Mr. Gregory Leavitt is the principal of Draper Park Middle School in Draper, UT. Draper Park has experienced some great success recently as a top-scoring school in the state in Math, ELA, and Science. He was the 2013 Canyons District Administrator of the Year Award Winner.

In this episode we talk about the following:

Cross Curricular Teaming and PLCs.

  • Agenda consists of activities, common vocabulary, student problem solving, and team activities and celebrations
  • Vocabulary is a powerful way to connect content areas.
  • How he reviews all 9 PLC teams’ notes.
  • Consistency as key to long-term success.
  • How they use a Friday late start collaboration time.

Subject Area Teaming and PLCs

  • Large focus on data
  • Common Formative Assessments
  • Bringing everybody up, instead of comparing for comparison sake.
  • Easy to take big end-of-year test when you are assessing for mastery to the standards all throughout the year.
  • No need for a big push at the end.
  • Nothing fancy, just some Google Docs that are shared between the team.

Standards-Based Grading

  • 100% of grades are based on assessments, what the kids can actually demonstrate as mastery.
  • Rick Wormeli - “Fair Isn’t Always Equal”
  • Objective Tracker, student-reported grades, and success.

How you can be a transformative principal:

Pick one thing that you can sustain for the next 5–7 years and stick with it.

Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher

Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show.

Buy Communication Cards

Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com

Download Paperless Principal.  


New Episode of @TrnFrmPrincipal


Mr. Gregory Leavitt is the principal of Draper Park Middle School in Draper, UT. Draper Park has experienced some great success recently as a top-scoring school in the state in Math, ELA, and Science. He was the 2013 Canyons District Administrator of the Year Award Winner.

In this episode we talk about the following:

Cross Curricular Teaming and PLCs.

  • Agenda consists of activities, common vocabulary, student problem solving, and team activities and celebrations
  • Vocabulary is a powerful way to connect content areas.
  • How he reviews all 9 PLC teams’ notes.
  • Consistency as key to long-term success.
  • How they use a Friday late start collaboration time.

Subject Area Teaming and PLCs

  • Large focus on data
  • Common Formative Assessments
  • Bringing everybody up, instead of comparing for comparison sake.
  • Easy to take big end-of-year test when you are assessing for mastery to the standards all throughout the year.
  • No need for a big push at the end.
  • Nothing fancy, just some Google Docs that are shared between the team.

Standards-Based Grading

  • 100% of grades are based on assessments, what the kids can actually demonstrate as mastery.
  • Rick Wormeli - “Fair Isn’t Always Equal”
  • Objective Tracker, student-reported grades, and success.

How you can be a transformative principal:

Pick one thing that you can sustain for the next 5–7 years and stick with it.

Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher

Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show.

Buy Communication Cards

Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com

Download Paperless Principal.  


New Episode of @TrnFrmPrincipal

Special - How to automate social media for your school


This is a video podcast, on my feed. Just a little experiment to try something new. Send me a tweet to tell me what you think. @jethrojones

 

http://bit.ly/tp-socialmedia <- This is the post that the video references. 

Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher

Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show.

Buy Communication Cards

Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com

Download Paperless Principal.  


New Episode of @TrnFrmPrincipal

Being Silly with Jason Bodnar Transformative Principal 061


  • Tech Club at Jason's school.
  • You can never have enough clubs or strong electives at your school.
  • What kinds of activities can put kids out in front?
  • DJ-ing the school dance.
  • How to start clubs - Just ask the kids!
  • Staple clubs - tech, video announcements, music, Minecraft club, etc.
  • It is ok to have just a few kids at each club.
  • How to have clubs that are flexible (teaching chess vs playing chess).
  • About Jason Bodnar's podcast
  • Jeff Bradbury
  • Matt Miller and his appearance on Jason's Podcast
  • You are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
  • Being on Twitter can get you jobs!
  • How to be a transformative principal. Open reflection and transparency.

Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher

Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show.

Buy Communication Cards

Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com

Download Paperless Principal.  


New Episode of @TrnFrmPrincipal