Word Study at Orchard Hills

Mrs. Lee and a small group work on word study together. Part of the daily five.

Orchard Hills Learns

Even on a day when the school will celebrate Halloween students in Mrs. McGurdy's class work on math problems at the Smart Board.

Parkview Cares

Students in the Parkview morning Care program made cards for cancer patients at Providence Hospital. This morning they presented them to Providence President Jean Meyer. A great and kind gesture.

Reading at Meadows

Mrs. Troost circles up her students to read "Ella the Enchanted." Students are directed to consider phrases, words, and ideas.

Novi High School TEACH Session

Charles LaClear leads teachers through a conversation today about teaching and learning. An opportunity to develop common language and common perspectives.

Interesting Words

Mrs. Zahradnik reads a story to her class and asks them to focus on "interesting words."

Parkview Visit

A kindergarten student uses the Smart Board to help get the day started.

Par

Novi Woods Visit

Students in Mrs Benn's class gather for their Monday morning meeting. What's the weather today?

Homecoming 2011

Teachers and the high school dance team prepare for their big moment at the homecoming pep assembly.

National Bully Prevention Day

Students at Novi Middle School talk with Novi Police Chief Malloy and Communications Director Walsh about bullying. Today efforts to stop bullying were highlighted at Novi Middle School.

SNAC Comes to Parkview

Today at Parkview kindergarten students learned about healthy foods. A community chef came to Parkview to talk with the kindergarten students about whole grains

Learning Lab at Parkview

First grade teachers from across the district met today to discuss teaching and learning. These conversations help drive the district forward as we focus on instructional strategies.

Novi High School English

Mr. Markos leads a discussion with his 11th grade English class on writing, research, authentic sources, and the authority of authors.

Data Notebooks

In Ms. Cracraft's Village Oaks classroom students have data notebooks to keep track of their progress. With these notebooks students can monitor their learning.

Village Oaks Vocabulary

Ms. Sparling works on the word of the day with her 3rd grade students today at Village Oaks. Aghast - the word for the day.

Friday Night Football

Northville vs. Novi on a perfect Friday night. Go Wildcats!

What should a Superintendent do?

What does a Supeintendent do?

My goal is to improve the Novi community School District.  My work is doing those things that help us get better.

What is that work?

Since I began my work here in Novi I have had the oppotunity to talk with the board of Education about the direction of the district.  Together we created four district goals.  These goals are what I need to help the district accomplish.  They are my work.  

I will be held accountable for accomplishing these goals.  To help me stay focused and to ensure that these goals will be accomplished, I have spent time identifying specific action steps.  These action steps identify the work that will be done this year to help th district make progress on these goals.

I have listed the goals and the specific action steps that will be the focus of my work in Novi this year. 

Goal One:  The Novi Community School District will ensure that each student will make no less than one year’s growth in one year’s time. 

1. Create a robust internal accountability system.

a. Reach consensus on specific assessments in math and reading that can be used in 

grades K-12 to measure yearly growth.

Due December 2011

b. Create a framework for measuring yearly growth in science, social studies, and 

writing that will begin to be used starting in the 2012-2013 school year.

Due April 2012

c. Create a mechanism to report yearly growth to stakeholders (students, parents, 

community members, teachers, administrators, and the Board of Education).

Due June 2012

2. Measure yearly student growth with the NWEA.

a. Pre-test all students in grades 1-8 with the NWEA in September 2011 and identify 

a growth goal for each student.

Due October 2011

b. Post-test all students in grades 1-8 with the NWEA in May 2012 and identify the 

growth or progress each student made in the 2011-2012 school year.

Due June 2012

c. Provide a parent report for students in grades 1-8 based on the NWEA that will 

identify specific learning activities that can be done over the summer.  

Due June 2012

3. Staff the Office of Academic Services, within the existing budget parameters, to provide 

the appropriate support to meet our yearly growth goal. 

a. Create a Student Growth and Accountability position.

Due November 1, 2011

b. Analyze the needs within the Office of Academic Services and bring to the Board 

of Education additional items for discussion and implementation as appropriate 

and needed.

Ongoing

4. Create opportunities for teacher and administrator professional development outside of 

the school day.

a. Create a Summer Institute for teachers and administrators to focus on improving 

instructional practice.

Due summer 2012.

b. Analyze opportunities for teacher and administrator professional development and 

implement and fund as appropriate and needed.

Ongoing

Goal Two:  The Novi Community School District will ensure that all students achieve at a high level. (There will be no achievement gaps.)

1. Build a comprehensive K-12 plan for addressing the needs of students performing below 

grade level.

a. Create a system that provides for classroom and out-of-classroom support with 

input from teachers and administrators. (Pyramid of Intervention)

March 2012

2. Create opportunities for students to receive additional academic support.

a. Start Saturday enrichment blocks in cooperation with the Department of 

Community Education open to all students but with a focus on students who need 

additional skill development.

Due February 2012

b. Start two-week summer enrichment blocks in cooperation with the Department of 

Community Education open to all students but with a focus on students who need 

additional skills development.

Due Summer 2012

3. Staff the Office of Academic Services, within the existing budget parameters, to provide the appropriate support to monitor and support our goal of high achievement for all. 

a. Create a Title 1/Title 2/Title 3 and ESL Supervisor position.

Due November 1, 2011

b. Analyze the needs within the Office of Academic Services and bring to the Board 

of Education additional items for discussion and implementation as appropriate 

and needed.

Ongoing

Goal Three: The Novi Community School District will evaluate and enhance opportunities for students while maintaining a minimum 10% fund balance.

1. Engage in a comprehensive review of current programs.

a. Create a rubric to provide a cost/benefit analysis of programs/clubs/activities.

Due December 2011

b. Make recommendations on any changes in time for the 2012-2013 budget 

process.

Due February 2012

Goal Four:  The Novi Community School District will improve organizational quality and 

customer service by creating common standards, systems, and principles.

1. Analyze Central Office functions and processes to improve effectiveness and service.

Due as soon as practical

2. Evaluate processes and procedures of teacher and administrator evaluation to comply 

with new legislation.

Due May 2012

3. Create a comprehensive process to solicit feedback from stakeholders on district 

programs and processes.

Due February 2012

4. Create a comprehensive district communications strategy.

Due May 2012

 

Math Lessons at Deerfield

Mrs. Henry leads her class through a discussion of place value using her Smart Board. Do you remember learning about the tens and the hundreds place in a number?

Broadcasting at Novi Middle School

Students in Mr. Miller's video broadcast class work this morning to prepare today's broadcast. In 45 minutes students research, write, and record today's news, weather, and sports.