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November 18 Futures of Learning Summit
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TCAPS Tomorrow
Conversations
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September 13
BOE Presentation
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TCAPS Tomorrow
Committee Meeting
Schedule
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- January 19, 2011
- February 16, 2011
- March 16, 2011
- April 20, 2011
- May 18, 2011
- COMMITTEE ROSTER
- January 19, 2011
- February 16, 2011
- March 16, 2011
- April 20, 2011
- May 18, 2011
- COMMITTEE ROSTER
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TCAPS Tomorrow
Committee Meeting
Agendas / Minutes
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Go
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All TCAPS Schools to Host Mini Futures of Learning Summits in January
(updated 1-14-11)
Based on the success and conversations sparked at TCAPS' November Futures of Learning Summit, all 18 TCAPS schools hosted mini summits in January and February with their staff, students, and families to continue discussions on the four central questions of the TCAPS Tomorrow process:
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What do we think our children will need to be successful in the future?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
Click here to view a summary of these mini summit findings.
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All TCAPS Schools to Host Mini Futures of Learning Summits in January
(updated 1-14-11)
Based on the success and conversations sparked at TCAPS' November Futures of Learning Summit, all 18 TCAPS schools hosted mini summits in January and February with their staff, students, and families to continue discussions on the four central questions of the TCAPS Tomorrow process:
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What do we think our children will need to be successful in the future?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
Click here to view a summary of these mini summit findings.
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TCAPS Tomorrow – Reflecting on 2010
(updated December 17, 2010)
To continue to grow the great tradition of excellence that has been the characteristic of TCAPS, the Board of Education recognized the importance of a strategic plan that builds on our strongest assets while facing the truth of our biggest constraints to higher performance. With this in mind, the Board charged our Superintendent with developing a process to create a new strategic plan.
Superintendent Cousins, in accepting the charge, initiated multiple conversations with employees, parents, students, and community members to determine what the TCAPS Tomorrow strategic development process should look like. These conversations were helpful in understanding what worked and what did not work with TCAPS’ past planning efforts. Throughout the school year, Steve has also met with community members and staff and has listened to perspectives about what our school district believes will be necessary to prepare our students for success in a rapidly changing global community.
These conversations were valuable in developing the TCAPS Tomorrow process and timeline, which was approved by the Board on September 27, 2010. View Timeline
**********
Conversations to extend our collective thinking
In November, over 150 participants comprised of employees, parents, students, and community members attended TCAPS’ Futures of Learning Summit where they heard perspectives from our local community leaders and also worked in small groups to continue discussions about what education needs to look like in order to prepare our students for the future.
- View Steve Cousin’s Presentation: “This is Not Your Father’s Schoolhouse”
- View Keynote Speaker Dr. Barry Fishman’s Presentation: “Changing the Game: Re-Framing Education to Motivate Teaching and Learning”
- View the Panel Discussion focusing on the 4 essential questions:
(Read participant questions generated during panel discussion)
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow
- What do we think children will need to be successful in the future?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
TCAPS Tomorrow – Looking to 2011
(updated December 17, 2010)
Three big processes will begin in the New Year: 1) based on the success of the Futures of Learning Summit TCAPS’ schools will plan and host a mini-summit, as an individual school community or in conjunction with a neighboring school, 2) surveying of our employees, students, parents, and community members to glean their perspectives on the four central questions and 3) the TCAPS Tomorrow committee will begin meeting monthly January through April.
January Mini-Summits
During the month of January, schools will work with their District Advisory Council (DAC) representatives to plan and host a 90-minute mini-summit. The summits may be with individual school communities or may be hosted in conjunction with a neighboring school community. Participants will be engaged to discuss and share their perspectives on the four central questions. Each site will document their summit and share their findings at a February District School Improvement Team (DSIT) meeting.
Surveys
Survey development for gathering input from employees, students, parents, and community members is underway and will continue into mid- January. TCAPS is working with Public Sector Consultants to utilize the feedback gathered at the Futures of Learning Summit in developing the survey instruments. Methods of collecting data will include telephone, online, and paper surveys as well as focus group explorations. Surveying of all stakeholder group surveys should be completed by the end of March.
