HCPS FL Logo Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2020
TO: School Board Members
FROM: Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement for Technical Services #20016-ATS-IV with Thinking Core at Robles Elementary (Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Through a combination of high quality, ongoing professional development and proven methodologies, Thinking Core will support capacity building for implementation of the Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS) efforts with Robles Elementary.  Using a job-embedded professional development design, the Thinking Core Florida English Language Arts Reading/Writing Standards Study Project will raise the level of leadership and teaching capacity that aligns with the relevant rigor defined by the LAFS.  Professional development  will center on pedagogy and unique content with an in-depth Standards-to-Standards Connections Study that is central to the improvement of student achievement.

This Professional Development opportunity will strengthen teachers' understanding of the Florida Standards.  This work will be supported through weekly planning sessions with the reading coach to ensure implementation of the learning is impacting student learning.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate • Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child • Continuously improve processes and systems
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds in the amount of $12,147 will be available in the TSSA Grant.
EVALUATION
The key metrics for improvement are two-fold: (1) measuring teacher practice and (2) measuring student work.  Thinking Core has developed a rubric for collecting and evaluating implementation.  District staff will use the rubric to assess the quality of implementation and the design of the next steps.

Thinking Core has worked with public and private institutions on increasing standard knowledge for teachers and the rigor in the classroom for students.  Thinking Core’s work promotes social, emotional learning through customized professional development.  The work that will be done with Robles is directly related to increased teacher effectiveness with the English language curriculum that Robles has been implementing this year.  We will use the Instructional Practice Guide to gather data on classroom practice to determine if practice has improved as a result of this training.
SUBMITTED BY:  Delilah Robeiro, Principal, Robles Elementary
Tricia McManus   Gretchen Saunders
Assistant Superintendent, Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation
(813) 272-4877
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    B 6.16
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20200310_980 (Board Meeting) * Section B Item# 6.16