See new TAG team’s slides from the TAGAC meeting

Missed last week's TAGAC (TAG Advisory Council) meeting? Our new TAG Administrator, Erika Gillis, has posted slides from her presentation. These include introductions to all the new TAG TOSAs (teachers on special assignment) and details about the group's long- and short-term goals. Download the PDF here.

New TAG team takes the reins: Update from TAGAC meeting 9/16/14

The district TAG team has been significantly expanded. Last year the team consisted of one administrator (who was not just in charge of TAG but also “curriculum, assessment and instruction”) one instructional support person, and one administrative assistant. This Tuesday, five people greeted parents at the TAGAC meeting—and the new administrative assistant wasn’t even there! Here is the line up:

•  Erika Gillis, Senior Director Office of Teaching Innovation
•  Heather Egan, Administrative Secretary
•  Cathy Daley, TAG TOSA for Cleveland, Lincoln & Jefferson clusters (Chief Joseph, Faubion, King, Ockley Green, Vernon, Woodlawn)
•  Kathy Gaitán, Madison, TAG TOSA for Roosevelt & Wilson clusters
•  Tessalie Schulte, TAG TOSA for Franklin, Grant & Jefferson (Beach, Boise/Elliot, Jefferson HS) clusters
•  Matthew Marchyok, TAG Educational Technology  

The TOSAs (“teachers on special assignment”) will provide school support, coach teachers, attend parent meetings, and help with instructional planning to meet student needs. Notably, there are two bilingual (Spanish speaking) TOSAs and a technology specialist.

Erika Gillis said that the TAG team had moved under her direction because of “the need for greater personalization of learning.” She is a former teacher and administrator for Chicago Public Schools. Most recently, she worked as Executive Director, Pedagogy and Curriculum for Catapult Learning, an education company that provides data-based instructional services and professional development. See her LinkedIn profile here.

Short-term Goals for TAG Department

The team talked about a number of short-term goals they have for the school year, including:

• Revamping the PPS TAG Web site 
• Developing a TAG resource Web site for teachers
• Starting a TAG newsletter
• Developing digital pedagogical solutions: The technology specialist, Matthew Marchyok, said he wants to make sure teachers know how to use digital resources effectively in class. He will be leading teacher development in the use of, for example, Khan Academy’s common-core aligned tools for educators to track student progress. He also said they would also be doing pilot programs with some fee-based educational tools like BrainPop.

Long-term Goals for TAG Department

The TAG team’s long-term goals include teacher training about the needs of TAG learners, as well as updating and aligning TAG policies. Areas of focus will include flexible grouping, practices that foster complex thinking, and data analysis.

The team has reviewed the TAGAC’s Recommended Framework for Improved TAG Services in PPS and will present an update to the school board about TAG, along with the TAGAC members who helped develop the proposal.

Important Dates

Upcoming test dates mentioned during the meeting:

• October: Universal 2nd grade TAG screening takes place.
• November 3: TAG Identification Process Forms are due to school. Parents or teacher can nominate students.
• December through February: Testing scheduled for non-2nd-graders who have been nominated for TAG. School will notify families of test dates one to two weeks in advance.

PPS will send letters to families after receiving schools’ recommendations. Schools are required to make recommendations roughly two weeks after receiving scores.

Seventeen schools will pilot online TAG testing this year with an eye to moving all testing online.

It’s Time for TAG Instructional Plans

You have the right to request a TAG Instructional Plan for your child and now is the time to do it! Fill out the TAG Instructional Plan Request form and give it to your teacher. Past plans have included, for example:

• Special projects that increase the depth of instruction—these might be related to class curriculum or student interests
• Extensions, such as individual and small-group reports, off of the Passport Club geography program
• Substitution of Khan Academy work for some math homework or as an extension in class
• Participation in NANOWRIMO’s Young Writers Program in November

Your teacher and TAG coordinator will have ideas specific to your student. TAG work should take place inside the classroom as much as possible, instead of simply adding more work for the student.

You might also want to discuss single subject acceleration with your teacher.

Advisory Committee recommendations & new TAG leadership at PPS

A draft of the TAG Advisory Committee's recommendations is available at this link .

The new Administrator of the TAG Department is Erika Gillis, Senior Director Office of Teaching Innovation.

If you are interested in helping out with TAGAC or attending a meeting, check out this page  - http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/tag/ .

Anyone is welcome at TAGAC meetings; you don't need to be a member to attend. They can be a great way to connect with other families and impact TAG policy at the school, district and state level.

Hope the school year is off to a fantastic start!