THEME-BASED BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

• MSAP Stimulus to Achieving Results - General Johnnie Wilson Middle School Adventures in Interactive Simulation Programming Magnet combines a rigorous academic curriculum with the fun and excitement of learning about Real Time Interactive Simulations (RTIS).  This magnet program provides grounding in the Science, Mathematics and Technology concepts and skills that can open doors of opportunities for STEM careers and the video gaming industry. Garfield Elementary Adventures in Science Magnet offers students inquiry based science lessons combined with technology enhanced instruction. Students complete 17 modules as they move from kindergarten through 5th Grade. By combining the Inquiry-based approach to teaching, fieldtrips and activities and interactions with professionals in the science fields, the students truly experience “Adventures in Science”.
   
• Recruiting Challenges for Schools in Meeting Goals - Introduction to the Magnet Schools in the San Mateo-Foster City School District:  Addressing the successes and challenges for the Magnet Schools.Tools for Marketing and Recruiting: 
                 §  Magnet Fair (K-8th grade):  Coordinating and Advertising
                 §  Kindergarten Nights
                 §  Choices Brochure - description of all Magnet Schools.
                 §  Quarterly Magnet News Letter
                 §  Website and Videos 
           §  Press Releases and Use of Media to promote Schools 
           §  Communications with current and incoming parents 
           §  Application and Lottery Used For Magnet School Assignments 
           §  Communication with Principals for enrollment 

• Defining Infusing Technology Into the Classroom - Re-Imaging learning: Innovative thinking that explores what educators need to address the challenges of successful infusion of technology across the curriculum. 
   
• International Baccalaureate: Why Students Succeed and What We Can Learn from the IB Model! - The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a rigorous, challenging high school curriculum.  It is offered either as a program within a comprehensive high school or as a magnet school theme.   This presentation will focus on the IB curriculum as a model for student and school success.  Some schools may choose not to formally offer the DP, but certainly there are ways in which educators can learn from the successes of IB schools (magnet or others).  Learn how your school can “raise the bar” of expectations, and help your students to meet the expectations you set for them.
  
• Project Lead the Way (PLTW) @ San Jose High Academy - The session will cover the implementation of the Project Lead The Way Engineering Pathway at San Jose High over the last three years. Pathway Description:
  
  "Project Lead The Way (PLTW) prepares students to be the most innovative and productive leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and to make meaningful, pioneering contributions to our world. PLTW partners with middle schools and high schools to provide a rigorous, relevant STEM education. Through an engaging, hands-on curriculum, PLTW encourages the development of problem-solving skills, critical thinking, creative and innovative reasoning, and a love of learning. The PLTW middle and high school STEM education programs give students a brighter future by providing them with a foundation and proven path to college and career success in STEM-related fields. STEM education is at the heart of today’s high-tech, high-skill global economy. For America to remain economically competitive, our next generation of leaders must develop the critical-reasoning and problem-solving skills that will help make them the most productive in the world. PLTW sparks the ingenuity, creativity, and innovation within all of our students." 
  
• Children’s Discovery Museum - The premier San Jose destination, where children can go to learn, interact, play and discover about the world around them. 
  
• Tech Museum of Innovation - A truly unique museum that inspires innovation in everyone through exhibits and interactions.  Features several different themed galleries and an IMAX theater.  
  
• 21 Point Marketing Program - San Jose Unified has developed a 21 Point Marketing Plan which highlights proven key processes and tools required to implement a successful school-based 21 point marketing plan with suggested activities and timelines. Participants will learn how to develop a culture to support school marketing including how to: develop parent advocacy groups, target mailings, access local media, power of user friendly SARCS, informational packets, effective Web page development, facilitating public forums, supporting student marketing clubs and other strategies.
  
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) - The Bayside STEM Academy theme embraces Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Design Thinking. The combination is a unique offering for middle school students and presents STEM curriculum in a new way. The presentation will include: 
           1. How does one define and develop an apt (effective) STEM program  for middle school students?   
           2. What is design thinking for schools? How (can) does STEM/Design Thinking affect administrators, 
                teachers, and students?
           3. How do we determine if STEM is helping students learn?
           4. Is STEM/Design Thinking a curriculum or a philosophy?

