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Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies peer review gives support and feedback
By SHARON PERRY SULLIVAN
Dare County Schools
Now in the second year of a five-year New Schools Project Grant, Cape
Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies hosted one of the first
rounds of New Schools Project Peer Reviews earlier this fall. The
review team consisted of teachers and administrators from schools
across the state that are also in the New Schools Project network, N.C.
New Schools Project Northeast Consultant John Parker, and New Schools
Project Facilitator Instructional Coach Dusty Burns. Visiting also were
representatives from Early Colleg e and Redesigned Schools.
"It was great to work with such a hospitable and
interesting group of staff and students. The visiting team was
unanimously appreciative," commented Parker at the conclusion of the
day’s events that included interactive classroom observations,
lunch with student representatives, and an open discussion with
structured and spontaneous feedback.
"I especially appreciate Cape Hatteras being willing to pioneer the
peer-review visit process. As I shared with the group today, North
Carolina New Schools Project is learning and growing as we try to
support a networking process that opens reform-based classroom practice
for critical discussion," reflected Parker. "It takes a special group
of folks to lead this effort as the Hatteras faculty is doing. Our peer
review visit at Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies today
was productive and informative."
The classrooms and teachers who were most involved in this process were
those selected for the actual visitations - middle school teachers
Tracy Shisler, science, and Lovie Heilig, language arts, and high
school teachers Denise Cole, algebra 2, and Bob Spangler, physical
science. Review team members were provided with lists of questions from
each of the teachers based on primarily students' response and
interaction in the classroom.
To think of this process as an observation/critique would be
inaccurate. The review teams were more interested in observing and
seeking successful strategies that could be emulated in other
classrooms and to problem solve as a team. Still, even though this
process will undoubtedly enhance these teachers' instructional
delivery, it took a willingness on their part to leave comfort zones
behind and take risks.
Elsewhere in the state, other schools were being visited by peer review
teams. They then traveled to Greenville for a two-day follow-up
workshop. CHSSCS Assistant Principal Jean Taylor coordinated the visit
at Hatteras and also went to Greenville to participate in the workshop
involving NSP participants and administrators.
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