First Pittsburgh Promise class to graduate this spring
Monday, April 30th, 2012April 29, 2012
Archive for April, 2012
Linda Lane: Looking at Pittsburgh Public Schools’ future down at the students’ level
Friday, April 27th, 2012April 20, 2012
Obama Academy athletes won offices in State civics function last weekend
Friday, April 27th, 2012April 26, 2012
Top Teachers: Students will thank these Pittsburgh educators now, not just later
Thursday, April 26th, 2012April 20, 2012
Board Directs Superintendent to Work with PFT to Develop Improved Teacher Furlough Process
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012PITTSBURGH, April 25, 2012—Faced with an unprecedented number of teacher furloughs in its 100 year history, the Board has charged Superintendent Linda Lane to work with the leadership of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) to develop an improved teacher furlough process that considers factors beyond seniority. The resolution, which passed at this evening’s Board Legislative Meeting (8 to1), encourages the development of a teacher furlough process that considers the growing body of evidence around teacher effectiveness, as well as the disproportionate impact seniority-based furloughs may have on the District’s most vulnerable schools. The Superintendent must update the Board, in June 2012, regarding the ability of the District and PFT to reach an agreement that puts kids first and meets the District’s August 1st deadline for staffing schools in time for the 2012-13 school year. (more…)
Pittsburgh Carrick’s The Future is Mine Demonstrates the Importance of Civic Duty
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012On April 16th, Pittsburgh Carrick’s, The Future is Mine (TFIM) team made a point of helping the community not just in cleaning up or recycling, but also expanding the communities knowledge on multiple topics of history. Team members made sure local Vets and active soldiers knew that they were not forgotten. The team’s objective this year was to inform the school and community about the importance of our civic duties. (more…)
Changing the Classroom | Putting a number on teachers’ value not an easy task
Monday, April 23rd, 2012April 23, 2012
Pittsburgh Brashear Students and Staff Take A Vow of Silence
Friday, April 20th, 2012More than 250 Pittsburgh Brshear students, teachers and staff took part in the National Day of Silence on April 20th. The school’s Gay-Straight Alliance organized its first successful Day of Silence by having students sign up at lunches to not speak for the entire day. The participants represented students nation-wide who have been bullied, killed or have committed suicide because of their sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or because they were perceived by their peers as being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
Over 8,000 schools across the country take part in the Day of Silence and Pittsburgh Brashear was very proud of the turnout they had for their first time taking part in the Day of Silence.
2012-13 Career Ladder Candidates Advance to Selection Days
Thursday, April 19th, 2012The Interview Days for this year’s Career Ladder selection process concluded on Thursday March 8th. Each of the 198 candidates who applied for a position also completed an interview.
The 114 Career Ladder candidates who advanced from the Interview Days are now in the final stage of the selection process, the classroom observation, which concludes April 27th.
Career Ladder offers are slated to be extended to candidates who meet a performance threshold based on the interview, the classroom observation, and a teacher’s value-added where available, in mid-May.
Career Ladder roles are one of the District’s key strategies for placing highly-effective teachers in front of our highest needs students. Recognizing the challenges we face in the upcoming staffing season due to budget constraints, we remain committed to ensuring our neediest students have access to the resources most critical to their lifelong success: effective teachers.
Take the 3rd Annual Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey April 27-May 25
Thursday, April 19th, 2012Congratulations Pittsburgh educators! Last year, among schools nationwide participating in the Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey, the final response rate for PPS was the highest at 93%.
Our goal this year is 100% participation!
Over the past few years, we have seen first-hand how capturing input from every teacher and school-based professional leads to growth and change at the school and District-level.
By participating in the annual Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey, teachers and staff have collectively created tools and enhanced systems to be more effective and improve student outcomes.
Not only are school-based teams utilizing last year’s survey results to create and implement action plans at a school-level, but the following steps have been taken at the District level.
- Collection of Best Practices highlighting expertise of staff across the District regarding strategies and resources being used to address areas of focus identified in the Action Plans.
- TLE Website showcasing best practices, encouraging collaboration among TLE Liaisons, and providing easy access to TLE-related resources, such as Action Plans and survey results. (Note: This site is currently in development and for PPS staff only.)
- DREAM Behavior Expectations Pilot providing the opportunity for District schools to utilize common, positive expectations for all students and staff.
- Creation of Student Support Services Guide informing all staff about school-based and District-wide resources available to assist students.
For more information regarding this year’s survey, please reach out to your school’s Teaching and Learning Environment Liaison. You may also visit the Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey website by clicking here.