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District Institute
March 1st - March 2nd
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and The Texas Center for District and School Support (TEA) invite you to the 2017 District Institute in Austin, TX. This is an opportunity hear success stories from practitioners and engage in deep reflection, discussions, and planning. You are strongly encouraged to bring your district administrative team. This two-day professional development opportunity is for all district leaders. Participants will engage in deep reflection, discussions, and planning. Experts and practitioners will share their experiences and successes with engaging in continuous improvement efforts.
There will be a focus on the District Commitments and Support Systems and the role they play at the campus level and in supporting principals in doing their work.
Deepen understanding of the Continuous Improvement Framework
Share promising district practices that increase district and school performance
Provide an opportunity to analyze and improve current district systems and practices
Establish a statewide culture of continuous improvement
Inspire districts to integrate the Continuous Improvement Framework into their local practice
Create conditions for system transformation, accelerated achievement, and sustainability in districts across Texas
Andre Wright
Andre was named Director of Learning Community Schools in the Aurora Public School System in Aurora, Colorado on July 1, 2014. Aurora Public School Schools serves more than 60,000 students in 54 schools in the Denver Metropolitan area. Andre is also serving as the District Shepherd for the Partnership for Leaders in Education, University of Virginia Turnaround Leadership Program and Aurora Public Schools. This three year commitment is focused on creating substantial academic outcomes for all students. Andre has 10 schools participating in the program with the University of Virginia ranging from High School to Middle School, K-8 and Elementary schools.
Andre also supervises a team of 15 program specialists to provide immediate support to all 10 schools. Prior to this executive role, Andre was appointed Area Executive Director for the Northeast Learning Community in the Fulton County School System in March of 2012. Fulton County Schools is an urban Atlanta-area school district with nearly 100,000 students in 100 schools and employs nearly 14,000 staff and support personnel.
Michael Kight
Michael Kight has served six years as the Chief of Data and Instruction for the Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education at the University of Virginia, a nationally recognized school improvement program focused on building systemic change through executive education and building district-level structures and supports.
Michael is also an executive coach for the Woodrow Wilson MBA Fellowship in Education Leadership and co-founder of Bedrock Partners, a consulting firm that provides states, districts and schools with on-demand expertise in change management, curriculum and instruction, assessment and analysis, executive leadership development, and talent/performance management.
Andrea Fletcher
Andrea Fletcher has been an educator for over twenty years. She began her teaching career in an inner-city Houston school undergoing a successful turnaround effort. She continued her career in Las Cruces, New Mexico as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Community Relations coordinator, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, Associate Superintendent for Turnaround Initiatives, and Chief Academic Officer.
As the Associate Superintendent for Turnaround Initiatives, for Las Cruces Public Schools, she directed and monitored the 17 schools in the district undergoing the turnaround process. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Dean in New Mexico State University's College of Business, leading an innovative MBA program for current and future school leaders in New Mexico.
A.J. Crabill
A. J. Crabill, TEA's Deputy Commissioner of Education for Governance, is responsible for supervising the agency's work regarding school improvement, charters, governance, complaints management, system support & innovation, investigations, school discipline/safety, waivers, and districts of innovation. Prior to joining TEA, Crabill served eight years on the board of the Kansas City (MO) Public Schools. As a result of his efforts, grade level proficiency in literacy and numeracy rose markedly throughout the district.
Additionally, the district's financial situation was placed on solid fiscally conservative footing. Crabill has also served on the board of the Missouri School Boards Association and the executive committee of the Council of Great City Schools, currently chairs the 2017 annual conference for the International Policy Governance Association, and has provided governance training to school districts nationwide to help refocus school board members on the core mission of improving student outcomes.
