRINK and wear comfortable clothing and shoes.  Clothing that  you do not care if it gets DIRTY!  


Barry, Jason, Scott and Nick will move summer training items to OMS on July 1.  Anything that needs to go should be in the "conference room" on the big table or between Melanie and Sandra's desk with all the equipment.  


People can meet at the site and come to OMS in a van if that will be easier for you.  I will check to see if we can borrow a van so that we have access to two vans.


We will also be there at 7 during the training and there until at least 5:15.  


Sunday July 10 and 17 at  3 until 6, maybe 2 -5. I've asked to be in by 2.

Visitors from Germany

July 14th we will have visitors from Germany at OMS and then they will travel to McClellan for a visit and a video conference with USA AMSTI.  We will serve them lunch.  I may need someone to pick up food from Dads for me.  Since K-5 science will not be at OMS on July 14, I may be calling on Cherie, and Polly for help.  

Snacks for the trainers

I would like to provide snacks for the trainers each day.  If you are willing to help, someone begin a sign up sheet.  It can be as simple as packages of peanut butter crackers to something homemade.  And we will even need small paper plates and napkins.  If you do not think this is necessary or needed, of if it is too much trouble, that is fine. Just let me know.  It is just a suggestion.  

I will provide coffee for them each morning.  I will provide the coffee, filters and coffee maker.  I think I'm going to email them to bring a coffee cup / mug.   

PD Updates


All dates have been added to our shared PD google calendar.

OGAP for ACHE Phase II schools
White Plains E
Wellborn E
Saks E
Alexandria E
Donehoo E
Floyd E

Math COS training Part I
Math specialists save the date
September 20 - 21
20th:  K-5 and 6-8
21st: 9-12


October 4 - 5
4th:  K-5 and 6-8
5th: 9-12

November 8-9
8th: K-5 and 6-8
9th: 9-12


Part II (if we have received further training)
December 6-7
6th: K-5 and 6-8
7th: 9-12


January 10 - 11
10th: K-5 and 6-8
11th:  9-12


January 24-25
24th: K-5 and 6-8
25th: 9-12

AMSTI Materials
AMSTI Policy
When teachers leave a school, (transfer, retiring, nonrenewed, etc..)  all materials, teacher guides both math and science and math kits should be returned to us.  Once they are at their new school, if it is an AMSTI school, their materials will be returned to them.  If they go to a non AMSTI school, they will recieve materials once all teachers at AMSTI schools have materials. 


Teachers who have completed ALAHASP training (K-5) must submit an official ALAHASP certificate in order for us to count that as their science training.  They can fax them to me. 

Especially during this registration period:


For documentation purposes, please ask administrators or teachers to email (not text) information.   We can print emails confirming transfers,grade level changes,  nonrenewals, holding spots, pd needed, etc, but we can't print a text message as easily as we can an email.  


Communication with schools:
Please rmemeber to "cc" the principal and assistant principal when communicating with teachers to set up visits.  Sustainability visits or any visit. During our training,   Principals asked that their assistant also be cc.  

Moved up town
Everyone can answer any line that rings.  Line one is 256-847-7354 and Line 2 is 256-847-0784.


And now we are on the JSU InService Page.  http://www.jsu.edu/inservice/pd.html   Check it out.

If I think of anything else, I will email you.

June 3rd

Online courses

Specialists, please refer to the emails sent on Wednesday, June 1 concerning the online courses.  I'm trying to keep you up to date as Jerry Cobbs sends info.  


Lunch forms for Summer Training


I emailed a copy of the lunch form for summer training IF you are interested in ordering lunch.




June 7, 2011
Dr. Carr and Dr. Hammett (Dean of College of Ed) will tour our AMSTI building and meet everyone on June 7th.  I know we have a GLOBE training that day and  some of you may be on vacation.  That is OK.  Dr. Hammett will meet whomever is here.  Approximate time: 2 PM

Dates from Steve


At the Leadership Development Committee meeting on May 24th, Steve shared some dates with us. 
Statewide staff meeting June 27-July 1 is for everyone.  3 days for math is OGAP and the other 2 days is a regular staff meeting.  (whatever that means) and science has content deepening.  


