2009 Indiana Math Summit

Guest: John Gubera
Advanced Placement 6-12, Director
Middle Schools, Coordinator
Indiana Department of Education

A new benchmark for Advanced Placement (AP) achievement for the state of Indiana has been identified as part of the Indiana Department of Education’s vision to increase significantly the college graduation rates of Indiana students. Indiana schools need to develop a plan to increase both student participation and success through the implementation of a rigorous AP curriculum. Principals can foster the establishment of an AP program or improve an existing AP program in their schools. This segment will discuss strategies to reach this new benchmark.

Guest: Renae Azziz, Ed.S., NCSP
Educational Consultant
and Professional Development Trainer
Virtuoso Education Consulting

The gap between the academic success of majority and ethnically diverse students is well documented. Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) is widely acknowledged as a critical component in raising the achievement of diverse students. This episode will provide an overview of the characteristics of Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) and offer guidance to school leaders on action steps they can take to increase proficiency among staff and ensure implementation at the building level.

Guest: Jennifer Hicks
Sarah Fronczek
Indiana Department of Education

Fine Arts Specialist Sarah Fronczek will discuss characteristics of quality instruction in the arts, the arts as an essential part of a balanced curriculum, the importance of ongoing arts instruction at all levels, and the cross-curricular benefits of arts study. She will describe attributes of arts teachers who demonstrate best practice in the arts, attributes of students who experience quality arts instruction, and the physical environment necessary for quality arts instruction to take place.

Guest: Jennifer Hicks
Science Curriculum Specialist
Indiana Department of Education

This episode addresses best practices in science education for the K-12 classroom.

Guest: Anna Shults
2007 Indiana Teacher of the Year and third grade teacher at Fall Creek Elementary in Hamilton Southeastern Schools

This episode will address research based strategies that correlate to increased motivation and heightened student achievement in writing.

Guest: Judy Jenkins
Coordinator of Secondary School Redesign
Indiana Department of Education

Historically, teachers in our secondary schools considered the teaching of reading to be the responsibility of elementary teachers. As secondary schools look at how their schools must change, they will have to create a learning environment that supports literacy. Even students who are proficient readers when they leave elementary school need strategy instruction in reading to become proficient adult readers. Literacy instruction at the secondary level is every content teacher’s responsibility. Content textbooks are organized differently. Content vocabulary is best taught by the content teacher who has a deep understanding of the terms. It is also important for students to see their teachers as “readers”.

In order to help our schools continuously improve, today’s educational leaders must help teachers think differently about their responsibilities. To that end, middle, junior and senior high school teachers must embrace the idea that they are the ones who can best teach students how to read and understand their content. Reading/literacy instruction does not end when a child is ten years old; it must continue and be reinforced throughout the child’s entire schooling.

Guest: Dr. Suellen K. Reed
Superintendent of Public Instruction
for the State of Indiana

Based on her 16 years of service as Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction and her enduring dedication to the students of Indiana, Dr. Reed shares her thoughts and reflections on school leadership in Indiana.

On January 25, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed and the State School Bus Committee approved Indiana’s first-hybrid school bus to be put into daily routes at Randolph Eastern Schools.

Produced by Garin Grist

Dr. Suellen Reed provides an overview of Indiana Department of Education’s ongoing Learn Green, Live Green initiative.

Guest: Dan Kuznik
2008 Indiana Teacher of the Year
Asst. Principal, Guion Creek Middle School
M S D Pike Township
Indianapolis, IN

The freshman year of high school is a pivotal year in the life of a student. Research has shown much correlation between the freshman year and high levels of failure and discipline rates. In this episode, the benefits of peer mentors for freshmen as they transition from middle to high school will be explored. Resources for developing or revamping a freshman mentor program will be identified.

Guest: Shana Ritter
Project Coordinator
The Equity Project at Indiana University

We view the world through the lens of culture, which is a system of beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors that is filtered through our own individuality and experiences. Cultural responsivity is grounded in an awareness of cultural context and the strengths that students bring with them to school. Culturally responsive practice or pedagogy, which may also be referred to as cultural competence, is having the capacity to function effectively in cultural contexts that differ from your own.

To view video, go to http://media.doe.in.gov/sbe/2008-10-01.html

Guest: Caterina Cregor Blitzer
Director of International Education
Indiana Department of Education

International Education is an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for life and work in an age of increasing diversity and complexity. Nationwide, business, government and education leaders advocate for students learning 21st century skills to compete in our global economy. There is broad recognition and a shared sense of urgency that our education system can and should do more to prepare our young people to succeed in the rapidly evolving 21st century. Together with proficiency in English, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, these 21st century skills include global literacy, knowledge of other world regions, cultures, economies and international issues, skills to communicate in languages other than English, ability to work in cross-cultural teams and access information from different sources around the world. The Indiana Department of Education’s international education team collaborates internationally, nationally and state wide to implement goals for international education programs that prepare Indiana students for their roles in the global economy.

Guest: Michele Walker
Director of Student Assessment
Indiana Department of Education

The episode will update Indiana educators on changes to Indiana’s Assessment program. The following topics will be discussed:
• Diagnostic assessment
• Fall 2008 ISTEP+ testing
• Spring 2009 ISTEP+ testing
• Changes to the GQE assessment
• End-of-Course Assessments

Guest: Dan Kuznik
2008 Indiana Teacher of the Year
Asst. Principal, Guion Creek Middle School
M S D Pike Township
Indianapolis, IN

Algebra is the “gateway course” to upper-level mathematics. It is important that students are well prepared in primary and middle grades in order to set them up for success in Algebra and further upper-level math courses. In conjunction with the IPLA Vision, continuous improvement is always the goal. Schools have come a long way in terms of preparing students for Algebra. Yet, educators must continue to strive to improve primary and middle level approaches for preparing students for success in Algebra. Knowledge of where to look for useful and effective resources is critical for fostering student success.

Original air date: 08/01/2008

Guest: Gary Wallyn
Director, Office of School Accreditation & Awards
Indiana Department of Education

This segment will show the kinds of school data available on the Indiana Department of Education’s website.

Original air date: 05/01/2008

Guest: Tara Rinehart
Exceptional Learner Specialist,
Office of Exceptional Learners
Indiana Department of Education

This segment will address the State of Indiana’s plan for Response to Intervention as well as the three goals Indiana submitted to the National RTI Center at the U.S. Department of Education’s RTI Summit held in December 2007.

Original air date: 04/01/2008

View a short introduction regarding the proposed special education rules from Robert A. Marra, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of the Indiana Department of Education.

Guest: Lauren Harvey
Asst. Director, Office of English Language Learning and Migrant Education
Indiana Department of Education

Indiana ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage rate growth in English Language Learner (ELL) students over the past 10 years. ELL students enter Indiana classrooms with limited English proficiency and may also lack literacy in their native language or have limited formal schooling. This segment will outline the requirements for serving English language learners in the mainstream classroom, describe the process for providing English language development services, offer suggestions for increasing teacher collaboration, and identify resources for professional development.

Original air date: 03/01/2008

This project was supported in part by grant number 2006-GP-CX-0082, Project Safe Neighborhoods, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice.

This video is available for presentations across the state at schools, detention centers, alternative programs, youth-serving agencies and the faith community. The video emphasizes the message, particularly to young women, about the importance of making good choices.