Mineola and the Common Core
On December 3rd at 7:00pm in the Middle School Music room we will hold a Town Hall meeting about Mineola’s implementation of the common core. After a brief presentation by me a panel will be answering questions and concerns about the standards, curriculum and assessments. Our acceptance of Race to the top monies allowed Mineola to become its own “network team”. We are one of three in Nassau County. If they wish, network teams may attend State wide training in Albany on curriculum and assessment initiatives. We are very fortunate to have Pat Burns attend these week long sessions and turnkey directly with our staff. We have also sent teachers and instructional leaders to Albany to hear about content specific changes. Mineola’s attendance at these sessions has made us more prepared to enact the changes currently taking place in the State. At Wednesday’s forum Commissioner King referenced many things he witnessed happening at Mineola Middle School. He was impressed with our ability to engage students in rigorous content through technology. Our students expertly answered every question he had. We still have a lot of work to do before we can claim mastery of the new curriculum BUT I believe we are well on our way. Our principals and teachers should be commended for all of the hard work they are putting in to ensure a smooth transition to this new material. 
The adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” is well illustrated by the photo of the Commissioner’s visit to the Middle School. Students are engaged by technology and focused on learning. The administrators, teacher, and commissioner are relaxed and collegial, united in a common purpose and respecting of each other’s abilities to work toward that purpose. The fact that this was an un-posed photo and captured the subjects doing what they naturally do really speaks to the essence of what it means to be privileged to teach, learn, and work in Mineola.