New Dates: 
Director's meetings:
September 27, 2011
November 29, 2011
February 7th-8th and maybe 9th with Joanne
May 8th and 9th and maybe 10th with Joanne

Statewide Staff meetings
October 10th-13th  everyone
April 16th - 19th everyone
June 25th - 29th everyone

Possible TTT
February 21-23:  Math
February 27- March 2: Science
February 28- March 1: Math
March 5-8: Math

Science will hold one training for the whole state and math will hold one in the North, one in Central and one in the South.  Which date if for North, Central or South has not been decided.

Materials Manager meetings
September 13-14
April 3-4


Cleaning


Our newest cleaning lady is Rachel. She arrives every day around 5:30. 


Floors are to be cleaned with week.  Wear your work clothes on Monday so we can put the office back together. :)  


In preparation for my Leadership development group meeting, I need an electronic copy of all on site support plans that each specialists used this school year.  

April 15th, 2011

New Cleaning Crew:
Greg is no longer our cleaning crew.  Two ladies, Linda and Deborah so if you happen to be here and two ladies come in, you will know who they are.

ACHE Professional Developments


2011 ACHE Professional developments provided by the grant: 
May 9th :  PLT training. (Phase I of the ACHE PD)   AMSTI Schools have been invited from Oxford City  and St. Clair County and Attalla City. (Etowah Middle has completed phase I and phase II of the ACHE grant) Pleasant Valley E, Weaver E,  White Plains M, and Ohatchee E have been invited to participate.  White Plains has accepted.  If a lot of teams want to come then  I may need 2 days and if so May 10th may be the second day. 


May 13th:  Science Content Professional Development:  Tommy Morgan and Kellye McDowell will be presenting this session.   The five Phase I  PLT teams from 2010 will participate.  (Alexandria E, White Plains E, Wellborn E, Saks E and Floyd E)


A math content PD will take place at a later time. I'm trying to schedule with OGAP but it is proving very difficult.  That PD would be in August or September.


Math Specialists and Common Core Training


From Steve:

Steve Ricks

Good Afternoon,

As we discussed at our last statewide staff meeting, we will be offering a training on the new Course of Study: Math at the UM site on MAY 18 and at the Troy site on MAY 19.  The UM site will have 2 possible sessions from which to choose -  K-8 and 9-12.  The session at Troy will only be K-8.

PLEASE have any of your staff that you want to attend register for the sessions by the middle of next week.  Space is limited.  After a week of allowing AMSTI to register we are opening the sessions up to other SDE sections until all of the slots are filled.  In other words, first-come, first served but with AMSTI staff being allowed to register early to be sure they are accepted.

From Tanya:  See email forwarded on 4/13/2011 for directions and session titles.


Job Postings:


A few points to remember:  Things I've learned about job postings

• Human Resource Matters and job posting are very hot topics.
• We NEVER want to give the impression that we have a "favorite" candidate.  Because we do not.
• Some people tell us they are going to apply and then something changes their mind and they do not apply.  
• We can speak freely in our office about who we think is applying but that information should not be shared with anyone else. 
• Some people apply and tell everyone they are applying.
• Some apply and see what happens before they talk to their administrator and if their administrator finds out from someone else, word of mouth at church, grocery store, etc. it puts people in a bad spot..
• I do not know who has applied until the position closes.
• We can not schedule interviews until the position closes and we will not share with anyone who is being interview. The interview list must be approved by HR.
• To be involved in the interview process you must have completed a training by HR. 
• Any one who has not been "trained and approved" by HR to interview can sit in on an interview but can't ask questions.
• We will make every attempt to get everyone "interview" certified.  HR has a new director so I'm not sure about the new process.  It seems to change each time we post a job. 
• HR matters must be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

March 25, 2011 and April 8, 2011

FYI for Science Specialists:

Good afternoon, everyone!

