In the world of education, some of the most important decisions regarding students are made in the curriculum and instruction office. Here, the guiding principles of what each district will offer students in the classroom are developed and implementation is begun.
School leaders in this area of education carry a great deal of responsibility. So Ceres Unified School District considers itself fortunate that they have had the services of Mary Jones, ACSA’s 2008 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year, for so long.
Jones has served as Ceres USD’s assistant superintendent of Educational Services since 2002. However, the district has been fortunate to have had her service for much longer. Jones began in educational administration back in 1993, and, except for a two-year stint with Merced City SD, has been with Ceres ever since.
One of the areas where Jones has played a key role with Ceres USD was in the implementation of the district’s strategic plan. Jones said the plan serves three main purposes: To define the district’s vision, mission and strategic goals; to detail how the district will achieve those goals; and finally, to serve as the common tool for managing changing priorities, as indicated by the ordering of the objectives.
“My role as the facilitator of the strategic plan implementation has been important because I became the person who made sure that the plan didn’t just become another document that sits on the shelf,” Jones said. “It is a living, breathing document that comes alive at sites and departments. Each year the plan is reviewed, evaluated and revised based on the priorities of the board and the needs of the district.
“Each site and department carries out the plan to meet the goals by putting actions in place focused on the expected results. I absolutely believe in the strategic plan as a driving force for the successes we’ve seen in Ceres Unified.”
In addition, Jones has a passion for working to close the achievement gap for English learners. Under her leadership, student scores have risen steadily five years running.
“Closing the achievement gap is critical to the success of all students,” Jones said. “With Ceres Unified having almost 4,000 English learners – 32 percent of our population – we have focused on making sure that all students have access to high levels of instruction.
“Putting programs in place such as Differentiated Instructional Time, which focuses on meeting the needs of students at varying levels in grades K-6, after-school programs specific to English Language Development, and working to make sure every student, including non-English speaking students, has access to rigor through the state-adopted, standards-aligned classes with support where needed, has helped to improve learning for those students.”
This approach has benefited the district as a whole. Last year, Ceres USD averaged a score of 8.6 out of 10 in the statewide Similar Schools ranking, and this year five of 17 schools rated a 10.
Jones has also been instrumental in the district’s implementation of Learning Centered Schools. She explained this is an examination of the professional knowledge, thought processes and decision-making principles used by successful teachers.
“In Ceres Unified we have concentrated on the constructing experiences that result in ‘Level 3 Learning,’ which is described as learning that occurs almost instantly, can be recalled on command, and applied broadly and creatively in other situations,” Jones said. “I believe in the research that shows the classroom teacher as the number one factor in student achievement; therefore I have worked at using the principles of Learning Centered Schools as a means to build and maintain teacher efficacy. When a teacher has high efficacy the following is true: They have profound content knowledge, pedagogical skill, and compelling nature.”
Jones said the district’s focus on professional development, teacher collaboration and a curriculum coaching model has enabled it to support teacher efficacy, thereby allowing teachers to have a greater impact on student learning.
Another area in which Jones has had an impact is in family outreach. She led the charge to reach out to students’ families with the implementation of the district’s Family Engagement Institute, an annual three-day program in which Jones, administrators, teachers and parents participate.
“Family Engagement has been implemented as a means to better connect our families to the learning of their children,” Jones said. “I have worked closely with Dr. Steve Constantino of Family Friendly Schools to provide the Family Engagement Institutes in order to meet goal number eight of the strategic plan, which states: CUSD will design, develop and implement a measurable process to engage families in their children’s learning.”
Jones said the program has provided invaluable input from parents, which has resulted in the following:
- Implementation of the Parent Institute at all sites.
- Increased offering of English as a Second Language classes across the district.
- Implemented Parent Connect, a computer operated phone system for communicating quickly to all families in English and Spanish.
- Improved and updated Web pages.
- Parent-friendly newsletters.
- Improved signage and directory maps at schools.
- Campus beautification projects.
- Improved welcoming environments in the front offices and on campus.
- Family science, math, reading and movie nights.
- College nights for students and parents.
For efforts such as these, and many others too numerous to list here, Jones is receiving this statewide ACSA recognition. She said the award holds a special meaning for her.
“I have been deeply honored to have been nominated and selected by my peers to receive the award in the area of curriculum and instruction,” Jones said. “This is especially dear to me because for me, teaching and learning is what education is all about.”
Each of ACSA’s 19 Administrators of the Year will be featured in EdCal through Nov. 3. They will be formally honored during ACSA’s 2008 Leadership Summit, to be held Nov. 6-8 in San Diego. For more information or to register, visit ACSA Online or contact the Educational Services Department at (800) 608-ACSA or (650) 692-4300.