Want+a+Math+Coach?

Arbor Heights was provided with a math coach during the second half of the 2006-2007 school year. Jane Osterman was a tremendous resource and asset to the school. Her primary task was helping teachers by observing their interactions with students and suggesting alternative teaching methods. She did pull students out and do some baseline testing and was very accessible to parents with questions and concerns. We lost her to maternity leave but were told we would get another coach this year. The district is now backtracking, apparently giving coaches only to “Title 1” schools (for ‘what is this?’ http://www.seattleschools.org/area/lap/questions.htm ). Our relatively low percentage of free/reduced lunch qualifying students takes us out of this category. We are, however a “Flight II School” (“a what???” : http://www.seattleschools.org/area/instructserv/flight-schools/welcome.dxml ) And with that status are supposed to be receiving extra resources to “close the achievement gap”. Listed here are people at the district who may have the ability to provide Arbor Heights with a math coach. I encourage you to contact them in a respectful way with the goal of partnership for the children in mind. I've included a brief note that you can copy and paste to make it easier for you to do so. Feel free to write your own or modify this one. Please cc: ccoram@seattleschool.org so that our principal is aware of your requests. Often times parents have far more power in pushing through change than do school employees.

At the bottom of the page is information on becoming trained as a tutor at no cost. Thank you for your work in making Arbor Heights the best school it can be!

Dear ___ I am a parent at Arbor Heights Elementary School and I am concerned that we have not been provided with a math coach for the 2007-2008 school year. We had a coach for the second half of last year and she was a tremendous asset in our school. Why do we not have one this year? Our math WASL scores lag the district as well as the state averages and this is unacceptable to us. For years you have been working toward a unified curriculum and the approval of the "Everyday Math" curriculum was not a surprise to you. It seems irresponsible to put this new curriculum in place (at a huge expense) without the added resource of a coach in the building. Teacher training is great, but the ability to watch the teacher in action is of greater value. We are not a Title I school, but we are identified as a Flight II school and according to your web page, we are "entered into a shared commitment to close the achievement gap." Your stated strategies are to identify schools in greatest need and provide those schools with concentrated resources to make the changes needed to close the achievement gap. I feel very strongly that among those resources should be a math coach and that coach should be in the building at least half-time. If there is something that our PTSA can do to make this happen, please let us know. Sincerely,

Contacts: Rosalind Wise – Mathematics Curriculum Program Manager rwise@seattleschools.org

Kyung Chung School Coach - Assessment 252-0777 kychung@seattleschools.org

Steve Hopkins Elementary Coach 252-0782 sthopkins@seattleschools.org

Remy Poon Elementary Coach 252-0066 rtpoon@seattleschools.org Pat Sander – "Flight School" Coordinator (we are one) psander@seattleschools.org Carla Santorno – Chief Educational Officer (assistant) Aleta Paraghamian 206.252.0180 Dr. Goodloe-Johnson District Superintendent superintendent@seattleschools.org. School Board Reps Sally Soriano District I (206) 252-0052 sally.soriano@seattleschools.org Committees:- Student Learning Committee Darlene Flynn District II (206) 252-0031 darlene.flynn@seattleschools.org Committees: Student Learning Committee Irene Stewart District VI-(Arbor Heights) (206) 933-5338 irene.stewart@seattleschools.org Our representative on the board

Brita Butler-Wall District III (206) 729-3202 brita.butler-wall@seattleschools.org Committees: - Student Learning Committee, Chair

ALL-CITY TUTOR TRAINING Innovative Tools for Effective Tutoring Time to brush up or recharge your tutoring skills at the Seattle Tutoring Coalition’s All-City Tutor Training. This FREE training is designed to meet the core needs of all tutors. Participants will learn new and innovative techniques through a variety of interactive, hands-on workshops. Tutors, parents, teachers or anyone with an interest in improving the lives of our youth are welcome to attend. Each participant will receive: • Expert training & useful handouts • A chance to attend three seminars • Refreshments Registration • Register by phone 206.622.0998, or e-mail ACTT@WorldVision.org, or arrive early on the day of training to register in-person. • Parents are welcome to attend! DATES: November 9, 2007 6-9 pm February 9, 2008 8:45 am-1:05 pm

Training held at Aki Kurose MS 3928 S GRAHAM ST Seattle, 98118 (206) 252-7700