Recent ActivityWelcome to my Fusion Page. I am in my seventh year as the Superintendent of Fairport Harbor Schools, and can honestly not imagine a more fortunate person than myself. I have a job that allows me to work with some of the finest people in the world! Over the last few years, we have truly begun the transformation from a very traditional school to a twenty-first century Learning Organization. Dramatic improvements in technology, professional development, and educational programming continue to move our district forward at a pace that is unprecedented throughout Lake and neighboring counties.
With our first cohort now in seventh grade, Fairport Harbor is an "Early College" school district. The ethos of early college high schools: catch students up, not by relegating them to the kind of remedial classes required at community colleges but by bombarding them with challenging work. The same things that have always enriched the lives of their more affluent peers.
Beginning with our own preschool students who are placed on an accelerated trajectory as soon as they enter our doors. From there they go to full-day kindergarten and experience a host of opportunities designed to help them maintain an accelerated pace so early college entrance is the natural transition. Fairport Harbor Schools continues to offer tremendous advantages to our students. As the father of one of the students in the class of 2013, I know how much this school district has to offer, and I am determined to make sure that the progress continues.
With our first cohort now in seventh grade, Fairport Harbor is an "Early College" school district. The ethos of early college high schools: catch students up, not by relegating them to the kind of remedial classes required at community colleges but by bombarding them with challenging work. The same things that have always enriched the lives of their more affluent peers.
Beginning with our own preschool students who are placed on an accelerated trajectory as soon as they enter our doors. From there they go to full-day kindergarten and experience a host of opportunities designed to help them maintain an accelerated pace so early college entrance is the natural transition. Fairport Harbor Schools continues to offer tremendous advantages to our students. As the father of one of the students in the class of 2013, I know how much this school district has to offer, and I am determined to make sure that the progress continues.
Announcements  Inspiring ExcellenceWe held our seventh annual Inspiring Excellence banquet on Tuesday May 21st. the top four graduating seniors honored the teachers that inspired them the most.
Daniel Jordan honored Mr. Messer Katie Campbell and John Corbin honored Mr. Hlousek John Burchette honored Mr. Rayl Last day of school for the Class of 2013
Today I realized that this was the last time the Class of 2013 would be attending classes in our school. On Monday, they will disperse across the county as they begin their senior projects. I Just had to get around the school and get a last day photo or two.When I first came to Fairport, they were elementary students. It may have been their enthusiasm and potential that gave me my first vision of the school district we could one day become. I am very proud of the young men and women that these students have become. I wish I could keep them longer, but that would be unfair to the rest of the world.  Village Council AwardsOn December 18, 2012, Mayor Tim Manross and the village council bestowed proclamation upon several skipper teams and individuals. From left to right we have Kasey Cohagen, Nic Paolo, Tim Manross, Kyle Burchette, Jake Morenz, Russ Messer, and Brandon Lauer.
Dr. Marzano
Bob MarzanoFunded by the Race to the Top grant, Fairport Harbor Schools has made serious strides in the arena of teacher evaluation and strategic compensation. Dr. Bob Marzano is one of the leaders in both fields. Marzano has developed programs and practices used in K–12 classrooms that translate current research and theory in cognition into instructional methods. His most recent work focuses on conducting a meta-analysis of the literature on student achievement gains, developing performance assessments, and integrating national content standards into the curriculum.We have studied his research extensively, and multiple tenets of it are interspersed throughout our own educational program.Michael Fullan Michael FullanMichael Fullan is currently Professor Emeritus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, and is Special Adviser on Education to the Premier of Ontario. Dr. Fullan served as Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Toronto from 1988 to 2003, leading two major organizational transformations, including a merger of two large schools of education. He is currently working as adviser and consultant on several major education reform initiatives around the world. His work with characterizing instructional leadership as the principal's central role has been a valuable first step in increasing student learning, but he goes on to establish that literacy and mathematics improvements are only the beginning. To ensure deeper learning - to encourage problem solving and thinking skills and to develop and nurture highly motivated and engaged learners, for example - requires mobilizing the energy and capacities of teachers. In turn, to mobilize teachers, we must improve teachers' working conditions and morale. Thus, we need leaders who can create a fundamental transformation in the learning cultures of schools and of the teaching profession itself. Michael Fullan's work has redefined the role of the principal as instructional leader to include the talents necessary to initiate of the kinds of reforms that will create the schools that we need for the future. The Future of Learning
