TO:     Members of the Teachers Association
FROM:    Mary-Anne Doyle
RE:    Main points from Strategic Framework Meeting:  10-13-09
DATE:    November 13, 2009

Strategic Framework Meeting
Strategic Framework Committee
Monday, November 9, 2009
Meeting began 5:30 pm, adjourned at 7:30 pm.

Main points from the meeting included: 
1.The committee reviewed the research matrix completed to date by committee members.
The purpose of the research and the survey was reviewed: The research is the anchor and the survey is support for the research
Committee members expanded upon the research each had gathered.
The committee noticed similar skills/abilities throughout the research.
There are many similar themes across the research.
Research sources tend to create their own terminology for the skills: ie. Partnership for 21st Century Skills = “produce new knowledge and manage information”; Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind = “symphony, the ability to put together the pieces”
2.Faculty and student surveys were summarized.
Similar themes were mentioned:
Ie. Communicate effectively, self motivation, independent thinkers
3.The intent is to have all the research, interview summaries, and survey results in one document.
4.Interviews from local business owners indicate that the skills they see lacking include:
Motivation, work ethic, commitment to follow through, understanding of employers’ expectations, ability to process knowledge, technical capabilities (ie being able to move from the computer to hands-on).
5.For the next two weeks committee members will:
continue to fill in the research matrix,
review the consolidated matrix
think of emerging themes and a definition of 21st century skills
 possible questions

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TO: Members of the Teachers’ Association

FROM: Mary-Anne Doyle

RE: Main points from Strategic Framework Meeting:  10-13-09 

DATE: November 6, 2009

Strategic Framework Meeting

Strategic Framework Committee

Monday, October 29, 2009

Meeting began 6:30 pm, adjourned at 8:30 pm. 

Main points from the meeting included:  

1. The committee glanced through the preliminary results from the survey:

    • As of 10-29 the highest participation had been from students 

    • Survey ends 11-16.

2. The purpose of the survey was reviewed, discussed, and clarified:

    • The survey is the only one way to solicit input from different constituency groups. 

    • The survey was designed for gathering qualitative data or themes/ideas/insights; rather than for quantifiable results. 

3. The results of the survey and current research will be reviewed.

4. The product we will produce for the Board of Education will be in the form of essential questions that will be accessible and useful to the school board, administration, and faculty.

5. The committee recognizes that NYS has a rigorous curriculum and testing program for which teachers, administrators, and students are held accountable.

6. Committee members will be gathering research until the next meeting.

    • A matrix was created to track key findings from the research gathered.

The committee met on September 30, 2009. Main points at meeting:  

The committee’s  purpose is as follows:  

• To determine how effectively we are preparing students for success in school, college, the workforce, and society in the 21st century.
• To determine what we should be doing to prepare students for success in school, college, the workforce, and society in the 21st century.
• To determine what questions should be considered as we make instructional and program decisions to prepare students for success in school, college, the workforce, and society in the 21st century.

The committee seeks to assist teachers and administrators in addressing the great challenge of teaching content and skills for success on NYS Assessments and achieving the 28 NYS Learning Standards, while also preparing students for the ever-changing needs of the 21st century.

We will be gathering input from an array of constituent groups in the weeks ahead.