• Arts & Academics: What’s the relationship? - Cheryl Bodger, Director of Schools in ABC USD and former principal of Ross Academy of Creative and Media Arts will discuss how this magnet school incorporated the arts to raise academic achievement.  Ross Academy became a California Distinguished School in 2007.
  
• Career Readiness for Graduates: Using the MicroSociety Model - Tioga Middle School in Fresno California will be sharing their hands on career program. Tioga uses MicroSociety as a foundation for their Career focus. Students run one of 30 businesses and ventures. These real life business ventures and government agency activities are long-term, authentic, and interconnected. They inspire success. Micro helps children find meaning and purpose in their education and prepare them to be discerning students as they proceed through higher education and ultimately into adulthood as productive, contributing citizens and skilled innovators in a global economy.
  
• Connecting Instruction That Works with Two-Way Immersion Programs - This year River Glen School celebrates its 25^th year of excellence in Two-Way Immersion.  This workshop will focus on the guiding principles of a successful two-way immersion program in a time of high stakes accountability.
  
• How to be Legislative Savvy to Promote Your Program! - This session will focus on strategies that make magnet schools successful by involving local, state, and federal legislators, the strategies currently in place to increase federal MSAP appropriations, and how to become a “Messenger for Magnet Schools” and promote your magnet program online and within your local community.
   
• Museum of Art - The Silicon Valley’s leading contemporary visual arts center.  The largest visual arts provider in Santa Clara County focuses mainly on work of a modern era.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY SESSIONS:

• Leading Effective Schools for 21^st Century Learning - The presenters will provide a brief overview of how the District has used magnet schools to address the 21st century learning framework. In addition, they will discuss how their tiered approach to leadership development has prepared their leaders to meet the 21st century learning standards. 
  

• Performance Management for Strengthening Magnet Programs - Chicago Public Schools will share their experience in utilizing a District-wide Performance Management initiative to strengthen and sustain magnet school programs in a variety of thematic areas. 
  

• Creating a Collaborative Community - Creating a community based on cooperation and collaboration is critical to the success of magnet schools - of any educational environment.  The speakers will present about strategies to create such climate across leadership, the school and classroom. 
  

• Managing Continuous Improvement - Through the implementation of a comprehensive K-12 data warehouse, San Jose USD has developed data-driven cultures on its campuses. As use of data to inform instructional decisions has taken hold in the district, student achievement has steadily increased. Combining collaboratively developed custom reports and data protocols to guide teacher and administrator analyses of student progress, schools are able to pinpoint student needs and intervene early if needed. As a result, schools are able to maintain strategic, accurate and ongoing analysis of school-wide, grade level, class and student progress by subgroups throughout the school year, and to continually adjust and differentiate instruction to meet students’ needs. With ownership of their data, teachers are invested in the solutions generated from their own collaborative inquiry. Access to more than 2,700 attributes in the data warehouse supports program innovation and allows for in-depth evaluation of programs and processes. As a result of these data-focused conversations, 8 of the district's Program Improvement elementary schools have now exited PI. This presentation discusses the creation of and requirements for data-driven cultures at district, school and classroom levels.  
  

• Managing Change through Purposeful Evaluation of Magnet Programs - Participants will gain perspective regarding the history of magnet schools and the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant. Models will be presented that show how a large urban district infuses MSAP grant guidelines into all magnet programs to maximize resources, use evaluation to promote change, impact student achievement, and ultimately transform schools.
  

• Principal Evaluation & Accountability - This presentation will focus on the principal’s accountability for magnet schools.  Mr. Wright will discuss principal evaluation and program evaluation and their intersection with magnet program maintenance and development.  He will provide explicit examples of principal evaluation and program evaluation as they relate to magnet schools. 

 

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