WVUSD: 2019/2020 Year-End Results
The CTE Advisory Committee met twice this year and included high school deans, a director
from Educational Services, the director of our Child Care program, and business partners. The
CTE Advisory Committee took a field trip to both high schools to observe programs.
Science teachers, in meetings facilitated by Educational Services, successfully piloted science
textbooks and made recommendations to District administration for K-8 and biology textbook
program adoptions. Chemistry and physics teachers preferred to continue piloting into the next
school year.
A successful Parent Symposium was held, on the Walnut High School campus, in September
2019. The keynote was author Maureen Healy who presented key strategies from her published
book, The Emotionally Healthy Child. Hundreds of parents attended sessions provided by
nationally known authors and speakers, as well as WVUSD teachers from all levels. Topics
included SEL strategies for parents, college admissions tips and myths, social media safety, and
many others.
Professional Development
Professional development to assist teachers in supporting English Language Learners (ELLs)
took place for each grade level. Principals, assistant principals, deans, elementary learning
specialists, and Cabinet members were trained in state testing and monitoring requirements for
ELLs, as well as the components of Project Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) and
Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP), during a Principals’ Professional
Development Meeting. At the elementary and middle school levels, teachers were trained in
Project GLAD by our own teacher-trainers. At the high school level, the ELD coordinator
provided SIOP training to the majority of high school teachers across all subject areas. The
SIOP training was provided in advance of ELL progress monitoring, which will be required by
the state in 2020/2021. Additionally, bilingual/bicultural instructional aides were trained in and
implemented the use of Thinking Maps for ELLs during language acquisition support.
Best practice share-outs (“Teacher Infomercials”) were provided at the elementary level, after
school, so teachers could share their favorite and most effective strategies with other teachers.
Author Kristine Mraz provided staff training on “Growth Mindset” for teachers from several
elementary sites. This was a well-received training with requests for further opportunities to
learn from Ms. Mraz who co-authored Kids First from Day One; A Mindset for Learning;
Purposeful Play’; Smarter Charts; and Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies.
Professional development for preschool teachers on Creative Curriculum (preschool curriculum)
implementation continued this year.
WVUSD tech coaches continued providing Google and Microsoft Certification Training for
certificated staff.
14