I know some of you are getting ready for printing for summer training. For science, please go with the presenter’s guides and participant packs that you received for last summer.

As you know we are rewriting guides in 5-E format, but will only have certain grades/years complete by April.  We are not scheduled for total completion until December of this year.  Because of that, I’m afraid it would get confusing if I said for you to use new in certain grades/years but old in others.

As always, if you have any questions, please let me know!

Sandy

The print bid will go out to bid next week. 


Math Specialists: 

We know there is a lot of interest by specialists in the new Math COS.  On May 18 and 19 we hope to offer a one day training on the new math COS, including Common Core Standards, for AMSTI math specialists.  We have selected two locations -May 18 at AMSTI-UM and May 19 at AMSTI-Troy.  This should allow those in the southern part of the state to drive into Troy and those in the northern part to the UM site.  This training will likely be the first of several PDs that may be offered on the new COS over the next year.

Steve

We will attend on the 18th.  We will want to be able to turn this training around and offer it to our schools AFTER curriculum and instruction from the SDE hold their summer trainings. I will contact our central office curriculum AMSTI contact and ask that they remind their math teachers of the training provided by the Inservice Center during the summer.

Online courses

At the present time, only math journaling and science NB will be offered to our participants online.  These course are NOT open at this time. 

By the time the course opens, we will have a plan in place for the specialists serving the grade band to monitor the online courses.  Steve gave the directors a draft of a plan and as soon as it is finalized we will discuss it at a staff meeting.  We will plan to discuss the online course offerings the first staff meeting in May. I believe both courses will be ready for teachers in May.  We will open it to teachers after our staff meeting.

Day with Ban Har
Please remember that AMSTI is happy with it's current curriculum and believes that AMSTI supports Singapore math.

Please be an AMSTI cheerleader at the Day with Ban Har and look for the ways that AMSTI supports Singapore math and point those out to the people at your table when there is discussion time.  Singapore math is a practice not a curriculum.  I think we will have assigned seats.  I am a table facilitator.

Tod will provide talking points.  I will send to everyone.  Tod has been on vacation this week.

MSP reporting
The activity log that is in development will not "roll out" to be used until at the earliest in August.  I will work with Kay to make sure we have what we need to record hours spent with teachers.

PR
If a teacher has said to you that they will write a letter in support of AMSTI, please ask them to write letters.  Hand written letters are the best and letters from children.  Also, there is no special time for letters.  It would be great to have them sent to legistators all during the year.   If a teacher would send me an email about AMSTI or the onsite support then I can send it to Steve who will send it to Dr. Morton.  Constant PR is what we are looking for.


AMSTEC
At the AMSTEC conference, promote AMSTI.  That is our mission on that day.

Summer training and Trainers:
I'm making progress on securing trainers.  Yellow sticky note is a confirmed trainer, pink sticky note : I'm waiting to hear from them.

I plan to work on the "what needs to be completed for summer training" next week. 

I hope to have definite days for GLOBE for the new hires from August 2010 by next week.

March 4, 2011

Summer Trianer poster is up on my wall.


 A yellow post it means they are confirmed.  A pink post it means I have contact them.  I'm asking Suzan Morris for suggestions on Science trainers and using some names from the New Hire Training that took place in the fall in Birmingham.  I have only placed pink post its for year 2.  In my email I ask the trainer if they are interested in training year 2 and year 1.  If they choose only one year, then I will search for another trainer for the year we 
need.


A Day with Ban Har - The Mathematics of Singapore


Math Specialists, please refer to Ben Hicks email and register by March 11 for The Day with Ban Har.


Principal Visits

All 2009 schools have had a visit from either myself or Kay.  Carol and Kay conducted the Coldwater Faculty meeting for their registration.  THANKS!

2007 and 2008 schools:  I will send an email to the principal / assistant principal  (cc the central office AMSTI contact) with information concerning the summer training AND I will send a packet of information to the principal and the AMSTI CO contact).