JAMES WADSWORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ILLINOIS

SCHOOL WEBSITE

PROGRAM(S) PARTICIPATED IN: Sprint 2014, Solution 2014-2015

image37

TEAM MEMBERS

Rashid Shabazz, Principal
Ronetta Wards, Assistant Principal
Michelle Warden, Technology Specialist

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

School Type: Neighborhood
Grades served: Pre-K-8
Enrollment: 516

image11

PROBLEM

Our data tells us that ownership and professional responsibility is a problem for our teachers because they are still focusing on what others need to do rather than taking personal responsibility and control of student learning outcomes around the STEM teaching and learning.

SOLUTION

By engaging teachers in the process of developing professional development for peer staff, our innovation will improve collaboration and increase teacher capacity with implementing STEM instruction to improve student learning outcomes.

image27

KEY LEARNING

Our data was collected from teachers rather than students and based on the data many of our assumptions quantified our problem statement and further validated our design opportunity.  It revealed our teachers needed more direction, guidance and specific professional development on how to translate the knowledge gained into practice.

image00

BY THE NUMBERS

  • Hours input by team: 42.5
  • Students impacted: 554
  • Additional educators impacted: 16
  • Community members: Not reported

OBSERVED IMPACT

  • Survey data for professional development sessions and compared the results of those sessions our teachers who experienced the prototype with those who did not experience the prototype.
  • Culture embracing STEM learning (bulletin board themes, design projects, student-friendly objectives around EPIC3 learning).
  • STEM family nights and participation in external events has increased as well as teacher comfort level integrating STEM throughout all content areas (sign-in sheets, attendance, quality of activity)
  • 5Essentials survey
  • School Commitment- In 2014 our measure score was 12 and in 2015 our measure score increased to 78.  
  • Quality Professional Development- In 2014 our measure score was 50 and in 2015 our measure score increased to 99.
  • Collective Responsibility- In 2014 our measure score was 22 and in 2015 our measure score increased to 82.  

image20
PLANS TO SCALE
Our team plans to move forward with the innovation for the upcoming year by continuing to develop teams of teachers using the experiential prototype to empower teacher ownership with respect to STEM learning and building the STEM culture in our school.