W‐JCC INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SUPERVISOR LEE WELCH NAMED WHRO’S 2010 HIGH SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Williamsburg, VA, March 10 – For his leadership in implementing W‐JCC’s Instructional Technology Standard (ITS) in all W‐JCC schools, thus bringing the Division’s schools solidly into 21st century learning methods, W‐JCC’s Supervisor for Instructional Technology and Media Services Lee Welch has been named WHRO/Consortium for Interactive Instruction (CII) High School Technology Administrator of the Year for 2010.

“Mr. Welch’s vision, support, and championing of the ITS project was critical to its success,” noted Gary S. Mathews, W‐JCC’s superintendent. “His team and their work with classroom teachers further ensured that this project was a true success with our students, which is evident in their engagement in the lessons that are now infused with these tools which they are so familiar with.”
Welch also played a key role in W‐JCC being awarded the Governor’s Award for Innovative Use of Technology in K‐12 in 2008. “[Mr. Welch has recognized] that the greatest impact on the use of instructional tools comes from putting the tools in the hands of the students, the wireless keyboard, Interwrite, and document camera,” noted WHRO’s website.

He is initiating several more projects that include “hand‐helds” for students and a server that allows teachers to easily create their own wikis, blogs and podcasts, all within the safety of the school Intranet.
The award recognizes outstanding administrators from CII member schools and divisions that have effectively increased the use of technology within their schools.

W-JCC teacher Mrs. Sally Karadeema was honored with the Inaugural CTE Teacher Showcase Award, for superior instruction innovations during the 2008-2009 school year by the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education.
The award was presented to Sally during the Annual CTE Conference in August. Mrs. Karadeema presented a unit lesson plan and a display for the Quilts of Valor program that she had designed, and implimented at Berkeley Middle School in our district. The program was designed to introduce students to the components of community service, careers possible through the FACS  curriculem, sewing basics,  and to the usage of technology. Mrs. Karadeema collaborated with the Peninsula Peacemakers Quilts Guild of Hampton Roads for the project, and plans to continue the program in her current seventh grade classes.

Principals of Norge, Rawls Byrd and Matthew Whaley elementary schools were on hand at Tuesday evening’s School Board meeting to receive an Excellence Award on behalf of their schools from the Virginia State Board of Education.  The Excellence Award is given to schools that exceed the Commonwealth’s accreditation standards and the minimum requirements of the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act for a minimum of two consecutive years. 

BERKELEY MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS PRESENT THREE-YEAR RESEARCH RESULTS AT NATIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

Berkeley Middle School 7th grade social studies teachers Tracey Jones and Monica Underwood Wednesday presented their work in making and using common assessments at the National Staff Development Council Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.   Also presenting with Ms. Jones and Ms. Underwood were Dr. Christopher Gareis, Associate Dean at William and Mary’s School of Education, and Charley Shrack, Social Studies Coordinator for W-JCC.
Ms. Jones and Ms. Underwood presented their work, conducted over the past three years, in creating highly valid and reliable classroom assessments using a “table of specifications” or “TOS.”  A TOS is a test-making  strategy that heightens the alignment between assessments and the learning goals they seek to measure.  This allows teachers to receive more accurate data about students’ performance, that they may adjust their teaching accordingly.  Ms. Jones and Ms. Underwood received their training in this method, along with their colleagues at BMS, as part of an ongoing professional development partnership with The College of William and Mary School of Education.
The teachers earned the right to present their work by applying for the privilege to do so to the National Staff Development Council.  During the rigorous screening process, they were required to demonstrate to the Council how their work aligned with their high standards for content, effectiveness in real-world schools, and whether it had a solid educational research base.  The proposal was judged to have met these standards, and thus they received the invitation to present at the conference.
The National Staff Development Council Annual Conference draws more than 3,500 school superintendents, administrators, and teachers from all 50 states as well as many countries overseas, and is aimed at promoting excellence in educator training and cutting-edge instructional practice.
“We enjoy top-flight professionals in W-JCC.  This work is but another worthwhile example of the kinds of things we’re learning and practicing,” said Superintendent Gary Mathews.

PHOTO:  From left: W-JCC Social Studies Coordinator Charley Shrack, William & Mary Associate Dean Dr. Christopher Gareis, Monica Underwood and Tracey Jones.

BRIGHAM LAMPERT PUBLISHES AP CLASSROOM GUIDE   

Williamsburg, May 28 – Jamestown High School AP English instructor Brigham Lampert recently published Advanced Placement Classroom: Romeo and Juliet as part of Prufrock Press’ new series of guides for teaching Shakespeare in Advanced Placement and Gifted classrooms. Mr. Lampert is one of only four instructors in the country, at either the secondary or collegiate level, asked to author a book in this series, which also includes Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Macbeth. Mr. Lampert stated: “This is the seventh work of guidance for teaching Shakespeare in the classroom that I have written, though it is by far the largest and most national. The others were written for William and Mary’s Center for Gifted Education.” Mr. Lampert is a National Board Certified teacher of English Language Arts and is Curriculum Leader for the English Department at Jamestown High School. He was nominated for the 2006 Disney Teacher Award for outstanding creativity in the classroom. He  received his B.A. in English from Haverford College and is presently pursuing his Ed.D. in curriculum leadership at the College of William and Mary, where he was awarded an Excellence in Gifted Education scholarship and received his Masters in Education.
Pictured: Jamestown High School AP English instructor Brigham Lampert published Advanced Placement Classroom: Romeo and Juliet as part of Prufrock Press’ new series for teaching Shakespeare in Advanced Placement and Gifted classrooms.

W-JCC SCHOOL DIVISION ANNOUNCES 2008 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Williamsburg, May 22 – Four veteran teachers who have consistently demonstrated creativity, rapport with students and colleagues, and extraordinary community service have been named as the W-JCC School Division’s Teachers of the Year for 2008 at a ceremony and reception hosted at TowneBank in New Town by the Williamsburg-James City County Education Foundation.
The Teachers of the Year for Elementary Schools are D.J. Montague Elementary School First Grade Teacher KELLY ANN KELLY and Stonehouse Elementary School Third Grade Teacher SARAH LICHTEL.
The Teacher of the Year for Middle Schools is Berkeley Middle School drama instructor MARCIA DiMATTIA.
The Teacher of the Year for High Schools is Lafayette High School learning disabilities/special education instructor DEBRA TODD. [MORE]