Showing posts with label letters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label letters. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Fwd: Nurture, Invest, Lead: Dr. Hamlet Reflects on the 2018-2019 School Year



---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Superintendent Hamlet
Date: Thu, Jun 13, 2019 at 6:15 PM
Subject: Nurture, Invest, Lead: Dr. Hamlet Reflects on the 2018-2019 School Year


As our students and staff begin summer break, I'd like to take this opportunity to update you on work accomplished by staff and teachers and share more efforts underway this summer to continually raise the bar on student outcomes.

For the start of the 2018-19 school year, we rolled out new curricula in Algebra and K-5 Mathematics, building off recent curriculum updates in English Language Arts. Our 60 academic coaches continued to help teachers adapt and learn new, proven techniques to improve achievement. We launched programs that reduced out of school suspensions significantly and invested in education technology to help us track student achievement in real time and guide students as they navigate the college admission process.

Already, students are responding. The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the 2018 PSSA increased on all three exams. Performance of our African American students also increased on all three PSSA exams. Graduation rates improved for all students by 10.4 percent to 80.8 percent in 2017. Additionally, students of both genders and African American students saw increases.  In fact, the graduation rate for African American students in PPS surpassed the state by 3.7 percent.

We're not going to turn around achievement overnight, but these gains provide evidence that our strategic plan is guiding us in the right direction. 

Nurture
Implementation of our strategic plan focused on the most vulnerable students.

We had to go back to basics and make sure our students are nurtured, so they are ready to learn. When I became superintendent, I learned that schools in many disadvantaged neighborhoods didn't have nurses or librarians. Graduation rates needed improvement, especially among our African American males and the out of school suspension rate was one of the highest in the state. ESL students, one of our District's fastest growing populations, were underserved. We increased translation supports and moved students out of sheltered ESL classrooms and into spaces where they can find a balance of support and challenge.

Now, in addition to eight community schools, all campuses have access to nurses and at least half-day librarians. This school year, we completed the implementation of Positive Behavior and Intervention Support (PBIS) and Restorative Practices to all 54 school buildings. Instead of the first line of defense being suspension, students now have trained staff focused on coping skills and conflict resolution. 

The state didn't think we could roll PBIS out to all schools this quickly, but having successfully done so with colleges in my former district, I was confident in our ability to accomplish this goal. More importantly, we couldn't wait because for every year we waited, we risk another student leaving school and potentially winding up perpetuating the poverty cycle or worse. School-age children belong in school, focused on learning not on the streets, where they must focus on survival. As a result, the number of days students have missed school due to suspension has declined by more than 1,500 days. 

Invest
This school year, in addition to investing in new curricula, we also invested in educational technology. We know that technology has the potential to become the great equalizer in bridging the achievement gap among students from underserved populations. In a world where students will be expected to use technology to find unfamiliar locations, look up information, or work with other people, we must prepare them accordingly.

Through the use of technology, we are able to engage students in their learning, provide much-needed intervention and enrichment, assess academic progress, and provide teachers valuable data to identify areas of need while cultivating innovative ways to improve teaching and learning. 

One of these investments, called Naviance, offers college and career planning for middle and high school students. The software helps guidance counselors walk students through the process of identifying their strengths and interests and exploring careers and colleges to create personalized plans for life beyond high school. Our District now joins a growing number of large public-school systems across the country, including some of the largest urban districts which have embraced this platform as a proven career readiness tool.

Lead
Our quest to improve student achievement was laid with a strong foundation. You may remember that in 2016, I ordered the most in-depth third-party analysis of the Pittsburgh Public Schools system. I was hearing from stakeholders like you, including foundation leaders and parents, that the District was stuck. And the numbers reinforced what I was hearing. So, we had to do a deep dive. This analysis included 137 recommendations. It's overwhelming. But we took this analysis, and we met with thousands of parents, staff, and community members to form our strategic plan, Expect Great Things. So far, 72 of the recommendations have been fully implemented.

I'd like you to know that my staff and I are committed to working tirelessly toward completing more recommendations. Here are some efforts on our summer agenda:

  • The rollout of On Track to Equity, a robust plan that details intentional efforts underway to eliminate racial disparity in achievement levels of African American students. Equity is one of four strategic themes in our strategic plan. The plan meets a requirement of our MOU with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to deliver, in writing to the Equity Advisory Panel (EAP), an implementation plan that details, "the action steps which the District will take in order to accomplish the terms of the MOU." We view the completion of the plan as an opportunity to move beyond compliance to demonstrate for all stakeholders our commitment to reaching our desired outcomes for students.  We continue to finalize the plan with the EAP and expect to release a final plan to the public this summer. 
  • Implementation of Let's Talk! This interactive platform will streamline our Parent Hotline, Call Center calls and emails as well as all PPS social media chatter into one cohesive Dashboard. K12 Insight will provide onsite training of the 'Let's Talk!' platform and professional development on best practices in customer service. The platform will automatically assign ownership of all cases and issue alerts to the assigned staff, as well as alerting leadership with any significant concerns that may be arising. By housing all stakeholder communications in one centralized dashboard this will allow the District to enhance our customer service and to engage our community as a whole.
  • The 2nd Annual Summer Leadership Academy's theme is Removing Barriers to Advance Teaching and Learning. The goal of the Summer Leadership Academy is to utilize district talent as an intentional capacity building strategy to strengthen systemic implementation of research-based pedagogical practices all aimed at advancing teaching, learning, and student outcomes. The Leadership Academy will provide School Leadership teams with the opportunity to participate in an intense professional growth experience. 

While we're moving full steam ahead, we must recognize that we can't always rush progress. Consistent nurturing, investment and leadership are the key ingredients that will get our students where we know they can be, reaching their highest and greatest potential.


