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The theme music from the movie Mission Impossible filled the hall, while more than
150 educators at the 1999 Alliance Schools Summer Institute received the familiar challenge: your
mission should you decide to accept it….
There was no easing into the intensive three days of planning and problem solving. This institute began with the hard questions: Do we really believe all students can learn? And if we say we believe that, do our actions and teaching practices suggest otherwise? Do we think that some students can only learn basic algebra or general math, while others can learn calculus? During the opening session, participants experienced many of the ways people can be sorted or categorized based on assumptions and limited information. The exercises and activities were fun, but the underlying message was poignant and engaged this group of educators committed to improving their math and science programs. Participants left the opening session with a question: If all students can learn and it’s not happening now, what do I have to change in my classroom, in my school, and in myself to make it happen? This question became the starting point for all of theplanning and problem-solving sessions. Institute designers and staff focused on providing participants with the resources they needed to develop their action plans. In addition to content workshops that focused on leadership, equity, and working with data, the institute designers gathered a group of skilled facilitators to assist during the team planning and problem-solving sessions. The facilitators met at the close of each long day to identify team needs and to make sure that they could meet those needs the following day. |
The teams left the summer institute feeling empowered and ready to accept their mission. Sustaining
that feeling of overwhelming energy and faith in what can be accomplished, however, is difficult
during the school year. That is why the Alliance staff work so hard to stay connected. Through site
visits, phone, and e-mail conversations, the staff are helping each team direct energy and resources
towards accomplishing their goals.
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