The Great Conversation

THE GREAT CONVERSATION

Inspired by Jamie Vollmer’s book, Schools Can’t Do It

Alone

Presented by Julie Bastow Ed. S., ELA Consultant, AMA ESD

Meaghan Gauthier Ed. S., Literacy Consultant, AMA ESD

& Courtney Huff Ed. S., Literacy Consultant, AMA ESD

TODAY’S PURPOSE

The beginning of The Great Conversation, “

a new community-wide discussion, designed

to increase student success, and ultimately,

improve the quality of life of everyone in the

community, whether or not they have kids in

school” (Vollmer, 149).

A SERIES OF PHASES

Phase 1 Objectives:

Connect with as many people as possible

Describe the benefits that will happen when we

work together to support student achievement

Help everyone understand what these benefits

mean for the community

WHY NOW?

Shift from Industrial Age to Knowledge Age

Less on making and moving

More on generating and sharing knowledge

Dramatic increase in what ALL students need

to know

An adequate education just 30 years ago…no

longer sufficient

LOCAL GOOD NEWS

Targeted Writing Project (TWP)

Students across 4 districts receive 45 minutes of systematic

writing instruction daily

Supporting Teachers and Readers Successfully

(STARS)

Cycle #1: 270 students serviced, 94% improvement

Cycle #2: 219 students serviced, 88% improvement

Cycle #3: 295 students service, 83% improvement

MORE GOOD NEWS

Proactive vs. Reactive

Curriculum

Universal Screening

Teachers Meet Together to Review

Student Data

MEANWHILE…

“…our schools have done all this while feeding tens

of millions of children nutritious meals twice a day,

transporting them billions of miles each year in safe,

reliable buses, and providing them with quality

health services and medical expertise…”

“If that were not enough, America’s public schools

are the cultural heart of their communities” (Vollmer,

155).

RESTRUCTURING SCHOOLS

Future Conversations:

What are the necessary changes schools need to

make to increase student success?

Why are these changes important?

What will they mean for EVERYONE in the

community?

Feedback from community is vital!

SCHOOLS CAN’T DO IT ALONE

“For all public’s education’s remarkable

success, no generation of educators in

the history of the world has been asked

to do what Americans now demand of

their schools” (Vollmer, 156).

DID YOU KNOW…

Alpena schools buses travel the

distance from Disney World and back in

ONE day, plus a few extra miles to

make a round trip to the Mackinaw

Bridge (averaging 2,990 miles a day!)

TIME TO REFLECT

Questions and Comments