10/14/03

     In DoDDS Pacific we are carrying out a staff development initiative designed to build capacity at each school and to assist in our execution of the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan to promote Highest Student Achievement. We identified Curriculum Implementation Facilitators (CIFs) to serve in each DoDDS Pacific school and district for School Year 2003-2004. The primary role of the CIF is to support colleagues in implementing standards-based curriculum and instruction through the facilitation of professional development activities such as peer coaching, collaborative problem solving, looking at student work, or after-school study groups.

     Principals and district superintendents selected the CIFs in spring 2003. Each CIF will serve for two years and will be provided extensive training and support from the DoDDS Pacific Education Division staff. This training will prepare CIFs to plan, organize, and facilitate individual and collaborative professional development activities related to standards-based curriculum and instruction, and aligned with their school improvement plan.

     CIFs will use their skills to support teachers in designing instruction for understanding, differentiating instruction to meet individual students’ needs, integrating curriculum, and using content-specific, research-based best practices. During the CIF conference in June 2003, participants received several modules that they could adapt and use, in collaboration with their school’s teacher mentors, to help new teachers understand DoDEA standards and how to design effective instruction in a standards-based classroom.

     Following our recent October 2003 conference, CIFs will be ready to work with their administrators and other leaders in their schools to implement effective instructional strategies that specifically address language arts and social studies standards. They will also be able to co-facilitate study groups or other small group collaborative sessions that examine student work as a way to guide instructional decisions. With the guidance of their administration, CIFs will develop action plans that support the on-going reform efforts taking place within the school.

     Significant research on educational reform indicates that the schools that are most successful in promoting high achievement for all students are those that set high academic standards, hold positive expectations for student growth, and work collectively to enhance the knowledge and skills of all adults in the school who impact students. I believe that our CIFs will play a critical role in developing and facilitating site-specific plans that work toward these goals and the goals of the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan.

     The educators who are working with us as Curriculum Implementation Facilitators in DoDDS Pacific schools are there as a resource for all teachers to use as we move forward in our effort to become a standards-based school system. Anytime we have teachers helping teachers, sharing their expertise and excitement, the young people we serve benefit. I take my hat off to those of you who are CIFs or aspire to the role, and thank you for your contributions to the excellence of the teaching profession.

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific