ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
TLC Report Greg James
Director of Teaching and Learning
I
t is an understatement to mention that it has been a memorable twelve months at ISK and around the world. From the perspective of the Teaching and Learning Center, we have fully embraced the idea of constantly promoting and embracing flexibility. As a school, we are currently in our first year of our new strategic focus area system (our schoolwide goals). All three of these focus areas are deeply rooted in the day-to-day work of the Teaching and Learning Center. They are our north star and have served as our foundation during this time of pandemic education. Here is an update of the work we have accomplished during the 2020-2021 school year
Strategic Focus Area One We will continually focus on improving teaching and learning. Highlights from Strategic Focus Area One: ÂÂ In August, all ISK teachers and teaching assistants were engaged in professional development that focused on creating connections and powerful learning experiences online. ÂÂ The distance learning professional development served as an anchor for divisional work as teachers planned through the first semester. ÂÂ We have begun to reimagine the way we plan and construct units and projects at ISK. Our emerging process places a larger emphasis on our instructional aims (skills and dispositions) to be the driver of our content and curriculum. ÂÂ With the shift to distance learning, we have offered time and support for our teachers and teaching assistants to learn and upscale their expertise with certain online
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tools and resources (Zoom, Seesaw, Padlet, etc.). This work has allowed them to be more creative and confident with their unit planning and delivery. ÂÂ Within the high school, we have created an additional focus on our advisory program. During the second semester, all ISK advisory teachers worked with outside consultants (Kate Weiller and Jo Taylor) to think about consistency within our program. ÂÂ As a school, we have used this moment in time to reflect and begin some very foundational work. One component of our work has been the creation of shared ISK values (Trust, Community, Diversity/Equity/ Social Justice, Inclusion, Learning/Growth, and Innovation). These values are in line with our mission and vision and help us stay focused on our direction and purpose moving forward.