Photo/ECSD

Principal Matthew Schilit and Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Mrs. Diane Murrell look at test information.

Principal's meeting focuses on strengthening students

JOHNSTON - The December Principal's Meeting/Staff Development In-Service held at the District Office encouraged a continuation toward the road of progress for Edgefield County Schools.

"This type of staff development is the very essence of our desire and commitment to continue on a road of progress for student achievement in our district," said Dr. Mary R. Crenshaw Superintendent. "The efforts of Diane Murrell, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, to offer this training was received as a strengthening teamwork initiative by principals and administrators to master what will make our district seize great student achievement."

In an effort to analyze test scores and to improve student achievement the in-service began with a focus on the analyzing of MAP data and the study of available reports on student's growth and achievement.

The use of Test View as an instrument to analyze student data was studied. Test View is a program encompassing all standardized testing information on each student in the district.

"Test View helps teachers monitor and adjust their teaching strategies and methods to meet the needs of all students," said Assistant Superintendent Diane Murrell. "The training held at this staff development session will strengthen the efforts of administrators with teachers and teachers with parents to address concerns and areas for strategies for individual student improvement. It is a very positive approach to make sure that we continue on the road of progress for student achievement."

Another component of the staff development found principals and administration in a lab setting to receive training of an e-portfolio instrument. The e-portfolio program is an instrument that requires all teachers to be proficient in technology. It is a component of their teacher certification.

The e-portfolio consists of four levels. Teachers go online to complete their e-portfolio levels. Some of the items included consist of a technology survey, submissions of the teacher's work such as lesson plans, newsletters to parents, the use of excel files, attachments to e-mails to name a few. Their work is downloaded and received at the district level for scoring.

The last agenda item for the in-service included training on teacher observation techniques.
Principals and District Administration have been studying the "Three Minute Classroom Walk-Through", a book written by Carolyn Downey.

The book is about a short informal walk-through approach, but the essence of the approach is to change the supervisory process from a paradigm to inspection to one of collaboration and reflection.

"This in-service was indeed a very productive learning session for our principals and administration," said Mrs. Murrell, "I feel confident that our principals and administration will use this valuable information at their schools and strive to continue their work for all students to become achievers."

Principals meet once a month for continued In-Service Training through the Assistant Superintendent's Office for Instructional Services.