Instructional Core
Do students assess their own work? If so, how?
Checklists, self assessments, star/wish
What role do teachers play in schoolwide goal-setting and action planning?
Every grade has a representative in ILT (Instructional Leadership Team) that shares info in common planning.
How do teachers build a safe and inclusive school culture?
PBIS, responsive classroom
How do teachers ensure resources align to instructional needs?
Common planning, weekly meetings with mentors, grade teacher leaders, curriculum analysis
What are the values that inform the school’s culture?
Equity, Family, Joy
What are the expectations for teachers’ feedback to students?
Next steps and how students are expected to get there.
What types of support do teachers receive to help with their development and growth?
Mentors, PD's, Intervisitations (in-house and at other schools), choice in curriculum
How does the school acknowledge the diversity that exists within the community?
Any kind of celebration, Dual language program
What structures are in place to allow time for teachers to respond to the learning needs of students?
Commin planning, Inquiry- Teacher Teams, Guided Reading
How do teachers get a clear picture of student progress toward goals?
District Snapshots in Math
How do teachers check for understanding and what instructional adjustments do you make in response?
Prompts, questioning and discussion, data used for the next lesson
How are teacher goals developed, monitored, and used to support teacher development?
Initial Planning Conference(IPC) with the Principal, Mentors, Advance, Weekly meetings with Mentors,
How do teachers communicate goals and expectations to parents? How does school staff help families understand their children’s progress toward those expectations?
Progress Reports, monthly Newsletters,
How are hiring decisions made? Describe some of the recent hires at the school?
Interview Committee, Go to Job Fairs, Grade that has vacancy has final say
What are the school goals this year?
Create students that write across all content areas.
What classroom-level data is used to determine individual student needs and progress?
Conference notes, self-assessments
What are some structures in place at this school that illustrate and support distributive leadership?
Teachers facilitate PD's, go to workshops, take on different responsibilities in the building (morning line-up,) grade leaders,
How does the school align its efforts around professional learning, family outreach, and student learning experiences to promote the effective academic and personal behaviors for students?
Workshops for parents around homework help, coffee with the Principal, Advanced Literacies, Learning Rounds
What kind of student groupings and interventions are in place to meet the needs of ELLs/MLLs and students with disabilities and ensure the closing of the achievement gap?
ESL Teacher pushes in and integrates art through Literacy, IEP Teacher provides PD
How has professional development supported teachers in meeting the schoolwide expectations?
Intervisitations to promote best practices, teacher choice in PD
How do teachers know if they are meeting all students' learning needs during instruction?
check for understanding, small group check in
What are some examples of feedback that articulate clear expectations for teacher practice?
At PS 595 we believe that children learn best by...
What structures allow for teachers to know at least one student well?
Data inquiry, morning meeting, closing circles, morning greet, checkins
How is the level of effectiveness of curricula, instructional approaches, and/or assessments evaluated to ensure alignment with State standards? (
Teacher Teams, Common Planning, Assessments Tracking
What are the school’s beliefs about how students learn best?
Hands on learning and meaningful experiences. Supporting social/emotional growth