Noe 1

April 26th, 2011 Name: Dian Hardin Position: Principal, Maxine Johnson Elementary Number of years with the district: Three (prior experience at other schools) How many students do you teach? Alternatively, how many students do you oversee? approximately 405 What is a typical class size? 12 developmental kindergarten 17-18 kindergarten 18-20 1st grade 20 2nd grade 23 3rd grade 26 4th grade Please describe some of your daily activities to me: Greet students in the morning, visit classrooms, discipline, team meetings Paperwork: reports, evaluations, communication (mostly email), lunchroom and recess duties (communicate with kids) How much time is devoted to teaching and to non-teaching duties? Varies! Usually two meetings, IEP meetings, 5 hours active participation and 2-3 hours getting ready, preparing How many hours must you spend working on school related tasks, after school hours? About three hours average, varies What are the rewards/discouraging aspects of teaching? Positive: Seeing kids and positive changes and work that teachers do. Celebrating progress (such as meeting ISAT proficiency requirements). Seeing the rewards of student and teachers hard work. Watching students progress, supporting them and celebrating good changes. Seeing the kids happy here and cared for. Meeting needs beyond academics. Negative: Political decisions and pressure raised on teachers, financial decisions, inaccurate portrayals in the media

How is power distributed between and among administrators, teachers, and students? (bureaucratic hierarchy vs. participatory democracy)

Noe 2

Involvement of parents and teachers in teams, considering student perspective. Considering their age, the students arent able to direct their own choices and education as much as older students, so we try to work in their best interest. Third grade students actually get student body votes on materials they want to read/study. There is lots of prescribed content, standardization, that limits how much choice and say the students have. Given choice when possible. What kinds of services are available for minority students? Are there gifted and talented tracks? Special needs? Grouping within classes? Pullout programs? What kinds of strategies are used to meet the various needs of students? Gifted and talented teacher in the building a couple days a week pullout program Two resource rooms, EP learning disabilities Extended resource rooms cognitive impairments COSSA pull out and visit classrooms Funds available for students with special needs, targeted towards support where needed (dont have someone hired full time to accompany such students all day) After school program Summer school What peer groups do you perceive in this school? How does their academic performance relate to these groups? What students experience more challenges? 25% migrant move in and out of the district frequently, mobility that challenges students LEP high percentage, academic language different than home language Many students have incarcerated parents, so they are living with family and friends Homeless students live in pooled/communal households Economically challenged students 78% free and reduced lunch* (double-check what state website says, if this is up-to-date) How has the district responded to the call for educational reform? Attending Lunas meetings to clear up misperceptions Board adopted policies adjusting master contracts Negotiations team No longer advertising hiring for retiring staff, cutting staff, future plans What are job conditions like for teachers in the district? Does it vary from school to school or is it generally uniform throughout the district? What is the role of the professional teachers organization in the district? Assume theyre pretty uniform across the different schools happy, feel supported. Maintain high expectations with flexibility. Important work with students. Feel trust with superintendant and school board. 60% PEA, no formal meetings, meet as needed, private communication not very active, little friction