Technical Support Team Meeting Atlanta, GA
January 8-9, 2013
Members Present: Peggy Haveard (AL), Novelette Seroyer (AL), Christine Deines (CO), Ray Melecio (FL), Jorge Echegaray (FL), Kelsey Williams (ID), Brenda Pessin (IL), John Farrell (KS), Marlene Willis (KS), Frank Crossman (KY), Emily Hoffman (MA), Kathleen Bibus (MN), Taylor Dearman (MS), Dee Condon (NE), Barbie Patch (NH), Danielle Anderson-Thomas (NJ), Michael Maye (NY), Sonja Williams (NC), Karen Watson (PA), Bruce Wright (SC), Jessica Castaneda (TN), Erin Shea (VT), Bob Lynch (NPC), Sabrina Godinez (GA), Omar Lopez (GA) and Tracie Kalic (SOSOSY).
Tracie shared with the TST that SOSOSY is negotiating the goals/objectives and performance measures with OME. She is working with the lead state and Susan Duron to update this information. As soon as OME has approved them, Tracie will update the group and the State Steering Team.
Tracie led the group through a team norming activity. The goal of the activity is to determine team norms that will enable the group to continue to work effectively and efficiently.
• How can we ensure the following for TST members (both new and returning members):
– Allow participants to have honest discussions
– Ensure everyone on the team participates
– Ensure everyone is heard
– Ensure appropriate communication The team selected three norms.
All TST members will
Agenda Day 1
Goals and Objectives of SOSOSY Update TST Norms Activity ACReS and CIG Collaboration
Work Group Selection
Work Group focus time and action planning Working Lunch: Networking Session—
Purpose of Technical Support Team (TST) and Expectations and Responsibilities of TST Members
Questions from states Q and A session
1. Be fully committed to the work and will demonstrate this commitment by meeting agreed upon deadlines, participating/attending meetings and calls until outcomes/goals are fully met.
2. Leave each meeting with tangible products/achievements synthesizing our meeting outcomes.
3. Use included reflection time to promote spontaneous, creative discussion ACReS and CIG Collaboration
• Bob Lynch discussed the new course materials entitled Academic Career Readiness Skills ACReS) developed at the request of Kansas. Kansas intends to offer this course for credit. It will include:
– Unit 1: Read, Write, Now
– Unit 2: Two Plus You
– Unit 3: Reading for Fun and Understanding
– Unit 4: Financial Literacy
– Unit 5: Life Skills
– Unit 6: Degrees Open Doors to Success
– Unit Tests
It will be available in English and Spanish (translation is in process). The materials will be available on the SOSOSY website. SOSOSY states will be asked to be part of a pilot of these materials. More information on the pilot will be forthcoming.
Bob also discussed the ongoing collaboration among the four funded CIGs. He also discussed the possibility of working with the INeT CIG on establishing a portal for Plazas Communitarias. Tracie discussed the TST work groups and asked the TST for feedback in regard to expectations for each work group.
• Curriculum and Material Development
• Technology
• Training
• Assessment
• Mentoring
Tracie also discussed the interconnectivity of the groups and noted that each work group will have a lead assigned. The work group leads will work with Tracie to ensure all work is
TST members were asked to sign up for specific work groups. Each work group was given an action plan to complete.
The TST members also discussed expectations of work groups:
Curriculum and Material Development: Continuing development of in process materials. Work on developing lessons plans using current or in process materials. Work on making the
materials more user-friendly. Develop topic briefs/highlight briefs.
Technology: Look at current use of instructional technology. How can service providers utilize technology more effectively? How can states share their use of technology? Differentiated instruction? Professional development?
Training: Expand current materials for SOSOSY trainers. Look at ways to provide ongoing support for trainers. What modules need updated? Develop tip sheet for facilitation. How can fidelity be ensured with the training materials? Also seek feedback on what is working.