Dr. Anthony D. Hamlet
Superintendent of Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools
412-529-3600 (W)  |   412-622-3604 (F)  |superintendenthamlet@pghschools.org

Friday, April 14, 2017

Curling Trivia in Pittsburgh

Creating Literate Olympians Here!

Back in the day, I helped to start the Pittsburgh Curling Club. I wasn't around for long, but I was there at the outset. We should be curling on the South Side. 

In curling, the team that wins the game / match buys the first round of adult beverages. 




Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Letter to Mayor, Memorial Day

We often get a chance to huddle with the Mayor of Memorial Day as there is a little program down the corner at the monument at the corner of the park, corner of the school, and at the VFW. I don't think he showed up this year, but I had this letter to hand off to him.



Mark Rauterkus

Executive Head Coach

Bloomfield-Garfield Corp

PPS Obama Academy Swim & Water Polo Coach


108 South 12th Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203


412-298-3432

Mark@Rauterkus.com




City of Pittsburgh



Dear Mayor Peduto,


Hope you have a safe and enjoyable summer. Thanks for coming to the South Side.


Four requests:


See the attached draft poster for insights into our water polo activities for city kids this summer, thanks to the cooperation of Pittsburgh Public Schools with Summer Dreamers and Citiparks. We are holding morning and evening open practices at various pools. Please help to insure pools access for water polo coaching throughout the summer. The kids need coaching and a sustained program that is worthy of their devotion to make a real impact upon their lives.


Efforts with Digital Badges is going to be fantastic. Those not hired in 2015 should get to work with Digital Badges too. Please raise the bar for 2016 by encouraging future applicants a front row in the lottery-selection process if they earn five or more badges this summer.


In August, we'd love to host an All-City Sports Camp that includes a 'water polo festival' with a NCAA game on Saturday, September 5, 2015, (Labor Day Weekend) between W&J and Mercyhurst at Highland Park Pool. My aquatics plan and our city's sports-town legacy can come into focus to benefit wellness, public safety and volunteer efforts like never before. We need quality programs for the youth. With sports and recreation, Pittsburgh can cheer and say, “Come Live Over Here.” But this needs the awareness and support of the mayor, superintendent of schools. This summer we can prototye an exciting youth program that extends Learn & Earn, if you give me some support.



MR.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Citiparks letter to Mark


Assistant Director of Citiparks, Mike Radley, wrote to say "no thanks."

Citiparks Swim Meet should have swimmers who live in the city.

How would The Great Race go if only those in the race were the ones that ran at the Citiparks Rec Centers, and not elsewhere?

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Following in my dad's footsteps -- teacher letter from a former student.

To: Mark@Rauterkus.com

Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2003, 5:15 PM
Subject: Re: Hi Mark

Hi Mark:

Nice to hear from you. I take it your working with the school board also?
Hopefully following in your dads steps.

I don't have any real memories that stood out, but your dad, or as we use to call him, "Leo", behind his back of course, was a truly outstanding person and teacher, he a good teacher to have, the teachers of today could take a lesson from him.

Your dad had his hands full, he was a teacher at a volatile time, with many changes, busing just started but he and a select few articulated through it with no problem. I can remember your dad to this day, and I am 47, he use to walk around the class with his pipe, keeping his eye on me and Russell Simon and a few others, but it was just kid stuff. .

One teacher that taught at Swisshelm Park that will stick out in my mind was Mary Kay Ambrose, she was brutal, use to smack kids in the hand with a ruler when she got mad at them, and kids where allways getting sick in her class.
Do you remember Paul Pollack? James Wilson? Jack Eisley the Custodian?
'What about Ms. Purtell? Ms. Malloy? Ms. Lowy? Mr. Aber? Patrick Koch?
Swisshelm School had to be a good duty assignment for the teachers, it was like we were all family, I could not believe when my mom told me that they were tearing it down, I was in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas, it was tnflysad. -
After I got out of the Army, I worked for the school board, I was a Bus Aide, assigned to Washington Vocational, and did a brief tour at Glad Stone. I truly enjoyed the board but not as a Para Professional, they were good to work for.
I am currently working full time for the Port Authority of Allegheny County as a Bus Operator, and have a Private Detectives Business on the side, I am currently residing in West Deer Township (Russellton), which I just moved to last month after living in the city for my whole life.
l hope your dad is enjoying his retirement, he deserved it and that you hav e a good career, and if you should be working for the board now, I wish you luck, I have absolutely no confidence in your administration, your union will have its Work out out for them.
Take Care Mark and tell your dad i said, "Hi" bye hope to hear from you again.
Al Menanko

Friday, December 24, 1999

Exiting Cannon Mac

Letter to the coaches that I hired, when CM couldn't find anyone to coach. 


Letter from a student who was new to the sport. Thanks Shannon!


Thursday, August 06, 1998

Emails to those in Canonsburg

One quote:

I'm thinking that talking with you that you are really serious about coaching and using progressive ideas. Would you be happy coaching a medium-sized USS club using one pool?


 

Sunday, September 17, 1995

Partnerships with other publishers. Plans from SSS.

This plan was a big effort with the SSS. Sales reps were hired. Then this 50+ business plan went out via the mail. The other publishers were contacted based upon past interactions. Dozens of publishers came to consider the plans. 
All in all, the economic business conditions for sales to independent book stores were headed south. Bookstores were going out of business more and more. Printing costs spiked too. 

I was doing Amazon before Amazon was doing Amazon, sorta. The internet was just starting to get into gear. I had SportsReader.com, SportSurf.Net and Sandlot.com, among some other domains. FreeTeam.org too.