CHARGE

• Identify issues of implementation from student, staff, curriculum and operational perspectives

• Define priorities for ensuring a smooth transition for students

TEAM PROFILE

The Transition to Middle Grades Districtwide Action Team has a total of 20 members; 13 are staff (including the District Facilitator, staff content lead and notetaker) and 5 are community members (including the Community Co-Chair). The staff include individuals from various central office departments (School and Program Improvement; Special Education; Counseling Services; Center for Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development; and Division of Schools) as well as principals, teachers and/or other instructional personnel from the following schools: Maxfield, Murray, Harding, Adams Spanish Immersion, Crossroads Montessori, Battle Creek Middle School. The community members include parents and representatives of the following schools, groups and/or organizations: Adams, Dayton’s Bluff, Parks and Recreation, St Paul Public Library, and Project Success.

The racial composition of the team (including Board Directors) is as follows*: 1 African-American, 1 American Indian, 1 Asian, 14 Caucasian, and 3 Hispanic.

* Unless self-identified as multi-racial, individuals who selected more than one race were counted in each racial category.

MEETING DATES AND TIMES⁺

All meetings will take place at the SPPS Administration Building located at 360 Colborne Street, St. Paul, MN 55102.

Please click on the dates listed below to view meeting minutes.

• Tuesday, June 14, 2011
• Thursday, June 23, 2011
• Tuesday, July 26, 2011
  • Opportunities and Challenges Breakdown
    
• Tuesday, August 30, 2011 
• Tuesday, September 27, 2011    
  • Define the Foundation - Transition    
  • Define the Foundation - Programming  
  • Define the Foundation - Parent & Community
• Tuesday, October 25, 2011                
• Monday, November 28, 2011             
• Monday, December 19, 2011           Final Presentation
  • Supporting Document for Recommendations

TEAM MEMBERS

• Denise Quinlan, Staff Facilitator
• Helio de La Torre, Community Co-Chair
• John Andrastek, Staff Resource Lead
• Jesse Mraz, Staff Notetaker

• Craig Anderson, Member
• Jason Brown, Member
• Cathy Camarena, Member
• Gail Ghere, Member
• John Hennessy, Member
• Kazoua Kong -Thao,Member (Director, Board of Education)
• Kathy Korum, Member
• Barbara Kurtz, Member
• Karen Kolb Peterson, Member
• Kristy Pierce, Member
• Eva Pranis, Member
• Melisa Rivera, Member
• Denise Rodriguez, Member
• Nancy Stachel, Member
• Elona Street-Stewart, Member (Chair, Board of Education)
• Tim Williams, Member
• Shawn Wright, Member

Please contact Joe Munnich, joe.munnich@spps.org or (651) 767-8109, with any questions.

For up-to-date information on Strong Schools, Strong Communities Implementation and monitoring,

please visit http://accountability.spps.org/StrongSchools.