HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-18 BOT Agenda PacketThe Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees will begin immediately following the conclusion of the
Board of Trustees Workshop but not prior to the posted start time.
Mission Statement
Westlake Academy is an IB World School whose mission is to provide students with an
internationally minded education of the highest quality so they are well-balanced and
respectful life-long learners.
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WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Vision Statement
Westlake Academy inspires college bound students to achieve their highest individual potential
in a nurturing environment that fosters the traits found in the IB Learner Profile:
Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled,
Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
AGENDA
October 2, 2018
1500 Solana Boulevard
Building 7, Suite 7100
1st FLOOR, COUNCIL CHAMBER
WESTLAKE, TX 76262
Workshop Session 5:00 p.m.
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Work Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION BY WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUDENT BELLA
WHITE REGARDING AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR THE TRAFFIC FLOW AT
WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
4. RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS.
5. REPORTS
Reports are prepared for informational purposes and will be accepted as presented. (there
will no presentations associated with the report items) There will be no separate discussion unless a
Trustee requests that report be removed and considered separately.
a. Report regarding the school year theme and focus for 2018-2019.
b. Report regarding the House of Shine and college readiness support.
c. Report regarding Faculty Turnover, student/teacher ratios for the 2017-2018 school
year, including comparisons with surrounding districts and IB charter schools for the
2017-2018 school year.
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Presentation and discussion regarding the 2018-2019 School Census (Enrollment
Numbers).
7. BOARD RECAP / STAFF DIRECTION
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8. ADJOURNMENT
ANY ITEM ON THIS POSTED AGENDA COULD BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
AS LONG AS IT IS WITHIN ONE OF THE PERMITTED CATEGORIES UNDER SECTIONS
551.071 THROUGH 551.076 AND SECTION 551.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT
CODE.
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the above notice was posted at the Town Hall of the Town of Westlake, 1500 Solana Blvd.,
Building 7, Suite 7100, Westlake, TX 76262, on September 26, 2018, by 5:00 p.m. under the Open
Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.
_____________________________________
Kelly Edwards, Town Secretary
If you plan to attend this public meeting and have a disability that requires special needs, please advise
the Town Secretary 48 hours in advance at 817-490-5710 and reasonable accommodations will be made
to assist you.
Board of
Trustees
Item # 2 – Pledge of
Allegiance
Texas Pledge:
“Honor the Texas flag;
I pledge allegiance to
the, Texas, one state
under God, one and
indivisible.”
3. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION BY WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUDENT
BELLA WHITE REGARDING AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR THE TRAFFIC
FLOW AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
Board of
Trustees
Item # 3 – No Supporting
Documentation
4. RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS.
Board of
Trustees
Item # 4 – No Supporting
Documentation
REPORTS
Reports are prepared for informational purposes and will be accepted as presented.
(there will no presentations associated with the report items) There will be no separate discussion
unless a Trustee requests that report be removed and considered separately.
a. Report regarding the school year theme and focus for 2018-2019.
b. Report regarding the House of Shine and college readiness support.
c. Presentation and discussion regarding Faculty Turnover, student/teacher ratios
for the 2017-2018 school year, including comparisons with surrounding districts
and IB charter schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
Board of
Trustees
Item #5 – Reports
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Report
Westlake Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 02, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation of Report Regarding the New School Year Theme and Focus
STAFF CONTACT: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Academic Excellence Academic
Operations PYP / MYP / DP
Increase the
Capacity of Teachers
& Staff
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: August 7, 2018 Completion Date: June 6, 2019
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
The purpose of this report is to articulate the professional learning focus for the 2018-2019
academic school year.
Professional learning is a critical component in creating the conditions and environment for
student success. In doing so, it is vital that educators remain on the cutting edge of the future of
education and instructional pedagogy. As such, the goal of professional development must be to
train Academy teachers in the IB philosophy, theory and practice along with Visible
Learning. These training opportunities foster teacher efficacy and furnish data to inspire
meaningful change that transforms classrooms into 21st century learning environments. It is
through the professional development of teachers that Westlake Academy becomes the best place
for teachers to teach and for students to learn.
