Response to Instruction is the practice of providing high-quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make changes in instruction or goals, and applying child response data to important educational decisions

Dr. Elliott has trained thousands of staff, teachers and administrators in the areas of inclusive schooling that include: linking assessment to classroom intervention, strategies and tactics for effective instruction, curriculum adaptation for students with mild to severe disabilities and collaborative teaching.

Fifty-one WCPSS schools brought teams of four staff members. Administrators worked with Elliott in the afternoon, while other school staff attended breakout sessions on three broad components – professional learning teams, data-based decision making and differentiated instruction.

Staff submitted evaluations on the day’s activities. One person wrote: “This is the best professional development I have attended in my six years in WCPSS.”

Dr. Judy Elliott discussed Response to Instruction in a training session at WCPSS.

Thanks to Jillian Steinbroner for sharing this story.

Bainbridge and Joseph were two of the 140,000 U.S. students who entered scores to be considered for the national competition. Green Hope High sent seven students to the national competitions in Park City, UT.

The students were in timed competitions solving complex problems with one of the tools in the Microsoft Office suite.

Bainbridge  won in the Word 2010 competition and Joseph  won in the Excel 2010 competition. They will go to the World Competition later this summer in Washington, D.C. to compete against students from 50 different countries. Two other Green Hope students had third place finishes: Sean Kelly in Excel 2010 and Ali Khan in Powerpoint 2010.

The Green Hope team included Bainbridge, Joseph, Kelly. Khan, John Sprink, Michelle Sun and Emilie Piatak.

North Carolina became the first state in the nation to offer the Microsoft IT Academy Program in 2010 to all public high schools statewide. In the program, students earn certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist or a Microsoft Certified Professional by completing coursework and passing certification exams. The N.C. program is based on Office 2010.

Thanks to Green Hope teacher Leslie Rael for sharing this story.

Tori committed herself every morning. She never argued with her parents about going, or gave in an urge to play hooky, like some students might do on the day of a big test.

This week, Tori graduated from Green Hope High School with 13 years of perfect attendance.

“When I was young, my parents told me I should go to school, even if I didn’t really want to, or I was feeling just a little bit under the weather,” said Tori, who is 17. But as she got older, it was a commitment knew she wanted to make, even without her parents’ urging.

“I realized it wasn’t work missing educational time and being out of class. I don’t like missing one-on-one time with my teacher. Trying to read the notes later, you don’t get the same thing as being there in person,” Tori said.

Even her freshman year, when Tori’s grandfather passed away, the family arranged the services so that Tori wouldn’t have to miss a day of school.

Walking across the stage at Memorial Auditorium in her cap and gown this week was exhilarating.

“It was a huge sigh of relief, a feeling of huge accomplishment knowing I had completed all 13 years,” she said.

“We’re proud of her for putting forth the effort to commit to something,” her father Charles Bass said. “It takes a lot of effort and perseverance to commit and follow through with that.”

Tori will be following in the footsteps of the other educators in her family, attending UNC-Charlotte this fall to pursue a degree in education. She hopes to become an elementary school teacher.

Rand Road ES is open.

Several of our schools are experiencing power outages this morning. The following schools are expected to regain power around 9 am – West Lake Elementary, West Lake Middle, Holly Springs Elementary, and Middle Creek Elementary. Principals are aware and have safety procedures in place until the power returns.

The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) promotes the study and teaching of the Spanish and Portuguese languages and their corresponding Hispanic, Luso-Brazilian and other related literatures and cultures at all levels of education.

All recipients of the awards will be recognized in San Antonio, TX at the AATSP national conference on July 8.

On July 2, Holly Grove Middle will receive a plaque recognizing the counseling team’s accomplishments at the American School Counselor Association national conference in Philadelphia, PA.

Under the leadership of Principal Ken Proulx and the school counseling advisory board that includes teachers, parents and community leaders, the counseling program supports the school’s mission and goals.  School counselors Chauncey Hatcher, Margaret Ray-Nobles and Joy Trexler facilitate academics, social/personal and career development for all students.

Along with supporting students, teachers and parents, the school counselors provide activities that help to enhance the social growth and development of students. School social worker Kelly Dunbar, psychologist Esther Kelly and guidance technician Regina Jackson are part of the department.

The student support staff use data to identify student academic and social gaps that might prevent a student from being successful in school.

Hatcher’s mentor program promotes the skills required to be a leader in all situations. It teaches social responsibility, academic excellence and personal growth. More than 10 percent of the school’s students are members of the group.

Ray-Nobles leads the PAWS (Positive Attitude Will Succeed) group.  These Lady Bulldogs work with female high school students and staff members, develop positive self images and serve as mentors to elementary students.  She also advises the Hip Hop club.

Trexler advises the Rowdy Dawgs, a pep club that makes spirit posters for athletic events. She provide group sessions for Latino students, encouraging them to take part in school activities, seek academic success and discuss issues.

The school counseling team led a trip to Atlanta last fall for 83 students who visited the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola and the historic Varsity restaurant. It was a fun and exciting learning experience for all.

 
 
Holly Grove Middle School counselors Margaret Ray-Nobles, Chauncey Hatcher and Joy Trexler earn ASCA honor.

Students from across North Carolina apply to attend the prestigious program which is open to rising seniors only, with limited exceptions.  The competition is intense and rigorous with the brightest, most outstanding AIG students in the state of North Carolina applying for a limited number of positions.

They attend a five-week summer residential program, integrating academic disciplines, the arts and unique courses. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and does not involve credit, tests or grades.

Faculty and staff are drawn from bright, dedicated teachers and professionals across the country, from public and private schools, colleges and universities and independent artists and scholars. Most faculty members are in residence on campus, and with the teaching assistants/counselors and students form a true community of learners.

The classes are augmented by a rich array of visiting speakers, performances, expeditions, demonstrations, optional seminars, film series and social and recreational events.

The program is located on two campuses:  Governor’s School West at Salem College in Winston-Salem and Governor’s School East at Meredith College in Raleigh.

Governor’s School West began in 1963 and Governor’s School East began in 1978.  Funded annually by the General Assembly of North Carolina, the program is administered by the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction through the Exceptional Children Division.  A Board of Governors, appointed by the State Board of Education, acts as an advisory body.

List of WCPSS students attending Governor’s School

Often valedictorians speak at the school‘s graduation ceremonies. The talks are brief and often describe the personal experiences of students who spent years together growing and learning.

Here are comments shared by several valedictorians. (acrobat files)

East Wake School of Health Science

Wake Early College of Health and Sciences

Wake Forest-Rolesville High

What a year it has been at WCPSS!

Check out a Special Issue of our e-newsletter, School-Community News, to see the year’s most memorable and exciting moments for our students: http://bit.ly/19q3wKf

School-Community News focuses on news and issues of interest to Wake County students, parents and community members. Subscribe to have this newsletter delivered right to your email inbox.