Mark Cantu
Mark Cantu is the Director of School Improvement at San Antonio ISD. He has also served as a Pre-K – 12th principal, assistant principal, and teacher where he helped reimagine teaching and learning practices for historically underrepresented students. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in School Improvement at Texas State University. San Antonio ISD is home to over 53,000 students, 88 campuses, and over 3,300 teachers. The race/ethnicity make-up of the school district's students is 91% Hispanic/Latino, 6% Black/African American, 3% White or other races. Ninety-three percent of the student population is economically disadvantaged. Nineteen campuses are rated Improvement Required (IR) and 55 are IR, borderline IR or have been IR in the last three years.
Mr. Cantu has utilized the Continuous Improvement Framework. Six months into the process, the campuses have seen increased support and accountability and expect increased student performance at every IR campus.
Beth Brady
Beth Brady currently serves children in the San Antonio Independent School District as a school turnaround principal. Prior to that Ms. Brady taught for nineteen years, has worked as a district curriculum specialist, an instructional coach, assistant principal and a district instructional coordinator. She holds two Master's Degrees in Education, one in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio and one from the University of the Incarnate Word.
Ms. Brady has been recognized by the state of Texas as a finalist for the National Science Foundation Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and has received the esteemed Texas Academy of Science Educator of the Year award.
Josie Gutierrez
Josie Hernandez-Gutierrez is Founder and CEO of Proactive Leaders, a consulting firm focusing on supporting districts in the transformation of central office, principal supervision, systemic instructional infrastructures, and change leadership. She currently supports leaders in over 30 districts or organizations that include private, charter and traditional public schools in urban, suburban and rural areas across the nation. In a span of over 22 years, she served in a number of roles including the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program, and as Assistant Superintendent in Dallas where she led school transformation.
Josie has also served in various roles in Fort Worth and north Houston including: Chief of Schools, District Steward of Transformation, Director of School Leadership, Principal, Assistant Principal, and Teacher. As a district level administrator, her schools exceeded student growth indices by 18% after one year in Dallas and 15 out of 24 turnaround schools met or exceeded district average scores in Fort Worth after two years.
Dr. Lori Einfalt
Dr. Lori Einfalt is an educational consultant who is an enthusiastic trainer and advocate for T-TESS, T-PESS and AEL. Lori also serves as a PSP and enjoys rolling her sleeves up to work directly with campuses. During her thirty-four years of experience in public education, Lori has provided leadership as Chief Schools Officer, Assistant Superintendent, Executive Director of Human Resources and Secondary Curriculum Coordinator. Lori had the opportunity to open a new high school from the belief system up and relished her time as a high school principal. Lori began her career as a classroom teacher and has enjoyed teaching at all levels—ES, MS, HS and University courses.
Double Tree Hotel
6505 N Interstate Hwy 35
Reserve Your Room
District Institute Resources
District Institute Program
2017 District Institute Note Taking Guide
Day 1 Presentations and Handouts
District Institute 2017- Day 1
Andre Wright - Sleep Fast Presentation
Michael Kight - Engineering Instructional Infrastructure Presentation
Michael Kight - Instructional Infrastructure Graphic Handout
Michael Kight - Assessment Strategy Workbook Handout
Andrea Fletcher - Principal Supervision Presentation
Principles of Collaboration Data Meeting Observation Form
Turnaround Progress Tool
Shepherd Site Visit Calendar
Texas Continuous Improvement Framework Brochure
Theory of Action Diagram
Theory of Action One Pager
Mark Cantu and Beth Brady Check-ins and Conversations Presentation
Josie Gutierrez - Impactful Coaching Cultures Presentation
Lori Einfalt - T-PESS Presentation
T-PESS Roles Responsibilities Handout
Theory of Action Handout
TCDSS
Texas Center for District and School Support
5701 Springdale Road •et; Austin, TX 78723
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www.taisresources.net
Center Stage Live
Advancing Improvement in Education
Mapping a Pathway to Student Success (MAPSS)
TEA - School Improvement and Support (SIS)
TEA - Performance Monitoring and Intervention (PMI)
TCDSS Calendar
Advancing Educational Leadership
Texas Educational Leadership Institute (TELI)