TCAPS Tomorrow Committee
The TCAPS Tomorrow Committee consists of 42 members including staff, community members, parents, and administrators. The Committee will work through a data crosswalk of school data, school improvement plans, Grand ReImagine goals, and stakeholder perspectives gathered to produce a final draft of TCAPS’ strategic plan. The first Committee meeting is set for Wednesday, January 19th.
As the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues, we promise to keep you informed – every facet of planning will be kept as visible as possible and will be posted on our Web site: www.tcaps.net/tcapstomorrow.
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TCAPS Tomorrow – Reflecting on 2010
(updated December 17, 2010)
To continue to grow the great tradition of excellence that has been the characteristic of TCAPS, the Board of Education recognized the importance of a strategic plan that builds on our strongest assets while facing the truth of our biggest constraints to higher performance. With this in mind, the Board charged our Superintendent with developing a process to create a new strategic plan.
Superintendent Cousins, in accepting the charge, initiated multiple conversations with employees, parents, students, and community members to determine what the TCAPS Tomorrow strategic development process should look like. These conversations were helpful in understanding what worked and what did not work with TCAPS’ past planning efforts. Throughout the school year, Steve has also met with community members and staff and has listened to perspectives about what our school district believes will be necessary to prepare our students for success in a rapidly changing global community.
These conversations were valuable in developing the TCAPS Tomorrow process and timeline, which was approved by the Board on September 27, 2010. View Timeline
**********
Conversations to extend our collective thinking
In November, over 150 participants comprised of employees, parents, students, and community members attended TCAPS’ Futures of Learning Summit where they heard perspectives from our local community leaders and also worked in small groups to continue discussions about what education needs to look like in order to prepare our students for the future.
- View Steve Cousin’s Presentation: “This is Not Your Father’s Schoolhouse”
- View Keynote Speaker Dr. Barry Fishman’s Presentation: “Changing the Game: Re-Framing Education to Motivate Teaching and Learning”
- View the Panel Discussion focusing on the 4 essential questions:
(Read participant questions generated during panel discussion)
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow
- What do we think children will need to be successful in the future?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
TCAPS Tomorrow – Looking to 2011
(updated December 17, 2010)
Three big processes will begin in the New Year: 1) based on the success of the Futures of Learning Summit TCAPS’ schools will plan and host a mini-summit, as an individual school community or in conjunction with a neighboring school, 2) surveying of our employees, students, parents, and community members to glean their perspectives on the four central questions and 3) the TCAPS Tomorrow committee will begin meeting monthly January through April.
January Mini-Summits
During the month of January, schools will work with their District Advisory Council (DAC) representatives to plan and host a 90-minute mini-summit. The summits may be with individual school communities or may be hosted in conjunction with a neighboring school community. Participants will be engaged to discuss and share their perspectives on the four central questions. Each site will document their summit and share their findings at a February District School Improvement Team (DSIT) meeting.
Surveys
Survey development for gathering input from employees, students, parents, and community members is underway and will continue into mid- January. TCAPS is working with Public Sector Consultants to utilize the feedback gathered at the Futures of Learning Summit in developing the survey instruments. Methods of collecting data will include telephone, online, and paper surveys as well as focus group explorations. Surveying of all stakeholder group surveys should be completed by the end of March.
TCAPS Tomorrow Committee
The TCAPS Tomorrow Committee consists of 42 members including staff, community members, parents, and administrators. The Committee will work through a data crosswalk of school data, school improvement plans, Grand ReImagine goals, and stakeholder perspectives gathered to produce a final draft of TCAPS’ strategic plan. The first Committee meeting is set for Wednesday, January 19th.
As the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues, we promise to keep you informed – every facet of planning will be kept as visible as possible and will be posted on our Web site: www.tcaps.net/tcapstomorrow.
