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Education Division Mission |
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Rationale
The establishment of an Education Division as part
of Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS)
Pacific is essential to the successful implementation
of the Department
of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Community
Strategic Plan. The division is directly
responsible for developing educational programs that support the DoDDS Pacific mission. Program
development includes improving and enhancing existing
programs as well as designing and implementing new
programs. In both cases, attention is given
to the specification of learning outcomes designed
to result in high student achievement.
Through professional development and technical assistance
activities, the division supports current programs
and new initiatives. Additionally, the division
is responsible for reviewing
all educational programs and instructional practices
implemented in DoDDS Pacific schools. By
consistently examining these programs, we can determine
their suitability for students and their effectiveness
in advancing our progress toward the goals contained
in the Community Strategic Plan. This allows us
to develop and implement improvements where needed
while maintaining and strengthening those programs
that are meeting with success. Measurable progess is made through the
professional practice of performing planned and
systematic educational program review. For these reasons, the establishment
of an Education Division at DoDDS Pacific is vital
to our overall effectiveness as an educational organization. |
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Purpose of the Education Division
The purpose of the Education Division is to
ensure that all educational programs offered in
DoDDS Pacific schools support the goals expressed
in the Community Strategic Plan and are
appropriate to the educational needs and interests
of all students. To achieve this purpose, the Education
Division will conduct school support and evaluation
activities in order to enable the Director, DoDDS
Pacific: |
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to
ensure that the focus of educational programs is on
high student achievement supported by high expectations; |
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to
ensure that equity is always considered in determining
access to educational opportunities;
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to
ensure that the academic integrity and quality of
educational programs are rigorously maintained and
that effective instructional practices are utilized
to obtain high student achievement as preparation
for continuous learning and productive citizenship;
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to
ensure that governing regulations, accreditation,
and program standards are upheld;
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to
ensure that school, district, area, and system priorities
are appropriately reflected in educational programs
and practices;
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to
ensure that parent and community partnerships are
functioning and engaged in processes that lead to
optimum student achievement;
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and
to ensure that program and curricular standards are
implemented.
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Responsibilities of the
Education Division
The responsibilities of the Education Division are
designed to facilitate the achievement of the goals
contained in the Community Strategic Plan. Therefore,
there are two major tasks the Division must perform.
First, the Division must provide educational support,
professional development, technical assistance, and
consultation to schools and districts in support of
teaching and learning. Secondly, the Division must
conduct ongoing evaluation activities and perform
a continual rigorous review of all educational programs.
More specifically, the Division’s responsibilities
are to assist the Director, DoDDS Pacific: |
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to
ensure that educational programs successfully implement
systemwide standards to enable students to reach their
full potential while promoting high student achievement; |
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to
ensure that educational programs have clear, attainable
objectives;
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to
ensure that educational standards and objectives are
utilized by teachers to plan instruction and evaluate
student performance;
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to
ensure that adopted and supplemental program materials
and resources are utilized by teachers to assist students
in attaining high achievement;
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to
ensure that changes to educational programs are accomplished
without any loss of program quality or integrity;
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to
ensure that changes to educational programs are based
upon student performance data and designed to result
in improved student achievement;
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to
assist districts and schools in promoting a network
of partnerships to enhance student achievement; |
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to
research, gather, and analyze data to identify best
practices from a variety of reputable resources pertinent
to educational program effectiveness as the basis
for planning educational program improvements;
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to
provide technical assistance and professional development
designed to increase effectiveness in instruction
and the delivery of educational programs; |
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to
utilize accepted accountability processes and procedures
to ensure that the purposes and responsibilities of
the Education Division are fulfilled;
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and
to ensure the student support services that address
the social, emotional, and unique learning needs of
all students are in place and functioning.
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Role of the Education Division
The Education Division acts as a safeguard to ensure
that our curriculum is balanced and responsive to
the educational needs and interests of all students.
Our school system serves a diverse student population
that is with us for a relatively short period of
time. Many come with school experiences from a variety
of locations across the United States. Some come
from other DoDDS schools or international schools.
Some enter our schools from home schooling backgrounds.
Others enter as complete newcomers to school. Because
we have a student population that is highly mobile
and comes to us with a wide range of educational
experiences, it is essential that these factors
be taken into consideration when planning and implementing
educational programs. This carries with it a corresponding
requirement that all educators perform at their
highest level of professional competence.
Presently, our educational programs are focused
upon high student achievement and high expectations.
