Video touts college/career readiness for Madison students

(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – A new video documents Madison City Schools’ preparedness for Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards.

Dr. Julie Hannah contacted Madison administrators about filming the video. Hannah works as director of the State Department of Education’s Office of Student Learning.

“(The state department) felt like we were doing a good job and doing it right. They wanted us to show other districts how they might approach the rollout of the standards,” Dr. Camille Wright said. Wright is director of instruction for Madison City Schools.

School systems across Alabama will have access to the video, John Peck, public relations director for the Madison district, said.

“It’s an exciting time to be in education in the state of Alabama,” Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler said in the video. “Our state superintendent and state board are leading a strategic shift from AYP and conformity … and allowing for innovation and creativity.” AYP refers to average yearly progress, as mandated by No Child Left Behind legislation.

“Teacher leader teams” were the start of Madison’s impetus, elementary instruction coordinator Judy Warmath said. Administrators have organized English/language arts and math teams, trained at the district level. “The math team looked at the standards, unpacked standards and are becoming aware of mathematical practices.”

Warmath said it was critical to spend “time up front to develop teacher leaders to teach standards by curriculum mapping.” Application of skills, problem solving and working collaboratively with peers are important factors.

Madison’s strategic plan, Focus 2020, is “our road map for how we’re going to take our pre-k through twelfth-grade students” to college or careers, Wright said. “Investing in our future has to begin with the teacher and making sure they are well prepared, resource-supported and effective.”

Daniel Whitt produced the video. Whitt teaches 21st-century media and broadcast journalism at James Clemens High School and sponsors JETS Press.

To view the video, visit youtube.com/watch?v=JqmsmEeVfk4&feature=share&list=UUq8yOQxemSs914EHtSz03pQ.