Sharing recipes

It’s that time of year again when we open the faded cookbooks held together with rubber bands to find the recipe for the dishes that nourish the body and share family traditions. There’s at least one dish that, no matter how carefully you follow the instructions, it never tastes the same as when Mom made it.

Educators from all corners of Virginia converged on Goochland schools to see what we do and learn how we do it on  November 13 when Goochland schools hosted members of VASCD (its complicated name morphed into an acronym) to share how our school division succeeds in maximizing the potential of every student through the use of deeper learning. (Visit http://goochlandschools.org/ for more information.)

This method of pedagogy—fancy name for teaching methods—seeks to engage students with learning experiences that put subjects into a real word context and make the lesson content relevant. Deeper learning answers the question “why do we have to learn this?” in a practical way.  Deeper learning challenges students employing different skills including collaboration and decision making, ideally resulting in better remembered learning. Transferring Goochland’s “special sauce” learning environment home to their school division, however, could be tricky.

 Gone are the days when students sat in straight rows allegedly absorbing information from a teacher at the front of the room. Education today does more than share a particular body of knowledge with students, but rather equips them with the tools, skills, and strategies both intellectual and social, to enable them to earn their piece of the American dream, as they define it, when they leave our classrooms for the world of work, college, or the military.

Dr. Stephen Geyer, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, facilitated the event.  Following an introduction, participants visited classrooms at Goochland Elementary School; the middle and high school; and Goochland Tech. Lunch was prepared and served by students in our excellent culinary arts program.

Dr. John Hendron, Director of  Innovation and Strategy for GCPS—his title indicates just how different Goochland is—facilitated a discussion about the event with a panel comprised of: Jalyn Burns, GHS student; Krystle Demas, Instructional Technology Coach; Glenn Hecker, GMS teacher; Henry Land, GMS student; Shelliotte Lawson Randolph Elementary School teacher; Tina McKay, GES principal; Kelley Taylor, GES teacher; Christina Whitfield, instructional coach; and Erin Yearout-Patton, GHS teacher.

Panel responses to the question “why do you like to come to school?” spoke volumes about the environment in Goochland schools. Comments included: “the teachers make us excited about learning”; we are family, one team, we work together for the benefit of all”; “there is a true culture of learning, we inspire each other to do better”; and “it is a welcoming place, so nice to be part of a big community”.

When asked how they measure success, response included: “being transparent and using responses from the kids to hone your skills”; “each kid is different with different goals and you have to celebrate success as they define it”; “when kids look at the clock and are surprised at how quickly the time passed.”

One teacher comment was more nebulous, but very powerful. “I want to be the teacher who challenges my students with enough academic rigor to make them groan now but thank me later in life when they realize they are better prepared for the challenges they face because of it. We may never see the results of our efforts, but hope they lead to success in the future of our students.” (This is where you stop reading and thank those teachers who made a difference in your life.)

Remarks indicated that Goochland teachers have freedom to innovate in their pedagogical practices that lead to deeper learning experiences and successful outcome for our students and support from the central office and the school board. They like be able to take risks and know that the administration and school board have their back. Thanks to implementation of technology, many subjects are no longer taught in one dimension.  

Widespread deployment of technology in Goochland schools, panel members contended, makes it easier to collaborate and share information with others. One teacher said that the use of iPads in first grade led to instant engagement of students who did research and learned to code.

Dr. Jeremy Raley, superintendent of Goochland Schools said that he and other central office folk “shadow” students. They spend an entire day, even riding the bus, to see education from the perspective of a student. “This keeps it real,” Raley said, clearly relishing the relationships he’s built with students and their families.

Relationships, teamwork, and a sense of family, combine to “maximize the potential every learner”—including teachers and administrators who grow and learn along with their students. That phrase is more than just a catchy slogan in Goochland Schools.  Success is measured by growth in addition to test scores, Raley said. “We value growth over achievement.”

Transparency is also a factor, said Raley. Parents are able to see what is being taught through the Schoolology part of the school division’s website http://goochlandschools.org/ (even if you do not have students in our schools, take a peek at the website.) Strong relationships between teachers, families, and administrators provides the opportunities to conversations that enhance the learning experience.

Teachers share, encourage and support each other.  They like the environment of county schools.

While Goochland Schools already have a tasty recipe, they will continue to refine it to help prepare our students for satisfying lives as productive citizens.  Goochland is fortunate to have an intrepid and dedicated corps of educators working on behalf of our students.