This focus should be reflected throughout each school’s
educational climate. At the same time, we recognize
that some areas of the curriculum have reliable
standardized test measures for use in determining
student progress, while others do not. These test
data should be included along with other data sources
when assessing educational program effectiveness
but should not be used as the sole indicator of
program effectiveness.
If we are to meet the educational needs and interests
of all students responsibly, we must ensure that
educational programs that do not have a direct connection
to standardized test measures of student performance
receive equal support and recognition. Students
interested in art or music, for example, should
be given the same opportunities to achieve at their
highest level as students whose interests fall into
more academically-based programs. The reasons for
balance in the curriculum are supported by the acknowledgement
that our student population deserves to experience
high achievement and receive recognition when successful
in any educational program. This means that the
Education Division must be vigilant to ensure that
when emphasis is placed on student achievement in
certain programs this does not diminish other programs
in value or support nor eliminate some students
from receiving the recognition they deserve.
The purpose, responsibilities, and role of the Education
Division are intended to give assurance to students
and parents that DoDDS Pacific is prepared to meet
the educational needs and interests of all students.
The Education Division understands clearly its duty
on behalf of students, parents, teachers, and administrators
and welcomes this opportunity to be of service. |
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Services and Communication
The Education Division is accountable to the Director,
DoDDS Pacific, in fulfilling its responsibilities.
The division performs in a staff function. It has
no direct supervisory authority over district or
school personnel. Its relationship to districts
and schools is supportive in nature and respectful
of the manner in which districts and schools are
administered.
School visitations for technical assistance, professional
development, program orientation, and educational
program review may be requested by the district
superintendent or school administrator. In addition,
the Education Division may initiate school visitations
in support of its mission. School visitations will
be professionally planned and conducted in order
to meet the stated purpose of the visit. All school
visits and site-based activities require a written
after-action reports specific to the visit.
Professional development, technical assistance,
and program orientation are planned activities that
may be delivered at a school site, within a complex,
or within district or area level conferences. The
purpose for these activities is to provide high
quality teacher training in support of school, district,
area, or systemic initiatives. Although the method
of delivery may vary, these training activities
share common attributes. All activities must be
well planned, delivered to teachers utilizing best
practices from the professional development literature,
and provide follow up support. Training activities
may be in support of instructional practices or
strategies, content knowledge, or implementation
of new curriculum standards or materials. Technical
assistance is generally focused on specific program
content and may be narrower in scope. Technical
assistance training targets a predetermined population
for highly specific program specific training such
as special education procedures, school health room
practices, or Advancement Via Individual Determination
(AVID) program parameters. Program orientation training
is provided in support of teachers new to a teaching
area. Program orientation support can be provided
in several formats that accomplish the primary objective
and ensure those new to a school, content, program,
or grade level are provided with the essential information
that they need to ensure student success. The consultation
role may consist of telephone or written communication
or simply the “at a distance” support
of promising practices such as action research,
study groups, peer coaching, and other innovative
activities.
Educational program review is also an essential
responsibility of the Education Division. This component
yields valid information about the manner in which
educational programs function in our schools. It
is of paramount importance that a thorough review
of these programs occurs at the school site.
Educational program review will focus upon the degree
to which: |
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educational
opportunities are implemented equitably; |
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educational
programs are focused upon high student achievement
and high expectations;
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the
academic quality and integrity of educational programs
are supported and maintained.
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effective
instructional practices are utilized to obtain optimal
results in student achievement;
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educational
programs, curricular standards and objectives are
utilized to plan instruction and evaluate student
performance;
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adopted
and supplemental program materials and resources are
utilized by teachers to facilitate high student achievement.
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One means of communication for the Education Division
is the after-action or trip report that is accomplished
following an on-site school visit or training activity.
The report summarizes the information gathered on
site and contains recommendations for consideration
by the school principal. As a general rule, all
actions performed by members of the Education Division
will be summarized in a format appropriate to the
nature of the activity. Because on-site trip reports
have specific purposes, the format is derived from
the purposes for the visit. Similarly, staff development,
technical support, etc., will be summarized following
the purposes that were formulated by the coordinator
when seeking approval for the activity. All of these
are important aspects of accountability within the
Division and an important means of communicating
to schools and districts. They are also useful in
establishing a means for evaluating the success
of these activities.
Members
of the Education Division will respect the role
of superintendents, school administrators, and teachers
when conducting any approved activity in districts
and schools. The coordinators are responsible for
fulfilling the purposes of approved activities and
are held accountable for their conduct and actions
in the performance of approved activities.
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//
original signed //
Nancy C. Bresell
Director
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// original signed //
Steven R. Bloom
Deputy Director
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