Published in the July 28, 2016 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — School Superintendent Dr. Kim Smith reported making progress on all of her goals at her “mid-cycle” evaluation with the School Committee this week.
The superintendent’s evaluation is a multi-stage process, as School Committee Chairman Greg Liakos explained. The first stage was a self-assessment that took place last fall in which the superintendent worked with the School Committee on setting goals. Since then, Liakos said, Smith has been implementing those goals and reported on her progress at this week’s mid-cycle evaluation. The final stage of the evaluation process will be the “summative assessment” next January, Liakos said, where the School Committee will have a much more active role.
Smith added that the mid-cycle evaluation was an opportunity for her to check in with the School Committee and give them a progress update. It also served as an opportunity to review the progress of the school district over the last school year, she said.
Smith said that she had completed her “Professional Practice Goal,” which was to participate in the New Superintendents’ Induction Program led by the Department of Education and the Superintendent’s Association from August 2015 to May 2016.
As part of the completion of that goal, Smith reported that she had participated in monthly coaching sessions, attended seven content sessions, completed her “transition plan,” developed and implemented an instructional strategy, completed the FY 2017 budget presentation and completed leadership skills surveys.
Smith reported on her “Student Learning Goal,” which was that all students PreK-12 will demonstrate growth in writing. As evidence, Smith offered samples of pre- and post-growth measures for narrative and informational writing for different grade levels.
Another goal focused on “quality teaching” and developing educators “to provide students with powerful teaching and learning that prepare them for college, career and citizenship.”
In furthering this goal, Smith reported that she led professional development sessions for administrators. She also participated in “learning walks,” going into classrooms to observe lessons and providing principals and teachers with feedback. She also visited teacher professional development group meetings and provided feedback.
Another district-wide goal involved implementing a rigorous curriculum aligned with the Massachusetts State Frameworks and supported by high quality materials and instructional technology.
As evidence of progress on this goal, Smith noted the implementation of a phonics curriculum in grades K-2, implementation of an English Language Arts model curriculum for grades 3-12 and the implementation of math curricula for grades K-12.
Another of Smith’s district-wide goals involved ensuring that each student receives, targeted, data-informed instruction, with appropriate social and emotional supports. Smith said that implementation of this goal involved training all teachers to use common assessments to understand and respond to the individualized learning needs of students.
Developing district “Core Values” was another of Smith’s district-wide goals. Smith said that she had presented her professional core values to district leaders, faculty and staff, the School Committee and the community. She supported principals in developing core values for each school. She reported meeting with parents and the community to gather information on their values.
Smith’s annual “summative” evaluation is scheduled for January 2017.
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In other business this week, the School Committee heard from Assistant Superintendent Douglas Lyons and Dolbeare Literacy Coach Danika Ripley regarding the next generation MCAS, which will incorporate elements of PARC and the old MCAS. Ripley is part of the statewide committee developing the so call MCAS 2.0.
The School Committee accepted a donation of $1,347.13 from the Galvin Middle School PTO for the purchase of four chairs for the front lobby.
They also accepted a donation of instruments and a podium for the Marching Band valued at $16,000 from the Wakefield Music Boosters.
