School Transformation
- All students have a unique capacity to learn.
- Risk taking, effort, and perseverance lead to excellence and innovation.
- Individuals learn and work best in a safe, nurturing environment.
How do we spend our time?
Our operational focus can be described in a 5 / 3 model. There are 5 Design Principles that we build opportunities, experiences, and programs around for both students and adults; and we have 3 Projects that are in constant development.
Design Principles
- Connected Experiences: This includes intentional efforts to connect students to the broader world and their futures. This ranges from our CTE (Career Technical Education) program, Internships, and future-focused field trips.
- Adult Efficacy: We know that innovative and future-forward learning experiences for students only succeed when adults have the understanding and confidence about these things.
- Personal Learning Plan: As part of the VUSD Graduation Requirements starting with the Class of 2029, all students leave 8th Grade with a sketch plan of a path through 2 years post-graduation that is flexible and adaptive in nature and reviewed annually. Students will all know and understand their Strengths and Interests and why these matter.
- Creative Culture & Leadership: The word, “culture” comes from the Latin word, cultura. It is an agricultural term that refers to the need to cultivate, tend and care for the land in order to have a good harvest. We have a commitment to helping support Principals and Department Heads with tending to the organizational culture of their sites, while also building understanding around creativity and growing leadership capacity.
- Pedagogy of the Future: As we look towards building future-ready students, we know that core academics are the foundation of students being able to persist towards their aspirations in a rapidly changing economy. We help support the growth of deeper learning practices in classrooms to help boost student engagement, and content mastery, while developing the following competencies necessary to succeed in any of their futures: creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, citizenship, and character.
Projects
- Performance Framework: The Performance Framework has taken different shapes over the last decade and seeks to provide the structure and protocols for students to be able to demonstrate what they know and can do beyond traditional grading and standardized testing measures.
- Schools of Choice: Born from the VUSD Magnet School Committee, the effort towards Schools of Choice is to develop increased awareness and understanding of all the schools in VUSD and supporting the developing of the fantastic programs that they offer for students.
- Blueprint/LCAP: The VUSD Blueprint (aka: House of Learning) helps to organize the priorities and resources necessary to achieve the Framework for the Future. The Blueprint then informs the LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan) development process. To do all of this, multiple means of community input are taken and coded for themes. Community input includes: student groups from each school, Superintendent’s Council for Innovative Learning, Community Forums (in person and virtual), PTA, employee feedback sessions, short and long version surveys, and multiple feedback sessions and workshops with the VUSD School Board Trustees.
Meet the Team
Part of the strength of our team is in our composition and agility. While only having three full-time team members, the rest of the team works in multiple divisions within the EE&I Department. This allows for a broader understanding and connection to different aspects of the work being done across the organization, and helps ensure coherence with the work. We have a fantastic team worth celebrating!
Eric Chagala,
Director of School Transformation
Robert Crowell,
Coordinator College & Career Pathways
Rick McCurdy,
TOSA: School Transformation
Taresa McSpadden,
TOSA: School Transformation + Teaching & Learning
Enrique Villalobos,
Staff Secretary II
Craig Gastauer,
TOSA: School Transformation + Teaching & Learning
Penny Capra,
Administrative Secretary