Faculty and Staff Orientation Programs: Gear UP!, Boot Camp and Student

Orientation

Foundation Collegiate AcademyWelcome Packet

2011

Welcome LetterApril 2011

Dear Founding Faculty or Staff Member,

Welcome to Foundation Collegiate Academy!

You have joined an extremely talented and hardworking team of individuals who are determined to prove that we can close the achievement and opportunity gaps that exist in the city of Trenton and that we can transform the lives of urban students and their families. We are ecstatic that you have chosen to be a part of this mission.

In just a few short months we will embark on a rewarding journey. Through high-quality instruction, a culture of high expectations, a belief that all students can excel and a “whatever it takes” attitude, we will diligently pursue our mission – to ensure that all students secure the academic knowledge and skills to excel in college and beyond. We know that over the next year or so you will make indelible contributions in the classroom, in the community and on our team as a founding high school team member.

Being a founder requires a heightened sense of urgency, dedication, passion and pursuit for perfection. As we inaugurate Foundation Collegiate Academy, you have the unique privilege of starting something wonderful – a college preparatory school that will enable students to succeed. Imagine starting something that will exist and excel in decades to come!

We are humbled by the commitment you are making to our students and their families and look forward to collaborating with you on this courageous expansion. We are looking forward to seeking you in May!

Best,

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Nicole FalconerHigh School Principal

Our TeamLast year Foundation Academy hired approximately 3% of

applicants.

Congratulations!We think you are pretty special!

Jill Spiegel – Founding High School English Teacher Jill Spiegel, our colleague for the past three school years, will be joining the high school team.  In her time with Foundation Academy to date, Jill has taught 6th, 7th and 8th Grade English-Language Arts.  The lion’s share of Foundation Collegiate Academy’s Freshmen and Sophomores will have been taught by Jill, and thus Jill will be expected to carry and represent the very best lessons learned from our middle school to the new high school team.  Prior to joining Foundation Academy, Jill student taught in Baltimore County, MD.  She received her B.S. Magna Cum Laude in English and Secondary Education from Towson University.

Gloria Thompson Rosario – Founding High School Spanish Teacher Gloria Thompson-Rosario joins our team as a veteran New Jersey Spanish Teacher.  She has taught at D.U.E. Season Charter School in Camden, Northern Burlington County Regional High School, the State of New Jersey-Office of Education, Memorial Middle School in Willingboro and the Burlington School District.  Gloria is the co-founder of a charter school that is scheduled to open in Willingboro in the fall of 2012.  She earned her B.A. in Puerto Rico and Hispanic Caribbean Studies from Rutgers University.

Inessa Shor – Founding College AdvisorInessa Shor will serve as our Founding College Counselor.  In this role, she will serve as the “tip of the spear” in ensuring that we achieve our mission of securing access to college for all of our students.  She will develop our knowledge base of colleges, shape and execute the college search, application and selection process for all of our students and their families, and do whatever it takes to secure acceptances for all of our students at the universities and colleges that are most appropriate for each one of our students.  Inessa is a first-generation college graduate, receiving her B.A. in Psychology Magna Cum Laude from Rutgers University and her M.A. in

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School Counseling from the College of New Jersey.  She has had experience working as a Student Assistance Counselor at Allentown High School (NJ), a Therapist at The Lester A. Drenk Behavioral Health Center (NJ) and other mental health, counseling and youth development work.

Stephen Ryan – Founding High School Math TeacherStephen Ryan joins our team as a career changer entering full time teaching with Foundation Academy.  For the past year, Stephen has participated in the Philadelphia Teacher Residency program at Benjamin Franklin High School.  Prior to entering teaching, Stephen had a successful career in the business world, working in marketing, sales and engineering.  Stephen received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science and Mechanics from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a Master of Business Administration from the Smurfit Graduate School of Business at University College Dublin in Ireland and will shortly receive his Master of Science in Education, with a concentration in Secondary Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.

Marlene Rice – String Orchestra Director (Middle and High School Music Teacher)Marlene Rice is the String Orchestra Director and teaches Music at Foundation Academy. A professional violinist with experience in major orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States, Ms. Rice was previously Program Director and Teaching Artist for The Noel Pointer Music Foundation. In addition, Ms. Rice has served as a string instructor in the New York City and Detroit Public Schools. Ms. Rice received a B.S. from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Music from the University of Michigan

Nicole Falconer – Founding High School PrincipalNicole A. Falconer is the Principal of Foundation Collegiate Academy. Ms. Falconer served as a History Lead Teacher and Coordinator of Students Affairs at Frederick Douglass Academy VII in Brooklyn. She has also served as a Teacher Selector for the New York City Teaching Fellowship prior to joining Foundation Academy. Ms. Falconer received an Excellence in Teaching Citation from the New York State Assembly in 2007 and again in 2010 for her students achievement in the classroom and on standardized assessments. Ms. Falconer holds a B.A. in History from Yale University, a Masters in the Science of Teaching from Pace University and an Advanced Masters in Education from the Teachers College at Columbia University. Nicole is currently working on a doctoral degree in Organization and Leadership.