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Futures of Learning Summit
Updated November 23, 2010
On November 18, 2010, TCAPS hosted a Futures of Learning Summit to launch our district strategic planning process. Over 150 participants joined in presentations about the future of education and discussions that engaged employees, parents, students, and our community in thinking about our vision and goals for preparing learners with 21st Century skills.
Dr. Barry Fishman, Keynote Speaker and Associate Professor of Learning Technologies at the University of Michigan, shared a moving presentation on "Changing the Game: Re-Framing Education to Motivate Learning and Teaching." Panel discussions and small workgroup sessions focused on four central questions:
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow?
- What do we think our children will need to be successful in the future?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
Participants generated many questions to ponder as they listened to our regional leaders discuss their views on the four questions above. After the panel discussion, participants broke into small groups to further discuss shaping 21st Century learning opportunities for TCAPS. Feedback from each workgroups' perspectives were gathered and will aid in shaping future discussions as the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues. See the links on the left side of this page for questions and comments raised at the Summit.
In the past few months, I have talked with community members and staff and have listened to perspectives about what our school district collectively believes will be necessary to prepare our students for success in a rapidly changing global community. These conversations helped to shape the strategic planning process for TCAPS Tomorrow.
As the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues beyond the November 18th summit, we promise to keep the community informed. Every facet of our planning will be kept as visibleas possible. We invite you to share your ideas in upcoming online surveys that will be announced. TCAPS will gather input through community and stakeholder surveys and focus groups. All information will be posted here on our Web site.
We have an exciting and energizing learning journey to share in TCAPS Tomorrow!
Steve
In dreams, begins responsibility, (W. B, Yeats) |
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Futures of Learning Summit
Updated November 23, 2010
On November 18, 2010, TCAPS hosted a Futures of Learning Summit to launch our district strategic planning process. Over 150 participants joined in presentations about the future of education and discussions that engaged employees, parents, students, and our community in thinking about our vision and goals for preparing learners with 21st Century skills.
Dr. Barry Fishman, Keynote Speaker and Associate Professor of Learning Technologies at the University of Michigan, shared a moving presentation on "Changing the Game: Re-Framing Education to Motivate Learning and Teaching." Panel discussions and small workgroup sessions focused on four central questions:
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow?
- What do we think our children will need to be successful in the future?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
Participants generated many questions to ponder as they listened to our regional leaders discuss their views on the four questions above. After the panel discussion, participants broke into small groups to further discuss shaping 21st Century learning opportunities for TCAPS. Feedback from each workgroups' perspectives were gathered and will aid in shaping future discussions as the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues. See the links on the left side of this page for questions and comments raised at the Summit.
In the past few months, I have talked with community members and staff and have listened to perspectives about what our school district collectively believes will be necessary to prepare our students for success in a rapidly changing global community. These conversations helped to shape the strategic planning process for TCAPS Tomorrow.
As the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues beyond the November 18th summit, we promise to keep the community informed. Every facet of our planning will be kept as visibleas possible. We invite you to share your ideas in upcoming online surveys that will be announced. TCAPS will gather input through community and stakeholder surveys and focus groups. All information will be posted here on our Web site.
We have an exciting and energizing learning journey to share in TCAPS Tomorrow!
Steve
In dreams, begins responsibility, (W. B, Yeats) |
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This Is Not Your Father’s Schoolhouse!
October 29, 2010 Update
TCAPS Tomorrow planning efforts are moving ahead, as we continue to explore what we value about TCAPS today and what opportunities for where we are in educating our children do we need to passionately pursue. Superintendent Cousins recently shared his perspectives on education today and tomorrow with the Traverse City Economic Club in a presentation he titled, Not Your Father’s Schoolhouse.
(Excerpts from Steve's Presentation)
In understanding where we need to go, it is important to understand where we have been. The schoolhouse that our fathers (and we as current educators) attended focused on serving the needs of an industrialized/manufacturing economy. There was a greater need for unskilled workers and only a small need for skilled workers. Many high school students could find good paying jobs in factories and could plan to work in the same place for years. Teaching styles tended to mimic factories as schools delivered instruction in batch production—teaching and learning occurred by grouping students together by age, without focusing on how students learned or their needs. Maximizing efficiencies were necessary as we experienced a population growth and the ability to scale up and provide replication to large numbers of students became even more important.
