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The 2001–2006 Department of
Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Community Strategic Plan calls
for changes in the way everyone in schools conduct business. Changes
include the way principals provide leadership, how teachers organize
learning activities, teach to rigorous standards, and provide
specific feedback to parents and students. DoDDS Pacific has intensified
its commitment to high student achievement and success for all
students. “We are looking at everything we do under the Community
Strategic Plan in support of Goal 1, Highest Student Achievement,”
remarked Dr. Steven Bloom, DoDDS Pacific Deputy Director.
“New this year is the addition
of high school support courses in reading and algebra. Students
who score below the 50th percentile in reading and the 50th percentile
in mathematics will be eligible to enroll in these courses, which
are aimed at providing interventions that will help identified
students improve their skills,” said DoDDS Pacific Education
Division Chief. This is part of a comprehensive multi-year high
school initiative that will begin this year and is intended to
strengthen high school academic offerings at both large and small
schools. “It provides an opportunity for students in all
our high schools to have access to challenging and rigorous courses
and to have support when needed,” stated Bloom.
Another initiative for SY 2002–2003
is the addition of the curriculum implementation facilitator (CIF)—an
on site, fellow educator who will support curriculum implementation
activities within the school. “The CIF will be an important
resource for educators as we increase our emphasis on standards-based
curriculum and instruction. The ultimate goal is to have a CIF
in every school,” stated Bloom.
More alliances with businesses will
be pursued this school year. In addition to the one-year old CISCO
Academy Program, DoDDS Pacific is offering a Computer Service
and Support course, available to all high school students. “We
are modernizing our approach to career, vocational, technical,
and professional studies because we eventually want students to
graduate with certificates of competency that meet industry standards,”
reported Bloom. “We envision expanding course options for
those students who will seek employment directly out of high school,
and we want them to be competitive in the market place,”
said Bloom.
With the increased emphasis on standards-based
curriculum and instruction, principals and assistant principals
will be visiting classrooms to look at how well students are performing
in relation to standards and how the instructional practices support
those standards. “This will require additional time in the
classrooms above and beyond administrators’ normal visitation
schedules,” stated Bloom, “but we believe the benefits
will be extraordinary by increasing our capacity to help all students
reach higher academic standards.” The DoDDS Pacific Education
Chief added, “Administrators will set aside time for teachers
to collaboratively look at student performance to diagnose instruction
and guide teaching, and administrators will work together with
teachers to review best instructional practices that lead to high
student achievement.” Bloom stated, “Our ultimate goal
is in the outcome. Both administrators and teachers will be asking,
‘No matter how well I led, managed, or taught, did students
learn?’ This is at the heart of our efforts in DoDDS Pacific.”
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