Ronald Brady – Head of School and Co-FounderRonald C. Brady is the Head of School and a Co-Founder of Foundation Academy. Mr. Brady previously served as the K-8 and Middle School Principal

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at Trenton Community Charter School, the Director of the Career Learning Academies and Smaller Schools (CLASS) Project in the Paterson, NJ Public Schools, Director of the Office of State Operated School Districts in the New Jersey Department of Education, Assistant to the Chancellor of the New York City Board of Education and as a Research Associate at The Edison Project. Mr. Brady is a Harry S Truman Scholar and holds an MPA from Princeton University and a BA magna cum laude in History and Government from Bowdoin College. Mr. Brady serves on the Bowdoin College Board of Trustees.

Pending Foundation Academy Board of Trustees approval, we will announce the Founding Science Teacher and the Founding Special Educator after the

May and June Board Meetings.

Our Rationale

The Rationale behind Our Orientation Programs

Preparing to teach, lead and work in a “No Excuses” college-preparatory requires a full understanding of what “No Excuses” schools are and what habits effective faculty and staff members demonstrate. The “No Excuses” philosophy posits rigorous academics and high behavior expectations. All faculty and staff members hold themselves and each other accountable to a set of high student, teammate and school community expectations. We make the consciousness effort to allow “no excuses” from ourselves and from each other in order to ensure our students are successful.

Our Orientation Programs, beginning with Gear Up! are a series of opportunities to meet teammates, learn about the Foundation Academy way and to be introduced – and later immersed – into a philosophy of education that is driven by our mission and our core values.

The Goals for Our Orientation Programs

By the end of our Orientation Programs, faculty and staff members will have:

₊ Actively begun to develop relationships with their teammates in the middle and high school.

₊ Participated in team-building exercises that build collaboration and conflict resolution.

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₊ Established collaborative norms, rituals and routines that will govern our team, our students and our community throughout the school year.

₊ Delved deeply into and discuss attitudes, habits and expectations of rigor.

₊ Reviewed the school calendar and become familiar with school systems.

₊ Been introduced to professional learning tools and techniques to improve student learning through teacher planning and implementation.

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Gear Up!Gear Up! events and activities are Pre-Boot Camp sessions designed to build

camaraderie, introduce new faculty and staff to Foundation Academy and to set the groundwork for the intense professional learning and planning that will begin in

Boot Camp.

Event 1 – A Visit to North Star Academy (Optional)Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 7:30 am

When the co-founders of Foundation Academy began their search for an educational institution that could serve as an exemplar for the school they would create, they looked to North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey. North Star Academy – a blue ribbon school of excellence – is one of New Jersey’s first public “No Excuses” college-preparatory charter schools. North Star stands as a beacon of organizational and academic success.

We would like each founding faculty member to see our exemplar school – North Star Academy – in action. As such we have arranged for a school tour and visit, followed by a team lunch to discuss our observations and ambitions for Foundation Collegiate Academy on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Please RSVP to Nicole Falconer (nfalconer@foundationacademy.org) within 48 hours of receiving this Welcome Packet. This event is optional. Professional attire is required.

Event 2 – Gear Up! Part 1Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 9:30 am

Please join us for team-building and professional learning exercises at Foundation Academy’s middle school campus. Plan to remain with the team from 9:30 am to 2:30. Additional information is forth coming. Business casual attire is recommended.

Event 3 – A Visit to Foundation Academy Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 12:45 pm

Please join us for an afternoon visit to the middle school. During this event faculty and staff members will observe eighth-grade classes, middle school norms and systems (e.g. hallway transitions and detention), meet with the Student Affairs Administrator, meet with the High School Principal, and participate in the middle school faculty meeting. Participants will have th opportunity to observe and discuss best practices with our Upper Middle School staff. This event will include with a Welcome Dinner sponsored by the Foundation Academy Board of Trustees. Board Members will be formally introduced to the Foundation Collegiate Academy faculty and staff at this time. Professional attire is required.

Event 4 – Gear Up! Part 2Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 9:30 am

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Please join us for professional learning exercises at Foundation Academy’s middle school campus. Plan to remain with the team from 9:30 am to 3:30. Additional information is forth coming. Business casual attire is recommended.

Professional Learning Tasks

Required Reading Material and Tasks

Sunday, May 15: Please complete the Teacher Questionnaire and Next

Steps associated with your job description. The Teacher Questionnaire

is attached. You have or will be sent your job description and next steps in a separate email from Nicole Falconer.

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Sunday, May 22: Please complete Inside Urban Charter Schools and prepare your thoughts for our group

discussion.

Sunday, June 26: Please complete The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and prepare your thoughts for our

group discussions.

Sunday, July 24: Please complete Teach Like a Champion and Tools

for Teaching and prepare for an intensive and rewarding professional learning experience. Please read the

following sections:

Teach Like a Champion (Part One Techniques 2, 6, 18, 22, 28 – 35, 36, 38, 40, and 42; Part Two Chapter 10 and 12)

Tools for Teaching (pages 133 – 241, 309 – 319)

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For your convenience, we have purchased the resources listed above on your behalf. We will mail and/or distribute them in time for

you to meet each deadline.Highly Recommended Reading Materials

Sweating the Small StuffBy David Whitman

Teach Like Your Hair is On Fire

By Rafe Esquith

Understanding by Design

Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe

Driven by DataBy Paul Bambrick -

Santoyo

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Our Anchor Text

Teach Like a Champion

Description: Doug Lemov offers 49 essential teaching techniques that – when effectively executed – ensures teaching excellence and high student achievement. This is a must-have resource. It is replete with concrete, specific and actionable classroom teaching and planning strategies.

