We all have a role to play

I joined Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Commissioner King at his press conference yesterday to affirm Mineola’s work in implementing the Common Core Standards.  This excerpt from the commissioner’s speech ran particularly true with me-

“Now – the work of raising standards for teaching and learning is work we launched

together. Not just the state – but the districts, the unions, the teachers, the legislature, the

governor – all with the support of the federal government. Everyone has had a voice in this.

It’s been open, transparent – and we have all known about it for years.

But for this to actually work and to make a difference in the lives of students, local

education leaders must implement these changes – thoughtfully, consistently and fairly.

Local leaders set budgets and priorities. They dedicate time and money to professional

development. They choose curriculum. They track results and they manage school schedules

to allow for planning and collaboration and create a culture of continuous improvement.

Several talented local superintendents are here with us today representing the 700 district

leaders across this state charged with delivering on the promise of the Common Core.”

While I don’t always agree with why and how things are done; I do agree that superintendents have a large responsibility to implement the new standards as smoothly and stress free as possible.

I like the Common Core Standards.  I like the notion of teaching a concept before content.  I think children learn so much more when they understand the underlining concept of material before they learn all of the facts.  Our goal is for children to be invested in the material they learn- not regurgitate facts to do well on an exam and then forget everything they memorized a week later.

I like the curriculum that Mineola teachers have created.  I like some of the materials in the NYS modules and more importantly I like the fact they we have local control over all curriculum decisions.  No one is mandating we teach what the State has created.  We are working and will continue to work on creating the best curriculum we can for students to achieve the standards.  I commend our teachers on the work they are doing. Our teachers continue to implement and debrief on what materials are successful and which need to be changed.

In a time of change everything isn’t automatically perfect; change is messy.  I think the State exams are a good example of that.  I am not crazy about the State exams; but I understand they are a work in progress.  They do not define good teaching and learning, nor do they define success or failure of a student or school.  They are one measure of a child’s progress in meeting the standards. We have a lot of work to do in making formative assessments that inform a child’s progress in specific standards.  Mineola is currently working on a digital solution that captures actual student work and tracks progress in the standards.  We understand that if a child “doesn’t know what they don’t know” they are unlikely to improve in that area.

We all have a role in making the Standards successful.  We can (and will) be stressed at times. But if we are patient, listen to one another and collaborate – I believe we can get it right.  Only then will we be successful in preparing our children for the future.