+iRGINIA BEACH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AHEAD

OF

THE

CURVE

Department of Teaching and Learning

MEMORANDUM
TO:

Elementary School Principals

FROM:

Amy E. Cashwell, Ed.D., Chief Academic

Lesley L. Hughes, Ed.D., Executive Director, Elementary Teaching and

Officer~

l./HJJJLeaming~

SUBJECT:

ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM DESIGN TEAM

APPLICATION
Action Required by January 30, 2015

DATE:

January 15, 2015

The Department of Teaching and Learning is seeking elementary language arts teachers and reading
specialists to participate on a Language Arts Curriculum Design Team. The purpose of the team will be to
review current division literacy documents and resources, discuss the current format of the language arts
curriculum, and develop a language arts curriculum design that will be utilized by Teaching and Learning
staff as language arts curriculum is updated and revised.
The Language Arts Curriculum Design Team meetings will occur on February 25 and 26, 2015 , at the
Tidewater Community College Joint Use Library and on February 27, 2015 , in the School Plant Training
Room. All meetings will be held from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The cost of substitutes will be funded by the
Department of Teaching and Learning.
Please share this information with language arts teachers and reading specialists in your building who may
be interested in applying for the Language Arts Curriculum Design Team. The application is attached for
your reference and can be accessed on SharePoint under Teaching and Learning/Elementary Curriculum/
grade level/Language Arts. The responsibilities of selected participants are listed on the application. As part
of the application process, please note that principals are required to provide a recommendation.
Completed applications should be submitted to Roberta Jennings, administrative office associate, by email
at Roberta.Jennings@vbschools.com or faxed to 263-1424, by January 30, 2015 . Questions may be
directed to Danielle Colucci, elementary language arts coordinator, at 263-1144 or by email to
Danielle.Colucci@vbschools.com. Thank you.
/cm
Attachment
ec:

Superintendent -~

Aaron C. Spence, Ed.D.,

Sheila S. Magula, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
Kevin A. Hobbs, Chief of Staff

Shirann C. Lewis, Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Schools

Krista Barton-Arnold, Director, Elementary Schools
Kathleen A. Starr, Director, Elementary Schools

T&L/092

A.
VIRGINIA BEACH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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Department of Teaching and Learning

LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER/READING SPECIALIST APPLICATION FOR
LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM DESIGN TEAM
Name: - - -- - - -- - - -- -- - -- -- - - - - WISE #: - -- - -- - - -- School: - - - -- -- -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -- -- - - Current Assignment and/or Grade Level: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _
Years of Experience in Current Assignment: _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ _ _ _ __
Total Years of Experience: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _

Participant Responsibilities:

Attend the Language Arts Curriculum Design Team meetings:

__, February 25, 2015

__, February 26, 2015
__, February 27, 2015

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

TCC Joint Use Library

TCC Joint Use Library
School Plant Training Room

Review the philosophy of literacy and goals of the school division for literacy.
Represent the views and interests of your subject area.
Demonstrate understanding of the curriculum development and design process set forth by VBCPS.
Maintain an active role in the project.
Collaborate with Language Arts Curriculum Design Team members to produce language arts curriculum design
proposals.

Criteria for Participants:

Language arts teachers must be currently teaching and have taught in the past year.
All applicants must complete and submit an application by January 30, 2015.

CHECKLIST OF ITEMS NEEDED TO APPLY

D Completed Application (e-mailed to Roberta Jennings by January 30, 2015)

D Principal Recommendation Form - Provided to the Principal (Principal returns directly to Roberta Jennings)
D I have reviewed and agree to the responsibilities and expectations required to participate in this proj ect.

Applicant 's Signature

Date

For this project, the Department of Teaching and Leaming is seeking candidates who are motivated to collaborate
with division teachers and central office language arts specialists to develop language arts curriculum design
proposals in order to better meet the curricular needs of elementary language arts teachers. Please explain your interest
in pursuing participation on the Language Arts Curriculum Design Team.

Describe your vision for the language arts curriculum.

How do you currently utilize the curriculum to plan for high quality language arts instruction? Please attach a learning
plan that was created utilizing the division curriculum.

Explain why you would make a strong candidate for this project.

A
VIRGINIA BEACH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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T H E

Department of Teaching and Learning

LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM DESIGN TEAM

PROPOSED PLAN AND TIME LINE

January 30, 2015

Applications due to Roberta Jennings, Elementary Teaching and Leaming

February 9, 2015

Applicants will be notified of participant selection

February 25, 2015

Session 1: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the TCC Joint Use Library

February 26, 2015

Session 2: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the TCC Joint Use Library

February 27, 2015

Session 3: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM in the School Plant Training Room

+ .RGINIA BEACH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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H E A

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C U R V

Department of Teaching and Learning

Dear Principal,
The applicant providing this form (with the staff member information box completed) is requesting
your help in completing his/her application to participate on the Language Arts Curriculum Design
Team. To ensure the division is recruiting quality participants, please review the responsibilities and
criteria listed below and consider the attributes of the teacher who is applying. After completing the
applicant recommendation form, please return it directly to Roberta Jennings, administrative office
associate, at Roberta.Jennings@vbschools.com or fax to 263-1424 on or before January 30, 2015.

Staff Member Information (to be completed by the applicant)

Name of principal completing applicant rating: _ __ __ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __

Participant Responsibilities:

Attend the Language Arts Curriculum Design Team meetings:

February 25, 2015

__.. February 26, 2015
-+
February 27, 2015
-+

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

TCC Joint Use Library

TCC Joint Use Library
School Plant Training Room

Review the philosophy ofliteracy and goals of the school division for literacy.
Represent the views and interests of your subject area.
Demonstrate understanding of the curriculum development and design process set forth by VBCPS .
Maintain an active role in the project.
Collaborate with Language Arts Curriculum Design Team members to produce language arts curriculum
design proposals.

Criteria for Participants:

Language arts teachers must be currently teaching and have taught in the past year.
All applicants must complete and submit an application by January 30, 2015.

Please complete the recommendation form on the following page.

Use the scale 1 (minimally) to 4 (consistently) to rate the applicant.

(to be completed by principal)

1. The applicant exhibits strong content/curriculum knowledge, instructional knowledge, best practices
in literacy, and student-focused practices based on developmental readiness of children.
CIRCLE ONE:

2. The applicant is dedicated to meeting division curriculum goals and objectives.

CIRCLE ONE:

3. The applicant serves as an instructional leader in the building and exhibits strong communication and
collaboration skills.
CIRCLE ONE:

4. The applicant is strongly committed to completing tasks and meeting deadlines.

CIRCLE ONE:

Please take a moment to comment about the applicant's instructional practices and effectiveness as a
collaborative team member and why you feel he/she would be a strong asset to the Language Arts
Curriculum Design Team.

Principals 's Signature

Date