CH-UH Cited as Leader in 21st Century Skills

The Cleveland Heights–University Heights School District was recognized as a model for providing students with 21st Century skills. The Hanover Research Council, a research and consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.,  recently released a report profiling 15 public school districts from across the country and two independent high schools in Ohio, all identified as providing students with 21st Century skills.

CH-UH and the other districts stood out for their traditionally high graduation rates, assessment scores, and attendance rates. Specifically, CH-UH was selected as a district that shows how an improving school system can use 21st Century skills to boost its performance.

“We are very proud to be featured in this report. It is our goal to constantly stay ahead of the curve on technology and programming to give our students the best education possible and prepare them for continuing education and our ever-changing workplace,” said Assistant Superintendent Joseph Micheller.

All school districts described in this report share several common characteristics with regards to 21st Century skills initiatives:
•Sophisticated technology programs
•Clear strategic goals for 21st Century skills implementation
•Innovative curriculum initiatives
•Explicit incorporation of 21st Century goals and commitment to preparing students for the 21st Century workplace and environment.

The Hanover Report highlighted some of the District’s programs that exemplified 21st Century learning. This included the “Preparing All Students for Success in a Global Economy” (PASSAGE) initiative, “One to One Teaching and Learning with Technology,” “Infinite Campus” technology for students, staff and parents, and the District’s documentary student film festival at Heights High School.

The analysis uses a Framework for 21st Century Learning developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, an advocacy organization with members from the business community, education leaders, and policymakers. The framework includes skills in three areas: Learning and Innovation; Information, Media and Technology; and Life and Career.

Here’s a full list of the skills and core subjects that are included in the framework:

Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential to student success. Core subjects include English, reading or language arts, world languages, arts, mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government and civics.

In addition, schools must promote an understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:
• Global Awareness
• Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy
• Civic Literacy
• Health Literacy
• Environmental Literacy

Learning and Innovation Skills
Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include:
• Creativity and Innovation
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Communication and Collaboration

Information, Media and Technology Skills
Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, marked by access to an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as:
• Information Literacy
• Media Literacy
• ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy

Life and Career Skills
Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability
to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires
students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills, such as:
• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Initiative and Self-Direction
• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
• Productivity and Accountability
• Leadership and Responsibility

Gearity’s Natalie Wester Named 2010 Ohio Teacher of the Year

Gearity third-grade teacher Natalie Wester has been named the 2010 Ohio Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). “Natalie, our 2010 Teacher of the Year, excels at giving every student a strong foundation, recognizing hidden potential and guiding students to find excellence within,” said Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction (and former CH-UH Superintendent) Deborah Delisle.

In addition to teaching a third-grade class, Wester has served as a data liaison and been active in the professional learning community. She also has presented at the Model Schools Conference at the International Center for Leadership in Education. Last year, Gearity was selected as one of only eight elementary schools nationwide to be named a Model School by the center, in part due to Wester’s efforts.

“Believing in children, empowering them, and exciting and engaging them by stimulating their imaginations are key to my teaching philosophy,” Wester has said.

Wester’s belief that the teacher is the most important component for student learning has driven her to take a leadership role in teacher training and mentoring. She developed the concept for the New Teachers College’s Center for Cultural Competence and Teaching, an innovative, graduate-level teacher preparation program that has provided summer professional development workshops to private and public school educators. Since 2006, she has helped train, develop and serve as a role model for student teachers from John Carroll University.

Wester graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor of science degree and then earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. After a successful 22-year career in public relations and marketing, including 14 as president of her own advertising agency, Wester went back to school to obtain a master’s in education at Ursuline College. She made the decision to become a teacher because she wanted to help foster in every child “an unwavering confidence and belief in their own absolute genius.”

Outside of school, Wester is involved in the community, volunteering her time and talents with organizations including the United Way, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Shaker Heights Public Library and the Cleveland Scholarship Program.
The 2010 Ohio Teacher of the Year was selected from nominations submitted by schools across the state. Nominations were reviewed by a statewide review panel composed of representatives from a wide range of professional organizations and school constituencies, including community and business representatives, elementary and secondary administrators, principals and teachers –including teachers who have been recognized for their excellent performance in the classroom.

The review panel chose five finalists and personally interviewed each of them before selecting Wester. The four other finalists for the 2010 Ohio Teacher of the Year are:
•         Michael Andric, Barberton High School, Barberton City Schools;
•         Sheri Halagan, Gurney Elementary School, Chagrin Falls Exempted Village;
•         David Harms, Penta Career Center, Wood County; and
•         Lynne Krug, Allen Elementary School, Strongsville City Schools.
The Ohio Teacher of the Year program was initiated by ODE in 1969 to honor and promote excellence in teaching and the teaching profession and to build a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in school improvement initiatives. All Ohio school districts and chartered nonpublic schools are invited to nominate outstanding teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership to classroom, school and community activities.