Cambridge Public Schools and the Cambridge Education Association recognize that educator input is vital to making informed decisions related to curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development. Educators play an active role in curriculum design and review teams and lead many professional development courses for their colleagues. We are establishing an Educator Advisory Group on Curriculum & Instruction, comprised of representatives from elementary/upper/high, from general/special education, and classroom teachers/specialists/coaches, that will be advisory to me in my role as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction for the purposes of looking at the system as a whole and providing input into my entry and strategic planning process.
Please see below for details about the purpose and scope of work for this group. To indicate your interest in being considered for the Educator Advisory Group on Curriculum & Instruction, please complete this form by the end of the day on Monday, February 27, 2017. Member selection will be made before the end of that week and our first meeting will be on Tuesday, March 7 at 3:30pm.
Thank you for considering this opportunity.
Kind regards,
Anda Adams and Dan Monahan
Educator Advisory Group on Curriculum & Instruction
Purpose: Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) and the Cambridge Education Association (CEA) recognize that educator input is vital to making informed decisions related to curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development. Educators play an active role in curriculum design and review teams and lead many professional development courses for their colleagues. This group is advisory to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction for the purposes of looking at the system as a whole and providing input as part of the Assistant Superintendent’s entry and strategic planning process.
Basis for Establishment: The Educator Advisory Group on Curriculum & Instruction is comprised of educator representatives from each education level (elementary, upper and high), from general and special education, and includes classroom teachers, specialists, and coaches. Members of the group will be decided by the assistant superintendent for curriculum & instruction and the president of the CEA. The group members will:
• bring to the assistant superintendent’s attention existing and emerging curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development issues expressed by educators in the school, level, or department they represent;
• collectively identify common needs and goals to help inform decision-making;
• facilitate communication between educators from different schools, levels, and departments; and
• serve as an advisory, not a decision-making body, that makes recommendations for opportunities for educator voice in curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development planning.
Plan of Work and Decision-Making Process: The advisory group will convene in 2017 and hold regular meetings to review curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development practices and examine questions such as:
• How do we enhance our curriculum in a way that is sustainable for educators?
• How do we support growth in instructional practice for educators?
• How do we develop a balanced assessment system that serves the needs of educators and students, as well as families and administrators?
• How can professional development be designed and delivered to support the above?
The advisory group will work from evidence in the research literature and professional experience to analyze specific programs and practices. The advisory group will make recommendations to the assistant superintendent about ways to ensure that curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development are in service of the Cambridge Public Schools’ vision that our schools are built on a foundation of academic excellence and committed to promoting an environment of social justice.
Meeting Dates: Members will need to be available from 3:30-5:00pm on the following meeting dates at the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School:
• March 7, 2017
• April 4, 2017
• April 25, 2017
• May 2, 2017
• June 6, 2017
Thereafter, it shall aim to meet three times each school year.
Members:
• JK-2 elementary classroom teacher
• 3-5 elementary classroom teacher
• Upper school core content teacher
• High school core content teacher
• Elementary specialist teacher
• Upper school specialist teacher
• High school specialist teacher
• Elementary level OSS teacher/specialist
• Upper school level OSS teacher/specialist
• High school level OSS teacher/specialist
• Building-level coach
• At-large representative
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