RECOMMENDATION
Seeking continued support of professional learning initiatives at Westlake Academy.
ATTACHMENTS
Report Attachment
1
MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 6, 2018
TO: Honorable President and Board of Trustees Members
THROUGH: Mr. Tom Brymer, Town Manager/WA Superintendent
FROM: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
SUBJECT: 2018-2019 School Focus/Theme
A culture of learning is a critical component of an educational institution. Creating a culture and
environment that will act as the foundation for a learning organization begins with a commitment to
learning at all levels of the organization. As Peter Senge writes, “a learning organization is an
organization that is continually expanding its capacity to create its future.” He further asserts that in the
act of learning, we are able to reinvent ourselves.
During the past four years, Westlake Academy has placed a greater emphasis on organizational
learning. Professional development has been streamlined to cultivate the Academy’s collective teacher
efficacy. In learning together, the Academy has been able to create a shared vocabulary and to
strengthen the pedagogical expertise of teachers serving the organization. In turn, this has improved
the academic achievement of students. We have also concentrated professional learning efforts on the
IB framework with a special emphasis on visible learning’s alignment to the philosophical
underpinnings of the IB’s guiding principles. This has created a sustained effort and continuity of
learning that is often lacking in other school communities.
As a result of building a strong culture of organizational learning, the Academy has reaped the
following benefits:
• Increased student achievement;
• Increased teacher pedagogical expertise and a culture of shared craft knowledge;
• Facilitation of continuous improvement mindset and improved efficiency and productivity;
• Capacity building of leaders at all levels, which helps with succession planning; and
• Increased collective teacher efficacy to embrace and adapt to change.
There is no doubt that there is great work being done at Westlake Academy. We are, indeed, an
exceptional school with great potential. Our quest to become the best place for teachers to teach and
for students to learn is at the forefront of our preparation for the 2018-2019 school year. With that
said, our theme for the new academic year is:
Celebrate 15WA/50IB: A Legacy of Leading and Learning
2
Our new theme is designed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of
the International Baccalaureate and the 15th Anniversary of
Westlake Academy. As such, Westlake Academy will spend the
year celebrating these two milestones through a series of
commonly held events at the Academy. For example, the back
to school picnic will be a birthday party for Westlake Academy
as will the HOC’s Monster Mash while Grandparents Day will
be a dual celebration for the 50th Anniversary of IB and the 15th
Anniversary of the Academy with a showcase of international
mindedness. As far as professional development is concerned,
our teachers will continue their intense exploration of inquiry
and its role in an IB world school. In addition, the staff and I
will begin preparing for our IB site visit scheduled for the Spring
of 2020. Instead of having three separate re-authorization
processes, as the Academy has done in the past, the Academy
will participate in a continuum site visit in which all three
programmes will be reviewed in tandem. The IB requires
schools to conduct a year-long self-assessment prior to the site visit. The Academy will begin this
process in January of 2019. As a result, we will continue to hone our instructional pedagogy and build
our collective efficacy.
Previous themes have explored best practices in inquiry, formative assessment, effective feedback, and
data-driven dialogues to explore a teacher’s impact on student achievement. Our teachers have
become experts in creating learning environments that foster student growth through authentic
engagement. These themes have included:
⇒ FY 17/18 – I=E³: Inquiry is the Solution ... Engage ... Explore ... Empower!
