Athens High School How We Implemented Focus Groups

Presenters Athens High School Site Coordinators: Mary Wryst Christy Ritterbeck Wayne Hanzel Focus Group Presenters: Anne Kemmerle Angie McAfee Jeff Short Melissa Barr

Why and How We Chose Focus Groups HSTW Key Practice: Teachers Working with Teachers Consulted with HSTW Consultant Nancy Ruth--later with Consultant Jan Broughton Site Coordinators made preliminary decisions in 2016-17, such as umbrella topics & descriptions for ten Focus Groups action plans for each Focus Group topic meeting times once monthly with periodic share-out’s limiting size of Focus Groups to 4-5 teachers Sample Action Plan for Grading Practices

Focus Group Descriptions Collaborated with Principal David Hanning and Consultant Jan Broughton Worked to align Focus Group topics with OIP and HSTW Improvement Models. Linked topics to key practices. Agreed upon six topic descriptions to present to staff in the 2017-18 school year The Focus Group Description document reflects revisions made in collaborative meetings. Focus Group Descriptions

Introducing Focus Groups to the Staff We presented Focus Groups to staff on opening day inservice 2017-18 In a one-hour meeting, we discussed the following: What are Focus Groups? Why do it? The Descriptions Meeting times, procedures, and share out dates Agendas and Minutes for documentation Sample Agenda and Minutes

Staff Assignments and Support Teachers signed up for their groups via Google Forms Some teachers changed groups in early stages Some groups merged; one group was dissolved--not enough people Focus Groups met one day each month Site Coordinators circulated to provide help and advice Focus Group Selection Form

Focus Group Presentations Each Focus Group is scheduled to share out during a staff meeting. Groups present research findings and some propose school improvement initiatives and/or suggestions for policy changes. The format is generally a brief presentation followed by staff discussion. Meeting Calendar

Homework and Grading Struggles Getting Organized Little agreement Topic too broad Size of group too big to get a consensus

How We Researched the Topic NEA and Education World (see next slide) Policies from other schools (see next slide) Anecdotal comments from students Results from survey of student attitudes about grading Survey Results NEA research results Dr. Jane Bluestein article for Education World Jefferson West Middle School Homework Policy Creekside High School Homework Policy

Research we found: NEA research on homework Jefferson West Middle School Homework Policy Dr. Jane Bluestein article for Education World Creekside High School Homework Policy

Point of Agreement Could not agree on homework policy Did achieve consensus with regard to modifying the grading scale Agreed to change from a 6 point scale to a 5 point scale

Presentation to Faculty Questions, objections from staff Scenarios and concerns we did not consider or did not foresee Alternative ideas proposed What's next?

Ongoing Focus for Homework and Grading Principal Hanning said he would get us a copy of a sample grading scale from another school When staff forms a consensus, Mr. Hanning will take a proposal to the board Homework policy has been tabled for further discussion We experienced a series of difficult discussions, but we need to continue these difficult discussions

How can we help? Contact us. whanzel@athenscsd.org critterbeck@athenscsd.org mwryst@athenscsd.org mbarr@athenscsd.org akemmerle@athenscsd.org amcafee@athenscsd.org jshort@athenscsd.org