TLC Report

Greg James

Director of Teaching and Learning TLC Report

This was the second year that we were able to work together as a learning community on our strategic focus areas. From one year to the next, we have been able to focus on and really connect our shared daily work with our ISK mission and vision. This year we also saw our strategic focus areas through the lens of our community values (Trust, Community, Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, Productive Struggle, Growth, and Innovation).

Strategic Focus Area One: We will continually focus on improving teaching and learning.

Highlights from Strategic Focus Area One:

 During school-wide IMPACT sessions, faculty and staff have created and offered over 85 workshops.  ISK has 26 self-selected mastermind groups meeting consistently to discuss and plan around their personal professional goals.  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.

 All teachers will have completed a three-part workshop series focused on culturally competent education.  In the elementary school, Day 8 has been implemented with consistency in the ES with a focus on the values of passion, creativity, and ambition.  We use consistent student data protocol for all student support team meetings (ES, MS, HS).  Colleen Ackford (learning consultant) supported our MS humanities team with unit creation and concept-based learning.  Year-long focus on curriculum and unit development with our (Physical

Health and Education) PHE team.

 All faculty and staff celebrated their professional growth during the May 11th school-wide IMPACT session.

Strategic Focus Area Two: We will integrate a comprehensive approach to student wellbeing throughout the school.

Highlights from Strategic Focus Area Two:

 In the elementary school, A group of teachers took the Responsive Classroom courses together. They have been supporting the work through workshops and divisional meetings.  In middle school, professional development and learning time have been given to grade-level leaders and counselors in order to develop and refine our MS advisory program.  Project Wayfinder is fully implemented, supporting an aligned and wellarticulated advisory program 9-12, while involving training for HS teachers at the start of the year. From this work, two of your high school faculty members have received training to become Project

Wayfinder facilitators. Â The first few parent teas and workshops of the school year were focused on our values and wellbeing. The goal was to integrate new families quickly, so they felt connected to the community. Â In September, counselors ran ‘How

Well Do We Know Our Kids’ sessions with the entire MS faculty and staff.

The goal was to have an activity that would help reflect and ensure that every child has a connection and is seen at ISK.

 The ES has built outdoor learning spaces with the intention of creating outdoor learning experiences and environments for our students.

 With our new middle school building, we are able to contain more events in our own facility, such as lunch.

However, we continue to look at how we use all of our spaces in our new building to support purposeful student learning. One area we are still working on is lockers for students, which will be a big ease for student wellness. Also, continuing to look at lunch play spaces. All of this work is to create engaging, welcoming, and safe environments for our students.

 We have conducted a full audit of facilities, including data gathered from student groups.

Strategic Focus Area Three: We will define and fully implement our approach to inclusion.

Highlights from Strategic Focus Area Three:

 We have implemented our definition of inclusion into our day-to-day work and instructional policies.  Definition of Inclusion: Inclusion is embracing and honoring the unique learning needs of every learner. We thoughtfully combine educational excellence with equitable practices.  Our ISK Equity and Justice team has created and made progress on our action plan. We have worked with three consultants during the course of the year. They have offered guidance and an international perspective.  Parents signed up for and completed the

Social Justice Starts at Home workshop.

These engaging workshops were offered by division. Â Our Head of Student Support Services (Heidi Laws) facilitated an 8 part virtual learning series focused on inclusive education. Â Students from the Gender Sexuality

Identity Association (GSIA) Team have offered panel discussions for our faculty and staff. Â As a school community, we continue to support the financial health and growth of our Life Centered

Education Programs. Â High School learning support teachers have offered multiple workshops on data discussion and differentiated inclusive practices during school-wide IMPACT sessions. Â In the middle school, Proud To Be Me (PTBM) Day workshops continued for the 4th year. We are deepening that work with students, and also how we prepare teachers. Pre-work will include mental health, and understanding privilege/oppression.

The student-led workshop themes are gender, sexuality, religion, race, and neurodiversity. After the workshops, students will reflect on intersectionality and how they can be an ally.

Greg James

Director of Teaching and Learning