Habits of Excellence: We have chosen seven techniques to concentrate on in the inaugural year of Foundation Collegiate Academy.

TLAC TechniquePage Numb

erFocus

Right is Right 35 Setting High Academic ExpectationsBegin with the End 57 Planning that Ensures Academic

AchievementChecking for Understanding

97 Structuring and Delivering Your Lessons

Cold Call 111 Engaging Your Students100 Percent 167 Setting and Maintaining High Behavioral

ExpectationsStrong Voice 182 Setting and Maintaining High Behavioral

Expectations

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No Warnings 199 Setting and Maintaining High Behavioral Expectations

Personal Goal: At the beginning of the school year we will ask each faculty member to select two of the seven techniques to focus keenly on. We advise faculty members to select the two techniques they believe to be among the most challenging and will be most critical for teaching and learning excellence.

School wide TLAC SMARTgoal: By the close of the 2011 – 2012 school year, Foundation Collegiate Academy faculty members will effectively execute the chosen seven TLAC techniques with 80% or higher proficiency.

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Foundation Academy Charter School Teacher SurveyBASICS

Name Address

Birthday

PROFESSIONAL GOALS & EXPERIENCEWhy did you decide to go into education?

What really pushes your RED button?

What do you hope to accomplish this year?

What are your ultimate professional goals?

SHARED UNDERSTANDINGSWhat are your expectations for our private interactions?

What have supervisors done in the past to make you feel valued?

What have supervisors done in the past to make feel devalued?

How do you like to be recognized?

How might you be misperceived?

How do you best processinformation? Writing? Reading? Talking?How do you prefer to communicate? Receive feedback?If you are having a bad day/are stressed, what can I do to support you?

STRENGTHS AND AREAS FOR GROWTH

Please order these key skills from STRONGEST to WEAKEST:

o Meeting Participationo Influencing and Motivating Otherso Critical Thinkingo Working Well with Otherso Communication Skillso External Relationship Buildingo Organizationo Managemento Meeting Facilitation

Please order these core values from your STRONGEST to your WEAKEST:

o Be a Good Teammateo Model the Core Values (Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Caring)o Ensure Student Learningo Work Hardo Sweat the Small Stuff

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PLEASE MOVE THE CHECK MARK TO THE APPROPRIATE BOX:

STRONG STRENGT

H

STRENGTH

NEUTRAL WEAKNESS

STRONG WEAKNESS

Creating organizational systems and structures

Maintaining organizational systems and structures

Facilitating groups

Starting with the end in mind

Collaborating

Stepping back to assess the effectiveness of what I’m doing, reflecting on progress, and establishing an action plan for improvement

Modeling what I want others to do and be

Giving critical feedback

Using technology

Generating Team Spirit

Completing tasks well in advance

Being proactive; moving complaints quickly into solutions

Being reliable

Accessing resources instead of reinventing the wheel

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PLEASE MOVE THE CHECK MARK TO THE APPROPRIATE BOX:

STRONG STRENGT

H

STRENGTH

NEUTRAL WEAKNESS

STRONG WEAKNESS

Accepting responsibility instead of making excuses

Holding myself to high expectations

Holding others to high expectations

Which ONE are you most comfortable helping others with?

Other Things I Should Know About YouFavorite: Snack School

SupplyBook Genre

Food Color CandyFavorite inspiring quotation?

FREE SPACE: Feel free to add anything else that will give me a better idea of who you are personally or professionally.

Thank you for taking the time to fill this out!

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Important DatesBoot Camp July 25, 2011 – August 12, 2011

We will be able to:1. Build a school culture that is mission-driven, focused on student

achievement, rigorous and congenial. 2. Develop a purposeful and coherent set of organizational systems that

are consistent across the school community and are focused on our school mission.

3. Develop a curricular program that pushes each student to become a critical thinker, polished writer, problem-solver and innovator.

Student Orientation at Princeton University August 10 – 12, 2011

Students will leave orientation with the following experiences: 1. Meet Foundation Collegiate Academy faculty 2. Begin bonding with Academic Advisor and advisory cohort.3. Bond with classmates.4. Internalize Foundation Collegiate Academy values.5. Begin forming academic habits that are essential to student success.6. Experience the rigor of high school academics.7. Demonstrate social norms for class settings, large group meetings,

meal times, and campus guest etiquette.8. Become excited about entering high school and preparing for college.9. Introduce discussion style courses. 10. Have fun.

Summer SessionAugust 15 - 26, 2011

During these two-week half-day sessions, the entire school community will focus on implementing the goals and systems identified in Boot Camp.

First Full Day of SchoolAugust 29, 2011Let the hard work begin!