"Are We (FHUSD) Getting Better"

As the students and staff leave for summer vacation, it is time to ask the annual question. "Are we (FHUSD) getting better?" It will be a question asked several times to all our district directors and to our building principals during the end-of-the-year evaluations. It would be an easy answer to look back saying we have suffered from continuous Legislative cutbacks and a slow district enrollment decline. But then most Arizona districts could fall back on these well publicized factors.

No, the bottom line is all about FHUSD "getting better" and in doing so meeting our student learning mission. Let me share some summary reflections in key areas.

Instruction
1. Our FHUSD Staff has received intensive training in "Response to Intervention" (RTI) strengthening our ability to meet the needs of all students individually.
2. Our Special Education staff with regular education faculty have received ongoing training on the "co-teaching model"
3. Our FHUSD faculty have received specific packets and resources on the new National Core Standards set for implementation in 2012-2013 - next year with team and administrative leaders will be involved in continuous training.
4. We continue with administrative walkthroughs to gather data on student learning with an option to evolve it further next year through PD360 tools.

Technology
1. Our grades 2-5 classrooms have added Apple iTouches to promote a new learning platform and student engagement with mobile technology.
2. Our SPED Dept. has implemented the use of iPads to enhance student learning activities with
students having special needs.
3. FHUSD has implemented Pearson's "Success Maker" software for grades 3-8 to strengthen student learning opportunities before, during and after school.
4. Next year our preschool through grade 3 will have the "Success Maker" companion called "Waterford" to enrich and gain learning opportunities.
5. Our elementary grades have implemented document cameras as a classroom tool enhancing and engaging students.
6. Next year all FHUSD campuses will be wireless to allow for mobile connectivity
7. Next year FHHS students will have the ability to bring personal technology devices to school to utilize and move toward a 24/7 learning opportunity.

Student Achievement Data
1. Our McDowell Mountain ES, grades pre-2, utilized student "data walls" this year for mathematics, reading, atendance and behavior. Next year grades 3-8 will also utilize this procedure to raise all students to standard and above with the belief that each teacher is responsible for all students in that schoolhouse.
2. Next year will be our third year utilizing ATI Galileo benchmark assessment system. It has provided our teaching teams with very specific data on teaching and curriculum gaps for their "real curriculum" taught in the classroom.

Character Training
1. We have expanded the use of Youth Frontiers to our high school campus to provide ongoing reinforcement of anti-bullying strategies as well as need for teamism and collaboration. These programs are now seen on all our campuses. Our campuses with the newly found support of the Fountain Hills Coalition continues efforts on educating students and parents on the dangers of the Internet, alchohol and the use of drugs.

Curriculum and Program
For 2011-12 FHUSD will see new mathematics curriculum to meet not only Arizona standards but the national Common Core Standards. We will also see new Health textbooks, a Career Technical Nursing program and the return of Computer Assisted Drawing. Our 5th graders will now have access to both Band and Spanish a year earlier. As we speak, our staff led by Dr. McElligott, is working on a STEM Center "School within a School" for FHUSD to become a science, technology, engineering and mathematics destination.

Are we better? It really can only be answered by how we meet the needs of each and every student. Regardless of programs and initiatives our true sense of improvement must be seen with how our students produce in and out of the classroom. That is the big constant that we must continue to strive for FHUSD to truly "get better."