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Welcome to this edition of the Opportunity Culture® Newsletter!
Opportunity Culture® portal subscribers receive these newsletters automatically as part of their district’s portal benefits (portal log-in here).
Not already subscribed to our mailing list? Join here.
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OPPORTUNITY CULTURE® AUDIOWinchester District Goes Big by Going Small-Group
In October, Winchester Public Schools Superintendent Jason van Heukelum got good news from the latest Virginia student learning growth results—including that for the 2023–24 school year, seventh-grade math students were number 1 in the state for learning growth; fourth-grade math was in the top 10, and eighth-grade math was in the top 12. All three of these grades had 100 percent of their students reached by Multi-Classroom Leader™ teaching teams. And across the district, 15 teams are now reaching 100 percent of students in a subject or grade, with nine teams students’ making high growth.
In our new podcast package, hear from van Heukelum, a principal, and educators about how Opportunity Culture® teaching teams combine with a focus on small-group instruction to make a difference in student learning and school culture.
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How Small Groups Led to Big Middle School
Math Growth
For more on small-group instruction, this audio piece delves into reflections and the “how” from one middle school math educator in the Team Reach Teacher™ role. Brian Tavenner discusses his wholehearted belief in the power of extensive small-group instruction to improve all students’ outcomes and the difference it makes in how he works with student learning data.
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REGISTERUpcoming Events and Professional Learning
Visit our events webpage to register for upcoming events, including school staffing design professional learning, site visits, educator professional learning, and free webinars.
On-demand learning is also available on the Opportunity Culture® portal! Educators from principals to team teachers have content available to engage with, and it is included with portal access.
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December and January
12/5 Master the SIMPLE-TC™ Framework | Session 3: Monitor and Adjust — Register
12/12 Opportunity Culture® Info Session: 1:00–1:45 p.m. ET FREE — Register
1/9 Introduction to School Staffing Design with Results: 1:00–3:30 p.m. ET — Register
1/15 Aspiring Multi-Classroom Leader™ Info Session, 4:35-5:30 p.m. ET FREE — Register
1/16 Opportunity Culture® Info Session: 1:00–1:45 p.m. ET FREE — Register
1/23 Master the SIMPLE-TC™ Framework | Session 4: Prioritize "Small for All" — Register
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Ross Elementary Principal, Raquel Rodriguez, presents to Ector County ISD site visit participants.
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Special thanks to Midland ISD and Ector County ISD for hosting fall site visits so visitors could see Opportunity Culture® concepts in action! They were covered in social media (below) and the local press as well, in Educators get firsthand look at ECISD Opportunity Culture.
Carlsbad Municipal School District and Winchester Public Schools will host visits in the spring—if you know of educators who need Opportunity Culture® roles in their schools, please share registration information for those!
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WEBINARS
Up Your Skills with Our Quick-Tips Webinar LibraryWe’re planning the spring slate of webinars now; meanwhile, if you missed last month’s webinars or any others we’ve hosted this year, check out the recordings!
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How can teaching teams activate the superpower that is
collaborative, cohesive lesson planning? If you’re a teaching team leader, how can you guide your team through productive planning meetings that create cohesive instruction for all the team’s students? If you’re on a teaching team, how can you get the most out of planning meetings, and help ensure great instruction across the team?
This two-part webinar series, led by two team leaders with a record of producing student learning growth, will help you be a hero for your students with powerful plans and a roadmap and resources to carry them out. Thanks to Alex Tobin of Thomasville City Schools and Tameka Rover-Brown of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools for showing you how, whether you use a scripted curriculum or bake yours up from scratch—or both.
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CERTIFICATION
This Month in Opportunity Culture® Certification |
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The certification and validation process for the 2024–25 school year is well underway! Schools are beginning to gain certified status by
submitting their design information in the Opportunity Culture® portal, and to receive validation through Public Impact® feedback rounds—watch social media and the next newsletter for newly certified and validated sites. See the current list of schools with Certified Opportunity Culture School™ status here.
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PORTALThis Month in the Opportunity Culture® Portal |
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Wondering how to get started with your new portal subscription? Check out Your New Tool to Reach All Students: Meet the New Opportunity Culture® Portal.
Explore the “Learn” room to see what courses are available and how to apply for CEU credits with them. Educators at schools that don’t yet use Opportunity Culture® roles can take a self-driven design course, earning a certificate for 15 training hours that can be submitted for CEU credits.
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RESOURCESTools You Need Now
Check out the instructional leadership and excellence resources on the Opportunity Culture® website. This month, principals and team leaders may find the Support and Develop Individuals and Manage Yourself sections especially useful.
For all educators, find resources on these elements for achieving instructional excellence that may be especially useful now:
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SOCIAL MEDIA
Featured Social Media
Keep up with Opportunity Culture® news and sites around the country—follow our posts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and other platforms! And don’t forget to tag us so we can highlight your great work.
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