EXCELLENCE & ETHICS

Latest Updates: Power2Achieve RSS

• 

  Power2Achieve Schools Receive State's Top Honor

  Kyle Baker posted in Character Blog, IEE & Partners' News, Power2Achieve Community at 6:48 pm on January 30, 2012 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Academics, award, AYP, ethics, excellence, Graduation, Kansas, performance (2), Power2Achieve

  Post by Kyle Baker, Program Coordinator for the Institute for Excellence & Ethics.

   

  Northern Heights High School (Allen, KS), Clifton-Clyde Senior High School (Clyde, KS), and Weskan High School (Weskan Township, KS) have received the highest honor the state of Kansas bestows on K-12 schools, the Governor’s Award, which recognizes the top performing schools in the state.

  In order to receive this award, high schools must:

  • Achieve the Kansas “Standard of Excellence” in both reading and mathematics.
  • Made AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) in reading, math, and graduation rate.
  • Be among the top 5 percent of schools in reading and mathematics on state assessments.

   

  These three schools all currently utilize the Power2Achieve Foundations classroom curriculum through the their participation in the Kansas PCEP grant project (coordinated by Sue Kidd).

  In addition to utilizing Power2Achieve Foundations, each of these schools has also received multiple Culture of Excellence & Ethics Toolkit professional development workshops for the school’s entire faculty/staff, has used the Culture of Excellence & Ethics Assessment (CEEA) to assess the culture and climate of their school, and have learned to use that data to guide improvement strategies through IEE’s Using CEEA Data for School Improvement professional development workshop.

  These services were also provided through the Kansas PCEP project and the Toolkit workshops were delivered by IEE’s outstanding team of trainers in Kansas:  Kansas PCEP coach DeAnne Heersche and Excellence & Ethics Certified Trainers Jara Wilson, Audrey Neuschafer, Noalee McDonald-Augustine, Susan Johnson, and Mary Ghetto.

  Silver Lake Junior/Senior High School (Silver Lake, KS), another Governor’s Award winner, utilizes the CEEA survey (also made possible by the Kansas PCEP project).

  The recognition of these four school’s as Governor’s Award winners continues to confirm the positive impact a comprehensive implementation of Power2Achieve Foundations, Culture of Excellence & Ethics Toolkits, and the Culture of Excellence & Ethics Assessment produces in schools.

  You can read more about the Kansas Governor’s Award on the Kansas State Department of Education’s website here.

   

  Congratulations to Northern Heights High School, Clifton-Clyde Senior High School, Weskan High School, and Silver Lake Junior/High School!

  

   

  Reply Click here to cancel reply.

  Name (required)

  Email (required)

  Web Site

   
• 

  What happens after a P2A Toolkit Professional Development day?

  RichParisi posted in Power2Achieve Community at 4:52 pm on October 13, 2010 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Compact-4-Excellence (3), culture of excellence & ethics, elementary schools (4), Power2Achieve, Professional Development (4), Toolkit (2)

  Do you ever wonder what changes occur after a day of professional development? Matt Davidson and I had the privilege of doing a training day in the Pittsford School District at Allen Creek Elementary School on August 26^th and then returning there less than one month after school began. We walked away very impressed with how they had taken the tools from our Power2Acheive Toolkit training and were already utilizing them so effectively.

  One of the tools we trained on was the Portable Compact-4-Excellence. Allen Creek kicked off the year with a building-wide assembly which focused on developing a building-wide Compact-4-Excellence that would help them “To be their best self and do their best work”. They used one of the Four Keys, an “Other Study”, as a key part of this assembly, as Mr.Biondi, the Allen Creek School Principal, brought in his custodial staff as an “other study” and asked them questions. One of the questions was, “What does it mean to do your best work?” Another question was, “What does it mean to persevere?” Each classroom then developed a Compact-4-Excellence. Mike Biondi shared how he used an “Other Study” as part of this process by sharing classroom examples of Compacts that were being submitted. He followed this up by using another of the Four Keys, “Public Performance”, as he shared the Compacts over the morning announcements.

  During our visit, Matt and I were able to see the Compacts that were being used in each classroom and receive feedback from a few staff members about their use of a Compact.  For example, Kathleen Roser, a third grade teacher, shared several Compacts-4-Excellence that she had developed in her classroom. She had a Class Compact-4-Excellence, a Math Class Compact, a Class Meeting Compact, and each of her four reading groups had developed their own Compacts-4-Excellence. She was very pleased with how the Compacts were helping her to create an intentional culture of excellence and ethics in her classroom.  Dennise Zobel, another third grade teacher, shared her class compact. Her Compact-4-Excellence was typed up and was also sent home to parents and signed by parents and their child.

  In my 27 years as a school building administrator, I was part of attending and helping to lead many training days. Unfortunately, I often came away frustrated, as I would look back to see whether any real changes were made that were going to impact learning for students or change the adult culture. During this visit, I was very excited to see a concrete example of a school that really grabbed hold of our Power2Achieve Toolkit training and immediately began to use the tools to further enhance the many good things they have going on in their school community.

