Group1

Vision

Discussion: Do away with perception of 2 schools? Parents have a preconceived idea of what vocational is? Vocational always meant you couldn't hack academics.

We defined ourselves as a separate school. It's not that it's a separate school, it's more about integrated learning.

My vision is that for every kid in the building that there learning is as relevant to them as it is to students in the vocational whether its liberal arts, four-year, etc. At the end of the sophomore year each student would make a choice.

Thinking about its linked to their career. Once they realize that they can use it, attitude changes.

CTE center seems to do a much better job of being intentional and sequential. I like the way CTE assesses. I'd like to do something with our rank card.

I think academic struggles with telling students where they will ever use. I think we need to better educate our teachers.

Standards based--the only thing I had to argue with it is that seat-time counts.

We have a large mass of students I call floaters. They don't know what they want to do. The vocational have a little bit more of an idea.

I think that sophomore year is too late. They need to have opportunities early. We have a whole chunk of kids who don't have the skills to read the books. Some of the academics need to be shored up. We talk about relevance. Students want to know why.

The notion of exploratories to really bring some experience into this.

I struggle with this idea of pathways. The other part of it is what is a student passionate about.

Dave Keaton and I ran into a situation where a student had not been given the right course work. She brought in her portfolio as evidence of her art work in culinary. I was uncomfortable with it. If we had standards then you know what needs to be met.

In order to get a certificate in electrical, they must meet certain standards. Check off. On the academic side, we use an average so they can miss certain things.

If you're teaching a class like I do in history, you can do all your homework and not do well on tests and still pass. If you have standards then you have to meet each standards.

Grades and standards are not necessarily the same. Unfortunately, employers do not know to ask for the competency sheet.

My vision is that every student who graduates from Skowhegan Area High School, the diploma means something.

You need to ask what do they need to know.

We need a more concrete and transparent system that parents and students can understand.

Learning results are so liberal arts.

Learning results will not be used much longer. The national standards will take over.

There are a handful of districts who have adopted national standards. The belief is there that this needs to be a K12 mind set.

SAD9 is an example of a district that is standards-based.

I think the kids should be responsible for it. It's part of kids recognizing what they need to know. It would be easier for them to learn it.

Many of the floaters are not ready. They do not have the skills. We need to reteach skills to these students.

You are going to tell a 15 year old that you are in this pigeon hole. This is not the idea. It is helping them to experience.

Is there any time in the students schedules, when they could take remedial math and English?

Middle school has 3 skills blocks? Couldn't we take them to the high school to sit in on a class? If they have a choice of study hall or remedial time, not many will choose remedial? If you make it mandatory, they will push back.

I think we are talking about responsibility. We have students that don't do homework, come to school, etc.

Don't students need to know what they have to meet.

I believe that they need technical writing and technical reading to be prepared. They need to be able to support themselves.

I think this conversation is about what kids need and want to do rather than adult centered.

I worry about that a little bit. A lot of kids don't like fractions. But you can argue that they need to use.

What about Algebra II? We are the roadblocks here. Adults need to identify certain needs.

You can go to college for 4 years in sociology like I did then flip and change. My friend changed careers and took math at that time.

I think kids need to experience more not less.

I think as adults we do not give kids enough credit for a vision. I try to listen to kids as much as I can, but we still have some standards called credits.

The advisor/advisee could be an important part.

I was a part of an advisor group and only 2 opened up.