Today is the official kick-off of the KtO (Keystones to Opportunity) grant in the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District. This grant is a huge opportunity for this district by focusing on the one thing that drives my passion and fits very well with the mission of our district, which is “to provide a quality education and create a learning environment that engages all students in lifelong learning for an ever changing world”. A big question that came up the other day during discussions with teachers was “how is this grant any different from other grants?” Good question! Let me take a few lines to explain.
This grant differs from others grants that have been given throughout the state in many different ways, but I would like to highlight a couple glaring ones. A few years ago, a huge amount of money was put out in grants called Classrooms For the Future (CFF). The particular aim of this grant was to get computers in the hands of students to enhance 21st century learning skills. Professional development for the CFF grant was limited to getting teachers proficient with the computers so they could teach the students to become proficient as well. We all know that many students already had very good skills with computers, in fact, better than many of those trying to teach them. The downside of the CFF grant was that it took focus away from what is necessary for every student, the ability to read, comprehend and think critically. The CFF grant, in my humble opinion, did little to enhance those critical skills and in fact probably lessened progress toward them. Just having technology does not provide a high quality education that engages our students for life-long learning. Just being proficient with the programs on a computer does not make a student proficient in the skills of the 21st century. The core skills that will make students successful continue to be concentrated on literacy. The KtO grant can build upon our mission to provide that quality education by focusing on literacy as its foundation.
This KtO grant is all about literacy. Literacy is defined here as having the skill (or developing the skill) to be able to read, write, comprehend and thoroughly discuss the content with which we are working. A school that focuses on literacy puts a hold on memorization and instant recall. From what I know, the only place you are truly successful in life using the powers of instant recall is the game show Jeopardy. As adults, we use reading, writing and critical thinking skills every day. I have spoken in my previous blog to the need to read and think when learning new hobbies. I personally enjoy discussions with people when they are well informed and speak with authority about a subject. This KtO grant holds those skills as paramount to good education. It will provide teachers with the professional development to infuse literacy based practices into their instruction because literacy skills do not come naturally and need to be practiced every period of every day. The grant will help the district to purchase newer technologies to “assist” and support literacy content. By purchasing tablets and e-readers, students can explore content to become the authority on the topic being discussed and read and think about it in depth. Finally, this grant has a clear focus on gathering data to ensure that teachers are teaching with literacy as a focus and with student results as the evidence of growth. We have to have prove that we are doing this effective.
I would also like to clarify what my “passion” in education is all about and why I think this grant fits well with my belief system. I am a huge believer in the power and abilities within our children. I think there are unlocked talents with each and every one that walks down our halls. I say unlocked because in my estimation, some have difficulty reading and writing, and for sure, many have difficulty discussing with authority the content of what they read. I was a good reader. I thank my grandmother every day for emphasizing the need to read and God’s gift to me to have the ability to learn easily. My grandmother also had many in-depth discussions with me about everything from the Pirates, to raising chickens and planting gardens. Her favorite books were always the Reader’s Digest and of course the Bible. Many students today do not have that support system either at home or surprisingly, at school. Even if they are “good” readers, school is so focused on testing and covering content, we forget to take time to really discuss and build evidence for our belief systems and think critically about what we are reading about. I personally feel that it is a major component of my job here at ACV to stay focused on our mission of providing a quality education and doing it through the vision of literacy at its core.
I am very excited to be a part of seeing this grant through to its completion. I firmly believe it can provide our teachers with the tools they need to teach their content in a literacy-based environment and unlock the hidden talents and potential of our students. It can change the very nature of how we educate our students with lasting impact. Get ready to soar ACV Falcons! Remember - our KtO is kicking off tonight and I hope to see you all there.