⇒ FY 16/17 - Know Your Impact: Ignite … Innovate … Inspire
⇒ FY 15/16 - Dream … Create … Achieve: Building a Collective Legacy of Excellence
⇒ FY 14/15 - Reaching New Heights Together ... One School, One Community
⇒ FY 13/14 - Growing Together; One School, One Community
⇒ FY 12/13 - Holding to the Vision, Rising to the Challenge
⇒ FY 11/12 - Continued Excellence in the Face of Change
Building the capacity of our teachers is our priority. As John Hattie of Visible Learning has asserted,
the teacher is the strongest variable in student achievement. Knowing this, it becomes the duty and
responsibility of the Westlake Academy’s administration team to build the instructional pedagogy of
all teachers. In doing so, teachers have a higher probability to impact student achievement in positive
and meaningful ways. This is the ultimate goal of professional development at Westlake Academy.
As I have said before, we have an extraordinary opportunity to transform the very manner in which
education is delivered to our students and, in doing so, lead other schools by our example. This is no
small task, but it is firmly within our grasp.
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Report
Westlake Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 02, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation of a Report Regarding the House of Shine and College
Readiness Support
STAFF CONTACT: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Academic Excellence Academic
Operations PYP / MYP / DP
Increase the Future
Readiness of All
Students
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: August 7, 2018 Completion Date: June 6, 2019
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
The purpose of this report is to provide an update regarding the collaboration between the House
of Shine and Westlake Academy in connection with college readiness support.
The House of Shine is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to develop confident, engaged
women and children by providing leadership programs that raise self-awareness and are creative
and experiential in nature. By helping individuals identify their SHINE, women and children
from all walks of life are inspired to ignite their power within and, ultimately, change their world
for the better.
The collaboration between the House of Shine and Westlake Academy is designed to assist the
Academy’s students in identifying their passion. In doing so, students gain powerful insight into
their strengths, hobbies, interests, needs and experiences in order to streamline the college
selection and application process. Add something about naviance.
RECOMMENDATION
Seeking continued support of professional learning initiatives at Westlake Academy.
ATTACHMENTS
Report Attachment
1
MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 6, 2018
TO: Honorable President and Board of Trustees Members
THROUGH: Mr. Tom Brymer, Town Manager/WA Superintendent
FROM: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
SUBJECT: House of Shine and College Readiness Support
“The world continues to change at an ever-increasing pace, which no longer is on a linear path, but an
exponential rate of change. Technology continues to advance and change the way in which we live,
and work, with everything from a robotic lifeguard who recently saved two swimmers in an Oregon
riptide, to a team of scientists who are closing in on how to print a 3D heart from a person’s own cells.
As the world continues to change, how have our schools been asked to respond? By adding more tests,
requirements, regulations, and rules to our existing 20th century school structure and continuing to
prepare students for an outdated world view of leaving K-12 education to enter college. As educators,
we need to focus on creating and embracing a transformational change to our culture and systems; we
are surrounded by endless transformative pressure – both internal and external – that will reshape
public education whether we choose to or not.” These words by Dr. Bill Dagget, founder and
chairman of the International Center for Leadership in education testify to the importance of preparing
our students to work and live in a world that has yet to be created. These are transformative times and
they require transformative action.
There is no doubt that Westlake Academy prepares students for college. Our current college
graduation data clearly demonstrates that our students are not only prepared for college but that they
are prepared with the necessary skills to graduate from college. The question becomes how do we
better prepare students to find their passion and arm them with the skills needed to transform their
world? In pondering this question, the Academy found its answer by partnering with a local
organization, House of Shine.
House of Shine is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to develop confident, engaged women and
children by providing leadership programs that raise self-awareness and are creative and experiential in
nature. Moreover, the House of Shine is a unique North Texas non-profit organization that delivers
leadership programs to educators, children and women, and empowers individuals to become more
confident and engaged by raising individual self-awareness. The House of Shine focuses
predominantly on helping participants understand their SHINE, strengths, hobbies, interests, needs,
and experiences, so that they can ignite their power within and, ultimately, change their worlds for the
better. Better yet, their task is to help participants understand their perfect point of intersection- the
place where they can use their talents and interests to fill any size need in their community.
2
Prior to the 2017-2018 school year, the collaboration between the House of Shine and Westlake
Academy was informal with the House of Shine presenting lessons to a few classrooms each year.
Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, the collaboration between the House of Shine and Westlake
Academy was formalized. It became clear that the House of Shine’s program could assist the
Academy in strengthening their K-12 college readiness efforts. The Academy’s goal is and has been to
build an inspiring K-12 college readiness program. To do so, the Academy has identified that students
must engage in the following:
• Conversations about college;
• Discovering their passion;
• Identifying their strengths and interests;
• Familiarizing themselves with Naviance and how it could assist them in finding their passion
and their college search;
• Grasping the complexities of the college application and selection process;
• Understanding the challenges of the college financial aid process; and
• Cultivating the self-managing skills needed for a successful transition to college.
Prior to 2017-2018, the Academy was doing an impressive job of helping students understand the
college application and college selection process and conducting conversations about college. The
Academy had definitely built a strong college-going culture while working on improving students’
understanding of the financial realities of college. At the same time, the Academy was challenged by
getting students acquainted with Naviance earlier in the college application process and was struggling
with helping students find their passion.
The collaboration with the House of Shine was designed to assist the Academy’s students in
identifying their passion and to give students a reason to interact in Naviance. Within the last year, the
House of Shine facilitators, in collaboration with the Academy’s curriculum coordinators and teachers,
delivered the What’s Your Shine curriculum at Westlake Academy.
• House of Shine facilitators were on campus 31 days;
• House of Shine facilitators presented 24 lessons to 32 classrooms; and
• House of Shine assisted 280 students in accessing Naviance during a Shine modules
The following lessons were facilitated on the Westlake Academy campus by the House of Shine and
Westlake Academy coordinators and teachers:
• Kindergarten searched for SHINE treasure;
• Grade 1 identified characters of strengths and interests;
• Grade 2 created shoe shine for their hobbies;
• Grade 3 gave the gift of self;
• Grade 4 sealed SHINE capsules;
• Grade 5 learned their top three strengths;
• Grade 6 developed a brand you logo and tagline;
• Grade 7 discovered their Multiple Intelligences;
3
• Grade 8 explored their Holland Code;
• Grade 9 crafted a resume;
• Grade 10 found their point of intersection;
• Grade 11 made purchases in a values auction; and
• Grade 12 built a life map.
College readiness is more than academic excellence. In fact, there are four keys to college and career
readiness: content knowledge; transition knowledge and skills; learning skills and techniques and
cognitive strategies. It is not enough to simply prepare students for the rigors of college. We must also
prepare them for the critical thinking and life lessons that will guide their journey and lead them to
discover their passion. We must assist our student in understanding that if they powerfully believe in
the value of what they have to offer the world. Their love and passion for it will become an
unstoppable force by which they can create a better world for all.
Page 1 of 1
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Report
Westlake Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 03, 2018
TOPIC: Report regarding Faculty Turnover, student/teacher ratios for the 2017-2018
school year, including comparisons with surrounding districts and IB charter
schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
STAFF CONTACT: Todd Wood, Director of HR & Administrative Services
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Academic Excellence People, Facilities, &
Technology PYP / MYP / DP
Attract, Recruit &
Retain the Highest
Quality Workforce
Strategic Initiative
Outside the Scope of Identified Strategic Initiatives
Time Line - Start Date: August 1, 2017 Completion Date: August 1, 2018
Funding Amount: N/A Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
At the direction of the Board of Trustees, staff prepares a report of teacher turnover and teacher/student
ratios on an annual basis. This report provides a comparison to Independent School Districts located
within Westlake’s municipal boundaries, charter schools in the DFW metroplex, and IB charter
schools within the state of Texas.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and discussion of presentation material during workshop.
