REGION
V MINUTES
Attendees: Mary Alfred, Debra Allen, Cynthia Boggs for Darlene Kostrub, Dr. Valerie Bryan, Darlene Frederick, Dalia Garcia, Carrie Mickey, Ben Powell, Dr. Doug Smith, Claire Valier. Carol Renick, Peter Lido and Delmonte sent regrets.
Welcome was extended by Carrie Mickey. Individuals were
asked to introduce themselves to the group. Douglas Smith did some
introductions of
Review on minutes of last meeting was conducted. Minutes were approved and seconded.
Present membership list and Council representation was reviewed. Individuals on the list were identified as representing adult education or career and technical education. In several cases, Ms. Mickey will follow up on contacting individuals on the list to ascertain if they will continue to serve in roles identified. In some cases job changes or role changes will be necessary due to major changes in the employment situation in some of the counties represented.
A lengthy discussion, led by Ms. Mickey, ensued regarding the current status of adult and career and technical educators in Miami-Dade County Schools. Due to some administrative changes, many lines in both adult and career and technical education were eliminated, downsized or demoted. Forty-nine filled positions are being cut. The new list came out with job titles and number of people in the jobs. The adult center principals will report to the Six Region Offices rather than the District Administrators of Adult/ Vocational and Community Education. Some of the current members of the Region V PDCs will be affected by these changes and may require a change in membership status on the Councils.
Vacancies on the Council were discussed and recommendations
were made. Recommendations were made for
Dr. Bryan provided an update of last year’s accomplishments for the adult education. Basically in terms of last year’s objectives, but the Region V PDC Adult Education’s objectives were (see Executive Summary and PowerPoint attached):
- Provide training for 150 adult ed teachers in six trainings,
- Conduct four RPDAC meetings, and
- Create on line tutorials.
In terms of those accomplishments, there were 20 training
events with 671 participants because of the collaboration that took place
through work by Council members. Dr.
Bryan noted: “We had a lot of FCAT and CRISS training from a request from
Broward and
Objective two was accomplished regarding the Region V meetings via teleconference and onsite meetings. Additional planning meetings were also held for the executive team. Dr. Bryan asked that the committee take in consideration using video conferencing for future meeting. Most current attendees expressed preference to use the teleconference because it allows them to stay in their office and still attend the meeting. Dr. Bryan indicated that because of distance and time we needed to continue to explore ways to reduce the travel time for the council’s members and enhance participation by Council members. She suggested we needed more Council involvement and any thing that could cut the travel time may help attendance.
The third objective for the RVPDC Adult Education grant was for the tutorials and technical assistance. There was no money in the grant in maintaining the web site or to create it, yet the objective was still met in means other than originally anticipated. Ten (10) people completed the new tutorials with certificates. The Best Practice CD-ROM was distributed and the training that accompanied it. Dr. Bryan noted that interest was expressed at all training session to expand the CD. The evaluations at all the sessions for the presenters of the Best Practices were high.
Dr. Bryan described the objective for the Best Practice CD and how it came to be. She noted there is still demand for the product to be upgraded as was noted the grant proposal of last year, but it was cut out of the grant by DOE. DOE grantors decided they wanted more stand up training. Each one of the counties are still using the CD-ROM and using the trainers from the CD. Dr. Bryan said, “The hope was to keep adding to it over a period of about 5 years. We (FAU and FIU) had hoped to market it and add to it. When we do stand up training we are able to get some information on how the training will be used and do more regarding “transfer of learning”. Dr. Bryan also noted there was no way to track how the CDs were distributed by the district and to try to find out how it was used in the long term is next to impossible.
Dr. Bryan then addressed this year’s objectives for 2004-2005. She noted there is supposed to be the following:
- seven adult ed training that would meet 200 adult educators,
- four council meetings, with updates to the council members email list, blackboard,
- Web
service teaching strategies, with a heavy emphasis on marketing those
resources, updating the calendar, and also collaborating with the Tech net
and ACE of
Dr. Bryan shared that some co-opted trainings with the
Dr. Bryan noted that this will be a difficult year because
two of the large training sessions will not be offered. Trainings were scheduled with
Dr. Douglas H. Smith gave his report noting that he and Dr.
Bryan cooperated on several objectives in 2003-2004. He noted that developing strategies for
effective instructional limited English learners in vocational for vocational
instructors remains a pressing need. He
also noted the continued need to provide FCAT instruction as was done in
Dr. Smith indicates that the session with the DOE
Plans this year are to do more career/vocational programs. He requested feedback fro the Council regarding needs. He noted also that attendance by career and technical leaders at the Council had been sparse. He suggested that we do some training at Council meetings to entice more Council members to attend the meetings. He indicated that Council meetings can also be a professional development opportunity for the members by using a guest speaker addressing issues or topics such as a topic of mutual interest, trends, technology or learning. Speakers could receive a stipend from the grant. We could get some high-powered staff development for the Council members. We could award you a stipend or deduct it from the council members travel or development. The money has been allocated. Dr. Smith also requested some suggestion of on line training development topics to develop modules for vocational instructors.
After a break for lunch, Mr. Ben Powell of DOE gave an
overview of what was happening in
Mr. Powell requested we provide at least five readers from each region to read the grant applications and score them. This addresses the grants for $750 thousand. Grants can be collaboration with colleges, and universities.
Mr. Powell noted that Region 4 has been very active; Preston Steele is now the director. He discussed some of the programs offered in that area: technology in the classroom, using colors as a teaching tool, reducing test stress. Dr. Bryan noted that we had offered the same sessions in this region except the one on colors.
Dr. Bryan asked if there were any plans to bring the RVPDC’s
together to share products or processes as was done in the past. She noted this
was also done with Section 353 projects and a Directory was created to share
what was being done by whom for how much money. Mr. Powell indicated there was
a matrix that it was not updated and it was unclear as to whether it was
accessible. The question needs to be
directed to the grants people. Mr.
Powell did indicate that ACE of
Ms. Mickey revisited the need for suggestions from the Council for the five trainings for career and technical education and the seven for adult education. She did indicate that Carol Renick had provided some suggestions. Ms. Mickey indicated she would contact Bobby Gornto regarding vocational trainings.
After some brainstorming, the Council members suggested some of the following topics:
- Family literacy to expand the knowledge base.
- Incorporating strategies for FCAT for vocational teachers (from John Miracola talked about). “There should be some way to relate to auto mechanics and the areas where you have non-degree teachers. There must be a way to show the relationship”. Dr. Smith indicated that their were “no takers” for the FCAT training for vocational last year and that maybe this was a time to revisit that area.
- Redo the strategies for the ESOL faculty to address more cultural relationships.
Next meeting was scheduled for
Meeting was adjourned.