April 24 - Afterward

Here is what we decided today: Macy will type up the student supply list for review and approval.  Cary will type up the Office Depot order for review and approval.

On tap as we move forward: Talking about Word Study - specifically what fourth grade worked on this year and how that can impact our conversations for next year.  Additionally, how that affects the supply list regarding student needs.

We also need to get back to our Social Studies/Reading unit - but we will also work on that Wednesday afternoon.

We also need to discuss Principal Search Committee Interview questions.  I happen to have a couple of former elementary school principals in my family and I asked them for their thoughts.  Based on what they gave me, here are six questions I came up with.

Questions for Principal Candidates:

1.     What is your knowledge of the Assessment for Learning work of Rick Stiggins?

a.     What is your view of his work?

b.     How would you lead a faculty through Professional Development around his work?

c.      How would you help a school transition from a more traditional grading system to one based on AFL (including helping all stakeholders – teachers, parents, and students understand and embrace the change)?

2.     Talk about current curriculum research, innovation, or ideas that you are excited about.  How would you lead work around professional development and adoption of these practices in all three levels of PKY?

3.     How do you plan to gain expertise in elementary curriculum and best practices in teaching and learning at the elementary level?

4.     Talk about your knowledge regarding the research around best practices for teaching reading.  Speak specifically about all three levels of PKY.

5.     What would you see as the 3 most important questions to ask an applicant for a first grade position at PKY?

6.     What do you look for in appraising teachers and what are your views regarding how you group instructional teams?

I tried to focus all the questions somehow back to elementary in one way or another (with the exception of the first question, but it was pointed in a different way).  My biggest concern is that the new person won't have any elementary experience and I want to make sure to ask questions in a way that they are forced to talk about that deficit and how they plan to deal with it.

Let everyone know your thoughts in the comment section and also add any additional things you think are important.  We can whittle the list down from there.