  

   
• 

  Why Teach Power2Achieve? "The kids deserve it!"

  Eric Martin posted in Character Blog, Power2Achieve Community at 2:59 pm on August 19, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: 21st century skills (4), Character Blog (2), Iowa (2), Power2Achieve

  On Wednesday of this week, my colleagues and I wrapped up our final Power2Achieve training in Iowa. It was an intensive few weeks of training preparation and delivery with our field research schools, each site with its unique student population, needs, and delivery strategies.

  At each training we revisited the core concepts of the program and introduced the NEW Power2Achieve approach which they helped shape through their dedication, hard work and feedback during their first year as pilot schools.

  During our last day of training at Oskaloosa High School, I posed the question to the staff: “Why are we doing this program?” The teachers completed a self study to answer this question. Next, they shared their answers in small groups at their tables, then I asked if they would share some of their comments to the larger group.

  A wonderful women sitting in the center of the room was first to raise her hand and said with 110% certainty, “The kids deserve it!”

  This passionate opening comment led to a flurry of amazing reasons why the Power2Achieve program and the competencies it reaches are so important to teach our young people today. It was a very gratifying moment to hear the many reasons why these dedicated teachers are working so hard to help their students succeed.

  As I said in my opening, it was an intensive and overwhelming few of weeks of coordination and preparation from our team to be ready to deliver the workshops. However, even more overwhelming was the positive response and reception to the evolution of the Power2Achieve program for the upcoming year from all of our schools. We are so proud of our Iowa Educators for their commitment to their students, the teaching profession and the Power2Achieve program. Our Iowa Power2Achieve schools are ready!

  A big thanks to the staff and administrators at Creston, Ogden, Oskaloosa and Urbandale High Schools. I hope you have a great year…You deserve it!

  

   
• 

  Summer Institute Day 1

  Kyle Baker posted in Character Blog at 12:49 pm on June 29, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: character education, Curriculum, Educators (2), institute, Power2Achieve, Professional Development (4), Programs, workshop

  What does Power2 do?

  

  Matt Davidson, President & Co-Founder of the Institute for Excellence & Ethics, opening the 2010 Summer Institute:

  “Power2 programming translates the Smart & Good vision into concrete steps for bringing the vision into reality.”

  Stay tuned for more updates throughout the week on the 2010 Summer Institute!

  

   
• 

  "A Metacurriculum of 21st Century Learning"

  Kyle Baker posted in Character Blog at 5:29 pm on May 18, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: 21st century skills (4), crossroads, diverse, educational leadership, educational needs, families, high schools, intense, intentional, metacurriculum, parents (2), Power2Achieve

  In a recent issue of Educational Leadership (April, 2010), Ed Coughlin at times sounds as if he’s describing IEE’s Power2 programming in his article, “High Schools at a Crossroads.” In the article Mr. Coughlin addresses a variety of issues regarding the educational needs of diverse high school students in the 21^st century.

  In a section titled, “A Better Future: A Metacurriculum of 21st Century Learning,” Mr. Coughlin suggests that schools must see traditional academic programs as only one part of a student’s educational experience, describing another essential piece as being a 21st century metacurriculum:

  “Whereas the academic curriculum focuses on the knowledge that students must master within the content areas, the metacurriculum focuses on the learning skills, habits of mind, and life and workplace skills students need to be successful in a competitive, shrinking world.”

  The author then identifies four beliefs that support this approach:

  1)       “Important 21^st century skills, such as critical thinking, innovative thinking, and self-directed behavior, can be explicitly taught, applied, and assessed.”

  2)      “21^st century skills are not “soft skills” but important qualities that may contribute more directly to student success in future education, life, and careers than many academic skills do.”

  3)      “Students can most effectively develop 21^st century skills in the context of rich, authentic academic learning opportunities that closely mirror the type of work done by professionals.

  4)      “Schools and parents share joint responsibility for helping all students attain these skills.”

  Mr. Coughlin’s description of a metacurriculum becomes more powerful when it is united with the concept of intentional and intense character development programming.

  As we work to continue developing Power2Achieve programs, we continue to align with the student outcomes identified by the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills (1), lay the groundwork for experiences that apply to students’ lives both in and out of the classroom (2), develop student competencies through authentic experiential activities (3), and find new and innovative ways to strengthen the educational partnership between schools and families (4).

  Mr. Coughlin closes his article with the following challenge:

  “The schools that will be successful will transform themselves from transmitters of knowledge and information to orchestrators of a complex program of learning facilitation and cognitive development.  Will yours be one of them?”

  More than any other program available today, Power2Achieve allows schools to answer “YES.”

  _________

  Reference: Coughlin, E. (2010, April). High schools at crossroads. Educational Leadership, 67(7), 48-53.

