DeKalb Brilliance Academy
Minutes
DeKalb Brilliance Academy Academic Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday December 10, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Location
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMud-6tqz0uGNxyPRfGVVvMnCUvHtgHIU2R
Committee Members Present
C. Armour, Jr. (remote), J. Alter (remote), K. Herbert (remote), T. Ruffin (remote)
Committee Members Absent
M. Greene
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
T. Ruffin called a meeting of the Academics Committee of DeKalb Brilliance Academy to order on Tuesday Dec 10, 2024 at 7:37 PM.
C.
Community Builder
II. Academics
A.
Q2 Data Analysis
- Staff surveys still have 9% are negative (staff)
- Anonymous
- MAP testing is being held now. Results will be discussed in Jan 2025
- No growth data
- Only have proficiency data
- Math interms on track with the goal
- 2 of the 3 classes are on track for proficiency
- Teacher is on a performance improvement plan
- Improvement in grades 1 and 2, and 3
- 4th grade is having a hard time in math
- With a 20 year teaching vet
- Will be on a performance improvement plan
- Reading Interms
- 2 grade is far from goal but have seen growth
- 3 grade is making growth
- 4 is getting closer to the goal
- 1 and 2 tighter focus on phonics
- Struggling with DIBELS
- Decoding nonsensical words
- Using multiple reading programs
- Ortan Gillingham Trained
- Hegerty for Phonemic Awareness
- Struggling with DIBELS
- Have teachers run through their lessons and get professional development to master skills to anaylze and execute phonics lessons
- AP data driven instruction show they are operating on the surface level
- Paused giving action steps on how they lead data driven instruction until they are trained to give appropriate feedback. PD was held on Dec.10
- Individual emails and meetings held with the teachers
- Small group staff circles
- Full group staff circle on Dec.13
- Grade level based
- Fun things incorporated
- Math support: 3 and 4 grade gaps have the largest gaps
- Moved original math teacher in 3rd gr to do more intervention
- 2nd grade special ed teacher moved to 3rd grade to assist and teach
- 1st gr teacher is getting coaching with data meetings and daily reviews
- Over next week and half will lay out what Q3 will look like
- Coffee and conversations informal time with families: middle school work designed work was asked.
- Families want to design a school for themselves and not for the kids
- Shared what the kids said they wanted out of school and what they want to do when they grow up
- Designed questions to get parents to think outside of the box
- What will that innovative school look like
- Ask open ended questions
- What would it look like to celebrate their childs strengths (taking into consideration black and brown families and different cultures)
- What will that innovative school look like
- Project partners are typically black but would love to get some latino partners to represent from the other student population
- White leadership is so dominant
- Survey parents
- Want students to explore their purpose and how it is connected to heritage and family
- Build SEL component into the school culture
- Social justice push in the upcoming year
B.
15 Days of Cheer 12/2-12/20
III. Closing Items
A.
Capture next steps & send out to team
- Attend training meetings
- 15 days of cheer
- Discuss Map data in January
- Talk about how small group discussions went with teachers
- Discuss Q3 design
- Discuss PD that was held Dec.10 2024
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
T. Ruffin