So in this schoolhouse of yesteryear, what did we do when improvements were needed? We focused on standardization in curriculum, instruction, and assessment and brought it to all students, across all schools in every city. The basic skills that were needed for the current economy at that time were delivered on a large scale – a one size fits all approach.
So where do we need to be? It’s important to recognize that there has been a fundamental economic shift. We are no longer living in an industrialized economy. A demand for more skilled workers and fewer unskilled workers requires that we look at the way we are preparing our students for success. We need to look at ways to customize teaching and learning to what our individual students need in order to succeed. We need to be innovative, agile, and responsive.
This is no easy task. But together we can make it happen. TCAPS Tomorrow is all about making that happen. We look forward to gaining new perspectives during the November 18th Futures of Learning Summit. The Summit will bring together many community leaders, educators, students, and parents to look at 21st Century learning and what TCAPS must do to prepare our children for tomorrow.
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This Is Not Your Father’s Schoolhouse!
October 29, 2010 Update
TCAPS Tomorrow planning efforts are moving ahead, as we continue to explore what we value about TCAPS today and what opportunities for where we are in educating our children do we need to passionately pursue. Superintendent Cousins recently shared his perspectives on education today and tomorrow with the Traverse City Economic Club in a presentation he titled, Not Your Father’s Schoolhouse.
(Excerpts from Steve's Presentation)
In understanding where we need to go, it is important to understand where we have been. The schoolhouse that our fathers (and we as current educators) attended focused on serving the needs of an industrialized/manufacturing economy. There was a greater need for unskilled workers and only a small need for skilled workers. Many high school students could find good paying jobs in factories and could plan to work in the same place for years. Teaching styles tended to mimic factories as schools delivered instruction in batch production—teaching and learning occurred by grouping students together by age, without focusing on how students learned or their needs. Maximizing efficiencies were necessary as we experienced a population growth and the ability to scale up and provide replication to large numbers of students became even more important.
So in this schoolhouse of yesteryear, what did we do when improvements were needed? We focused on standardization in curriculum, instruction, and assessment and brought it to all students, across all schools in every city. The basic skills that were needed for the current economy at that time were delivered on a large scale – a one size fits all approach.
So where do we need to be? It’s important to recognize that there has been a fundamental economic shift. We are no longer living in an industrialized economy. A demand for more skilled workers and fewer unskilled workers requires that we look at the way we are preparing our students for success. We need to look at ways to customize teaching and learning to what our individual students need in order to succeed. We need to be innovative, agile, and responsive.
This is no easy task. But together we can make it happen. TCAPS Tomorrow is all about making that happen. We look forward to gaining new perspectives during the November 18th Futures of Learning Summit. The Summit will bring together many community leaders, educators, students, and parents to look at 21st Century learning and what TCAPS must do to prepare our children for tomorrow.
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What is All the Talk About TCAPS Tomorrow?
At the Sept 27th School Board meeting, I presented our planning process, called TCAPS Tomorrow. The plan and timeline that I outlined to the Board will be used to update the District's strategic plan. The TCAPS Tomorrow process is structured to capture and engage the ideas and energy of our community-at-large, and all staff, parents, and students.
Highlights of the planning process include a Future Scan and Launch phase. To help us look beyond ourselves and into the future, TCAPS will:
- Convene a Futures of Learning Summit on November 18th. The Summit will involve TCAPS participants as well as community leaders and a keynote futurist. Plenary and panel discussions are planned to help extend our thinking around some key questions:
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow?
- What do we think our children will need to be successful in the future?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
- Assemble a TCAPS Tomorrow Committee to ensure that we engage stakeholder groups in collective thinking, generate questions for surveys and data gathering, and serve as a filter for the development of a final vision, mission, and goals that will focus on 21st Century skills for learning.