  

   
• 

  Eric Martin posted in Power2Achieve Community at 2:19 pm on May 10, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: 21st century skills (4), Iowa (2), moral character (2), P2A (2), performance character (4), Power2Achieve

  In Iowa, we continue to create a strong foundation and partnerships for the continued growth of the Power2Achieve programming across the state. As the first Power2Achieve Regional Center in the nation, we are thrilled to partner with IEE on several innovative projects that has an impact on the culture of excellence and ethics.

  Starting several years ago with our initial training at IEE, we have partnered with the Iowa Department of Education, inviting the DE Learning Supports Consultant to attend an intense and inspiring immersion in the Smart & Good research and the evolving Power2Achieve programming. This collaboration has been invaluable as we all work together to define and refine the P2A program and its authentic alignment with Iowa’s Core Curriculum and 21st Century Skills roll out. Our complimentary work together is best captured in a document that was generated by Director, Judy Jeffrey and her colleagues at the Department of Education which I have posted below.

  We’ve established the foundation and are looking forward to continued opportunities to work with the DE, administrators, faculty and students in Iowa’s schools with the Power2Achieve programming.

  A statement by the Iowa Department of Education on Power2Achieve™ Programming:

  Although significant resources have been invested in improvements to teaching and learning, most schools across the nation have failed to close the achievement gap. Iowans want every student prepared for today’s technology-rich, global economy regardless of ethnicity, income, or geographical location. The Core Curriculum helps Iowa Schools deliver that education through a student-based approach that supports higher expectations for all students. It builds on Iowa’s long history of community leadership in education and relies on partners across the state for implementation in high schools by 2012. The Iowa Core Curriculum bolsters Iowa’s education structure through mandated state content standards and benchmarks aligned to improve student achievement. A continuum of learning supports that remove barriers to learning will increase the capacity of the Iowa Core Curriculum to reach all students.

  Power2Achieve™ programming is designed to develop the culture and competencies of excellence and ethics needed for teaching and learning in Iowa’s high schools. Implemented together the programs boost teaching and learning in all classrooms (1) by identifying the competencies needed for learning and developing them through everyday teaching and learning, and (2) by reinforcing academic achievement and pro-social development through the whole-school culture of excellence and ethics. The Power2Achieve programming is designed to impact essential elements of the Iowa Core Curriculum and newly required 21st Century Skills. The combination of a highly relevant and rigorous Core Curriculum within a school-wide culture dedicated to the development of excellence and ethics is a recipe for success.

  Through collaboration with the Institute for Character Development and the Institute for Excellence & Ethics the Iowa Department of Education will connect the culture and competencies of excellence and ethics with the Core Curriculum (21st Century Skills) and Learning Supports Initiatives. Power2Achieve™ programming is based on the ground breaking research of Dr. Thomas Lickona and Dr. Matt Davidson outlined in the Smart & Good High Schools Report. To support data-driven school improvement, the Power2Achieve programming utilizes the Collective Responsibility for Excellence and Ethics (CREE) Assessment Tools and Processes to benchmark and continuously assess the culture and competencies of excellence and ethics.

  Four field research schools in Iowa are implementing Power2Achieve programming (Power2Learn and Power2Teach) during the 2009-2010 school year (along with approximately 20 high schools around the country). The Power2Achieve™ programs are supported by including leadership development, staff and faculty coaching, ongoing professional development and user-friendly multimedia learning support resources.

  The innovative Power2Achieve™ programs provide powerful tools for realizing the goals of the Core Curriculum and the 21st Century Skills across the state of Iowa including decreasing dropouts, boosting academic achievement, improving workforce preparation, and preparing youth to become productive citizens and lead fulfilling lives.

  

   
• 

  Focus Your Effort

  Kyle Baker posted in Character Blog at 10:56 am on May 10, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Attitude (2), Effective, Efficient, Effort (2), Focus, P2A (2), Power2Achieve, Productivity

  Today we at IEE have been discussing the opportunity to implement elements of Power2Achieve Foundations in an arena we haven’t been in before.  It’s exciting but we know as with any new venture, there is always some risk involved.

  During our conversations today, Matt pointed out that it’s critical to help teachers and other administrators “focus their effort” on the right things as they implement P2A-Foundations.

  In trying to help us think through our strategy for this particular opportunity, I think Matt hit right on one of the reasons we’re all in education in the first place, and also something that we strive for as life-long learners…we must always be learning how to better focus our effort.

  Our P2A Effort & Attitude Rubric and the instructional content around it is designed to help students develop a positive mindset and increase their amount and concentration of effort in healthy ways as they work to achieve their goals.

  I think this week I’ll use a personal adaptation of the phrase Matt put forth in his email to ensure that I’m fully present in all that I do.  On a 3×5 index card I wrote “Focus my effort.”  I’m going to keep that card in my pocket throughout the week and put it on my desk as I work, on the counter as I cook my meals, and look at it whenever else I might need a reminder.  I’ve got a feeling it just might lead to a more effective, efficient, and enjoyable week.