QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TEACHING & LEARNING SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
A meeting of
the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee was held on April 26, 2023 at 6:25 pm
in the Coddington Building. Present were
Subcommittee member Mr. Frank Santoro and Mrs. Emily Lebo, Subcommittee Chair. Also present were Mayor Thomas P. Koch,
School Committee Chair and School Committee Members Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mr. Doug
Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant
Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Kim Connolly, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie
Graham, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Kim Quinn, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr.
Larry Taglieri; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Senior
Curriculum Director Madeline Roy reviewed the Quincy Public Schools Mentoring
Program, starting with the New Professional Staff Orientation that takes place
right before the start of the school year.
Each teacher, nurse, and student support staff member is assigned a
mentor in their curriculum area and from their school whenever possible. The Mentoring Program goals are to: help new
teachers improve practice, learn professional responsibilities, and ultimately
positively affect student learning; allow veteran teachers to reflect and
improve upon their practice, while coaching a new staff member; help unite the
learning community as each individual works toward the same goal—improving the
quality of education; and elevate the teaching profession and foster a
collaborative learning community for all educators.
For the
2022-2023 school year, 79 proteges were mentored for 70 veteran staff members
(38 Academic Classroom teachers, 10 Academic Program teachers, 10 Special
Educators, 4 English Learner Educators, 6 CVTE Instructors, 4 Student Support,
and 7 Nurses. All new professional staff
members are assigned mentors within the first week of school. District-wide Mentor Program meetings are
held five times over the course of the year. Mentor/Protégé teams keep journals that
reflect an additional ten hours of collaboration and coaching. Ms. Roy reviewed the characteristics of an
effective mentor: maintains a positive outlook; demonstrates enthusiasm,
kindness, and attention to high standards for teaching; accepts the new
educator wherever they are in their own development; develops a trusting
relationship that allows the new educator to share his or her ideas and
expertise; makes time to meet, observe, and have quality conversations;
provides honest, ongoing feedback; listens to new educator ideas, problems,
needs, and responds in helpful and timely ways; shares their own experiences;
and takes time to reflect.
Mentor Team
meetings feature guest speakers, inspiring videos, sharing of best practices
and resources, opportunities to connect with job-alike colleagues, small group
discussions, mentor-protégé collaboration, and technology training and modeling. Participants complete exit tickets that
inform the reflection process for the planning team and the plans for the next
school year. For the Massachusetts
Statewide and Induction data report, Quincy Public Schools consistently exceeds
the targets for all categories.
Mr. Bregoli
asked about how long the mentor program has been in place. Ms. Perkins said she went through it, so at
least 24 years. Mr. Bregoli asked if the
mentors are volunteers, Ms. Roy said there is a small stipend but not
commensurate with the time involved, which is 20 hours at a minimum.
Mrs. Hubley
thanked the presenters, such a wonderful program.
Mayor Koch
asked about ensuring that the staff are presenting all sides of political
issues and are focused on the process of civic education and civil discourse.
Mr. Gutro
arrived at 6:55 pm.
Mrs. Lebo
asked how we assist staff members with licensure and moving from initial to
provisional and keeping them active. Ms.
Roy said that the mentor-protégé relationship often continues for the first few
years, but that further support can be formalized.
Ms. Perkins
then reviewed the research done to date on Kids Voting USA, is familiar with
the program from her teaching days. This
is a on-profit non-partisan educational support organization, provides free
curriculum for K-8 and 9-12, last updated in 2005. In addition, there is a platform for
conducting elections but in order to use it, Quincy Public Schools would need
to become an affiliate. In the past, the
schools worked with the City Clerk’s office to borrow the voting booths and
give students the experience of participating in elections.
Ms. Roy
canvassed QPS History and Social Studies teachers, who are invested in the new
state standards for Civics at all grade levels, including becoming a responsible
participant in the community. In Grade
8, there is a mandatory Civics project, plus comprehensive units on the
election cycle, analyzing information and perceptions, and understanding
advertising and media manipulation. At
some of the middle schools, there is coordination with the Student Council
elections and the local/state election cycle.
At the high school, there are opportunities for learning more about
elections and civic responsibilities in more detail, including registering to
vote. Students take part in the Yale
Model Congress and Student Government Day at the Massachusetts State
House.
Mr. Bregoli
complimented building the foundation of civic learning in elementary school,
asked about the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Ms. Roy confirmed these and other primary
resources are important for students.
Mr. Gutro
said that in his experience, the student voting was a uniform ballot that all
elementary schools used, would like to see if there are electronic options
available to manage the voting and tabulation.
Ms. Perkins suggested putting together a curriculum planning team of
educators to collaborate, possibly a summer team.
Mrs. Hubley
complimented the Civics education, suggested that students be invited to School
Committee meeting to present their projects in future years.
Mrs. Lebo
said that the Quincy Votes group has reached out to Kids Vote with no
response. Mrs. Lebo suggested that the voting
be a real process but not real candidates, doesn’t want to do anything that
influences local elections.
Mayor Koch
said that the Adams Presidential Center (currently in the planning stages) will
be another opportunity to make local history and civics concepts relevant for
our students.
Mayor Koch
left the meeting at 7:15 pm.
Mathematics
Curriculum Team Administrator Kim Quinn shared information about the ST
Mathematics Grant opportunity for Grades 5 and 6 at Point Webster and
South~West. The program is a digital
curriculum with a focus on spatial-temporal reasoning and builds deep
conceptual understanding. Schools that
have previously been part of this grant have seen an increase in MCAS data of
over 10 percentile points. Since the
program is visual, there is no language barrier to access the content. The grant covers a three-year site license
for each building, three Professional Development sessions, and a coordinator
to work with the schools. Currently, 59
districts in Massachusetts are using the program. The total value of the grant is $32,000 per
year for three years.
Mr. Gutro
asked about the source of the grant, the 18 Foundation is providing the
funding. Mr. Gutro asked if QPS selected
the grade levels, Ms. Quinn confirmed that these two grades were selected based
on MCAS data. The program will be
implemented in the schools for the 2023-2024 school year, there is a placement
component so students will begin at the point that meets their needs. The pilot will be evaluated and future
expansion to other schools will be carefully considered.
Mrs. Lebo
asked about monitoring usage; Ms. Quinn confirmed that all of the Grade 5 and 6
teachers at these two schools will be trained to administer the program. Mrs. Lebo asked for specifics for the
Professional Development, Ms. Quinn said it will be customized for the needs of
each school and some will be focused on data analysis of the program usage and
progression. Professional development
will begin on the first staff day of school in September.
Mrs. Lebo
asked about the costs to increase to additional grades and additional
buildings. Ms. Quinn will follow up, but
it could be a substantial investment to expand this throughout the school
system.
Mrs. Hubley
asked if there is a home component, Ms. Quinn said students can work on it at
home if they wish. As part of the grant,
QPS is committing to 90 minutes per week during the school day.
Mr. Santoro made a motion to adjourn at 7:45 pm, seconded by
Mrs. Lebo. On a voice vote, the ayes
have it.