ATTACHMENTS
Presentation
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Report of Teacher Turnover
Student/Teacher Ratios
Teacher Tenures
Source: Texas 2013-2017 Academic Performance Reports
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/tapr/index.html
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Annual Teacher Turnover Comparison
Surrounding Districts and State Average
2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Westlake Academy 23.0% 29.8% 25.9% 24.4% 8.8%
Keller ISD 10.2% 10.9% 10.0% 11.8%
NWISD 15.8% 14.1% 13.7% 12.6%
Carroll ISD 11.5% 12.6% 13.1% 12.7%
State Average 16.2% 15.2% 16.5% 16.4%
Data Not
Available
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Surrounding Districts and State Average
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Student/Teacher Ratio Comparison
Surrounding Districts and State Average
2012-2013 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017
Westlake Academy 14.0 13.5 13.1 13.3
Keller ISD 17.1 15.6 15.4 15.1
NWISD 15.9 15.4 15.4 15.2
Carroll ISD 15.1 14.8 15.0 14.8
State Average 15.5 15.2 15.2 15.1
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Surrounding Districts and State Average
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Annual Teacher Turnover Comparison
Charter Schools in the DFW Metroplex
2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Westlake Academy 23.0% 29.8% 25.9% 24.4% 8.8%
Uplift 30.1% 30.0% 28.9% 26.5%
KIPP Academy 41.2% 37.5% 57.1% 50.7%
Winfree Academy 51.0% 51.6% 61.7% 47.4%
State Average 16.2% 16.6% 16.5% 16.4%
Data Not
Available
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Charter Schools in the DFW Metroplex
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Student/Teacher Ratio Comparison
Charter Schools in the DFW Metroplex
2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Westlake Academy 13.8 13.5 13.1 13.3 13.3
Uplift 16.6 15.6 15.8 15.8
KIPP Academy 16.0 15.4 23.2 26.6
Winfree Academy 14.9 14.8 24.0 25.6
State Average 15.5 15.2 15.2 15.1
Data Not
Available
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Charter Schools in the DFW Metroplex
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Texas IB Charter Schools
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
Texas IB Charter Schools
DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Presentation and discussion regarding the 2018-2019 School Census
(Enrollment Numbers).
Board of
Trustees
Item # 6 – Discussion
Items
estlake Academy Board of Trustees
TYPE OF ACTION
Workshop - Discussion Item
Westlake Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 02, 2018
TOPIC: Presentation and Discussion of 2018-2019 School Census (Enrollment
Numbers)
STAFF CONTACT: Dr. Mechelle Bryson, Executive Director
Strategic Alignment
Vision, Value, Mission Perspective Curriculum Outcome
Objective
Vision: Westlake Academy
inspires college bound
students to achieve their
highest individual
potential in a nuturing
environment that fosters
the traits found in the IB
Learner Profile.
Fiscal Stewardship PYP / MYP / DP Improve Financial
Stewardship
Strategic Initiative
Time Line - Start Date: August 15, 2018 Completion Date: September 11, 2018
Funding Amount: $0 Status - N/A Source - N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY)
In general, charter schools are required to develop and implement admissions and enrollment
policies and practices that are consistent with Federal and State laws and that are designed to
carry out the charter school’s mission, vision and values. It is vitally important that charter
schools enact these policies and practices with fidelity. As such, Westlake Academy monitors the
execution of their admissions and enrollment policies and practices to ensure that
implementation is consistent with the Academy’s charter.
The purpose of the presentation and discussion on the 2018-2019 school census is to give an
account of the Academy’s enrollment data. Enrollment will be reviewed through grade level
growth, Westlake Resident retention and growth, new teacher impact on enrollment and
secondary boundary enrollment trends.
Overall, the data will demonstrate that the Academy’s admissions and enrollment policies and
practices are one of many variables aligned to its mission, vision and values.
RECOMMENDATION
Seeking continued support of enrollment policies, procedures and practices at Westlake
Academy.
ATTACHMENTS
None
BOARD RECAP / STAFF DIRECTION
Board of
Trustees
Item #7 – Board Recap /
Staff Direction
Board of
Trustees
Item # 8 – Adjournment
Work Session