Assessment: Tracie reminded the TST of the objective: 25% more OSY that participate in SOSOSY instructional services will demonstrate a 20% gain between pre/post on content-based assessments. The group discussed working with the current mini lessons and the development of more standardized assessments on the mini lessons. The work group will look at developing a simple process for collecting data. How will the pilot be run? The TST also discussed larger issues with assessment: how can we look at the whole system to include ESL assessment, academic assessment and content assessment.
Mentoring: Observe and assess state capacity to deliver services to OSY. Tracie asked for input from state directors about establishing a SOSOSY Mentoring program. Eight states responded, and Tracie will share this data with the work group. How will states be supported? What are their needs? Should this be a regionally based network? The group discussed the idea of a self- assessment.
Work group selections were made. The work groups were asked to work on their action plans. Meeting adjourned at 5 pm.
The work groups shared their action plans and received feedback from the TST. Curriculum Work Group:
Working on drafting and finalizing legal, healthy house, and parenting mini lessons. They also asked for volunteers to demonstrate how to teach a mini lesson. VT and NH volunteered for this. The work group also asked for feedback/ideas on topic briefs (Deferred Action, changes to GED with consultation from HEP/CAMP, Scholarship and financial aid, and grading systems from other countries.
Assessment Work Group:
Discussed developing a system to collect and hold assessment results. The group will update the SOSOSY Educational Resource Rubric to include assessment information. They also
discussed the need to do some virtual training on disseminating the assessment material before summer.
At this point, the TST also discussed the need to pilot 3 materials. Discussion ensued around what specific materials and would states be able to choose the materials. States will be asked in advance to commit to pilot specific materials. Erin Shea (VT) also asked about the process for states to submit and potentially pilot materials they are using. Tracie asked the Curriculum work group to discuss the pilot process and the materials to be piloted. Tracie will then seek input from the TST and SST.
Day 2 Agenda Finalize work group action plans
Report out on progress Group feedback and discussion
Pilot Process
Need for work groups to meet/set additional dates SOSOSY Networking Video/ Pilot participation
NASDME Presentation
Location of spring meeting/ Timeframe for meetings Wrap-up and Synthesis
Mentor Work Group:
A draft rubric was developed. This will be submitted to Susan Duron for her feedback. Barbie Patch (NH), John Farrell (KS) and Ray Melecio (FL) will take the rubric to the State Director’s Meeting for feedback. The work group also discussed the process and self-assessment tool. The TST discussed the particulars of how the information would be used/reviewed. It is important to note that the rubric is to be used as a self-assessment tool, not monitoring.
Before break, Tracie asked the new states to share what they will take away from the meeting and what they will get started on when they return home. Information was shared.
Technology Work Group:
Discussed creating a rubric/protocol to help states for when they are creating educational materials to be put on the website. What is the best user-friendly tech mode to use for what specific purposes? The team noted there would be beta-testing done for products to ensure they are in the most user-friendly formats. The TST also thought it might be beneficial to think about what training would need to be done.
Training Work Group:
Discussed how to support the current group of trainers in an on-going fashion as well as update the training manual. The work group proposed quarterly webinars to better support our current trainers. They will also develop tip sheets to accompany modules. The new topics for the
manual include:
Meeting workshop facilitation
How to develop a statewide training plan
Instructional methods (including differentiation) The work group is planning a fall training.
John Farrell (KS) and Barbie Patch (NH) suggested pulling together a small group to look at timelines/dates/locations for TOT and Dissemination Event. John Farrell (KS), Erin Shea (VT), Sonja Williams (NC), Danielle Anderson-Thomas (NJ), Kelsey Williams (ID), Ray Melecio (FL) and Tracie will be on the committee.
Other Items:
Tracie asked for volunteers to assist with the presentation proposal submitted to NASDME. Tracie is also looking for 5 volunteers to assist with the new SOSOSY Networking site (a video was shared that explained the site). Ray Melecio (FL), Marlene Willis (KS), Sabrina Godinez (GA), Michael Maye (NY) volunteered to help populate the site with examples. Tracie will share their names with Scott Wilhelm and get them access to the site.
Conference calls will be every other month. Tracie will send out potential dates for March. Our next TST meeting will be April 9, 10-2013 in Denver.