Throughout the 2009-2010 school year, TCAPS' School Board, Executive Team, and District Advisory Council engaged in conversations to think about the future of education for our students. Several Board Retreats were held to review our District Vision and Mission and to look at TCAPS’ possibilities. Our School Board charged me as Superintendent with leading a strategic planning process that will engage our employees, parents, students, and community – in creating a shared vision and goals for TCAPS Tomorrow.
In the past few months, I have talked with many community members and staff and have listened to perspectives about what our school district collectively believes will be necessary to prepare our students for success in a rapidly changing global community. As the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues, I promise to keep you informed in a number of ways:
- Keeping every facet of our planning as visible as possible
- All information will be posted on our Web site: www.tcaps.net/tcapstomorrow
- Providing you with a staff survey in the near future to share your ideas
- Staff and employee association representatives will be invited to take part in the Futures of Learning Summit
- Conduits for two-way personal and electronic discussions and updates are in the process of being developed to keep us all connected and interacting around these exciting opportunities. These conduits will have links on our Web site.
As we plan TCAPS Tomorrow, I am aware of the many difficult challenges we are facing today – including a continued bleak budget outlook for school funding from the State of Michigan. Our planning environment is full of obstacles - that’s for sure. But TCAPS Tomorrow will give everyone throughout our district a renewed focus, vision, and the momentum to shape all we do – as we prepare learners for success before their kindergarten years and beyond high school.
I ask you to “stay tuned” and “be involved” throughout the planning for TCAPS Tomorrow! 
Steve Cousins, Superintendent
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What is All the Talk About TCAPS Tomorrow?
At the Sept 27th School Board meeting, I presented our planning process, called TCAPS Tomorrow. The plan and timeline that I outlined to the Board will be used to update the District's strategic plan. The TCAPS Tomorrow process is structured to capture and engage the ideas and energy of our community-at-large, and all staff, parents, and students.
Highlights of the planning process include a Future Scan and Launch phase. To help us look beyond ourselves and into the future, TCAPS will:
- Convene a Futures of Learning Summit on November 18th. The Summit will involve TCAPS participants as well as community leaders and a keynote futurist. Plenary and panel discussions are planned to help extend our thinking around some key questions:
- What do we value about TCAPS today?
- What does TCAPS need to do to prepare our children for tomorrow?
- What do we think our children will need to be successful in the future?
- What do our schools need to offer as a regional asset?
- Assemble a TCAPS Tomorrow Committee to ensure that we engage stakeholder groups in collective thinking, generate questions for surveys and data gathering, and serve as a filter for the development of a final vision, mission, and goals that will focus on 21st Century skills for learning.
Throughout the 2009-2010 school year, TCAPS' School Board, Executive Team, and District Advisory Council engaged in conversations to think about the future of education for our students. Several Board Retreats were held to review our District Vision and Mission and to look at TCAPS’ possibilities. Our School Board charged me as Superintendent with leading a strategic planning process that will engage our employees, parents, students, and community – in creating a shared vision and goals for TCAPS Tomorrow.
In the past few months, I have talked with many community members and staff and have listened to perspectives about what our school district collectively believes will be necessary to prepare our students for success in a rapidly changing global community. As the TCAPS Tomorrow process continues, I promise to keep you informed in a number of ways:
- Keeping every facet of our planning as visible as possible
- All information will be posted on our Web site: www.tcaps.net/tcapstomorrow
- Providing you with a staff survey in the near future to share your ideas
- Staff and employee association representatives will be invited to take part in the Futures of Learning Summit
- Conduits for two-way personal and electronic discussions and updates are in the process of being developed to keep us all connected and interacting around these exciting opportunities. These conduits will have links on our Web site.
As we plan TCAPS Tomorrow, I am aware of the many difficult challenges we are facing today – including a continued bleak budget outlook for school funding from the State of Michigan. Our planning environment is full of obstacles - that’s for sure. But TCAPS Tomorrow will give everyone throughout our district a renewed focus, vision, and the momentum to shape all we do – as we prepare learners for success before their kindergarten years and beyond high school.
I ask you to “stay tuned” and “be involved” throughout the planning for TCAPS Tomorrow!
Steve Cousins, Superintendent
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