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 Dr.
Rich Newman, Wallace Foundation Program Manager, visted Eugene February
28, 2006, to get a first hand view of grant efforts in action. He
visited César Chávez Elementary School and Kelly Middle
Schools where a sample of noteworthy efforts are under way. A luncheon
meeting was held with a wide cross-section of stakeholders who had
the opportunity to tell Dr. Newman about the what's and why's of their
involvement in the grant, and their determination to establish sustainability
of ongoing efforts to raise achievement for all students. At the end
of the visit, the Eugene LEAD Team met with Dr. Newman to answer questions,
and in particular to try to explain the articulated collaborative
leadership style established in Eugene, which makes reform efforts
effective.
 Stakeholder
luncheon with Dr. Rich Newman:
Included
in the lunch meeting were: Rob Larson, Oregon State Department
of Education; Bobby Green, Lane Co. Commissioner; Kay Mehas,
4J Wallace Program Director; Dave Frohnmayer, President of
the University of Oregon; George Russell, Eugene 4J School
District Superintendent.
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Susan
Castillo, Oregon State Department of Education Superintendent,
tells Wallace Program Director, Rich Newman, that the relationships
between public and private institutions created by working
on common grant goals has helped at the state level, and they
are committeed to continuing the work. Dr. Newman commented
that it is unusual to see such a variety of stakeholders involved.
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Sue
Feldman (EDC representative), Tom Henry (Deputy Superintendent),
Sally Huling (César Chávez Elementary School
Principal), and Susan Castillo listen as participants explain
their involvement in the grant efforts. At the bottom of this
page* is the EDC draft explaining the 4J emerging vision and
theory for action for the K-12 Learning Communities.
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Dr.
Frohnmayer expresses his belief that relationships should
have multi-dimensions, and not just be a one time event but
lead to more robust relationships. The UofO is interested
in further expanding with leadership in work force development.
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Beth
Gerot, Eugene 4J School Board Chair, listens as Dave Hauser,
the Executive Director of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce,
discusses the middle school reading mentorships they have
developed between the schools and the business community.
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Tim
Rochholz, Kelly Middle Schools Principal, reinforces the value
of the mentorships. Gerry Tindal, University of Oregon College
of Education researcher, states that the synergy created between
institutions in coordinating efforts has been the key to levering
reform.
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LEAD Team meeting with Dr. Rich Newman:
Randy
Bernstein, South Eugene High School Principal, explains how
once the need was seen by the staff, goals of incremental
significant change over time were accepted. Alan Chinn, Cal
Young Middle School Assistant Principal, talks about collaboration
and cross level consultation. Karen Hardin, Awbrey Park Elementary
Principal, adds that closisng the achievement gap for kids
has become the guiding element in making decisions in the
buildings.
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Wallace
Program Director, Rich Newman, and EDC representative, Sue
Feldman, express interest in lessons learned in Eugene which
might "travel well" to other states, and were especially
interested in trying to understand the leadership style here.
The Wallace Foundation would like to have a continued relationship
with the Eugene School District, a desire which is reciprocated.
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Dennis
Biggerstaff, Churchill High School Principal, discusses the
role of principals as instructional leaders who also have
management duties, and the power of the K-12 Regions in developing
focused inservices. Laurie Henry, Kennedy Middle School Principal,
talks about building capacity in the building as well as articulation
within the K-12 Learning Communities.
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Morley
Hegstrom, Roosevelt Middle School Principal, discusses the
role of scaffolding and networking in this stage of 2nd order
change. All participants nodded agreement that a mandated
top-down change would not work well in our district, while
building a shared vision of the need and how we can meet it
generates a cross-level exchange of information, ideas, and
a synergy of efforts aimed at achievement for all students.
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*EDC
draft of the emerging vision and theory of action for K-12
Learning Communities. Click graphic for PDF download.
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Tom
Henry, Deputy Superintendent & Chief Academic Officer,
listens while Larry Brown, Wallace Program Coordinator Assistant,
records significant statements by participants for later reflection
and expansion as we track and develop our efforts at district-wide
change which is articulated with efforts in the community,
training institutions, and within the Oregon State Department
of Education.
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Eugene School District 4J