Howard GardnerThis Summer I attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was able to meet one of the true pioneers in the field of educational psychology, Howard Gardner. His work in the field of multiple intelligences, changed the way many people in the field of education view teaching and learning. Howard Gardner viewed intelligence as 'the capacity to solve problems or to fashion products that are valued in one or more cultural setting' His work has helped a significant number of educators to question their work and to encourage them to look beyond the narrow confines of the dominant discourses of skilling, curriculum, and testing, and i consider myself very fortunate to be one of them. Professional Learning Communities
Rick and Becky DuFourFor more than a decade, I have been studying the work of Rick DuFour and "Professional Learning Communities." Along with his wife Becky, Rick travels the world teaching educators how to restructure schools to make them better able to accomplish the objectives of a learning organization.I am constantly amazed by their ability to convert advanced educational theory into a useable format. As Fairport Harbor continues to make strides to improve our educational program, we need to learn from the past so we can reinvent ourselves in a manner that takes advantage of the great work of others. There are few who havce accomplished more in the realm of American education, and I consider myself very fortunate to have had multiple opportunities to discuss succeses as well as setbacks with such accomplished educators. Inspiring Excellence 2011Inspiring ExcellenceOn May 17, 2011, we held our fifth annual Inspiring Excellence Awards Dinner. On this evening, our top graduating seniors are given the chance to recognize the teacher who most inspired them to dedicate themselves to achieving academic excellence. on this e3veing, i had the opportunity to pose for a photo with Mr. Hlousek who was honored by Chelsea Ritchie and Mrs. Tenon who was honored by Zach Butler. Also in the picture are Sarah Honkala, Chelsea Marvin, and Mr. Fazekas. On this night, I made it known that I would from now on be calling this event, the Hamilton Awards. Mr. Hamilton was our most frequent recipient of the award, and his absence was felt by all of us. Meeting Dr. GuskeyDr. Thomas GuskeyI was privileged enough to meet Dr. Thomas Guskey at a conference in Columbus. He is a professor in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky and an expert in research and evaluation who has authored or edited 12 books on educational measurement, evaluation, assessment, and grading. His work has been honored by numerous organizations, and his efforts in the field of grading have been used to develop better understanding of the use and impact of grades to not only report, but to improve student learning.
 McKinley Store Open for businessOpen for BusinessI got the chance to man the McKinley store one day for a PBS shopping spree. PBS stands for positive behavior supports. The concept behind PBS is that student behavior, achievement, and overall school climate is improved when positive feedback from the adults outnumbers negatives by an eight to one ratio. Teachers at McKinley reward positive actions with tokens that can be exchanged for prizes at the McKinley store. On this particular Day, Dr. Guynn allowed me to be the shopkeeper, and business was booming. The program seems to be working because attendance is improving, disciplinary actions are decreasing and the overall academic performance of our students appears to be increasing dramatically. One of my favorite ways to measure success is in "Smiles on Faces", and that is why I know the program is a success !There were a ton of fourth graders on the honor roll this grading period Getting off to a Great Start!
Pre-school and full Day KindergartenFairport Harbor schools are dedicated to giving students the best start possible. With pre-school giving them a solid foundation, our full-day kindergarten students can read you a book while you sit back and relax, whether you fit in the chair or not.Visit to McKinley
Visiting McKinleyIt is always nice to visit McKinley Elementary an see what is going on. There is always a group of students somewhere who are enthusiastic and excited about some activity or event.  Professional Learning Commuinities and Rick DuFourMeeting Dr. Rick DufourIn the Summer of 2010, Mr. Fazekas and Dr. Guynn and I attended a Symposium in Illinois. The host school was Adalai Stevenson High School. Its Former superintendent, Dr.Rick DuFour transformed that once struggling school into one of the nation's very best. It was our privilege to tour that school and hear from first hand experience, how a school, and a school district can transform itself into world leaders in education. In the process, the town around the school will most assuredly begin to thrive as well! it happened in Lincolnshire, and it is happening in Fairport today.
Meeting Bill Daggett
Bill DaggettI have had the opportunity to meet a nationally renowned educational researcher.Willard R. Daggett, Ed.D., he is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. He has assisted a number of states and hundreds of school districts with their school improvement initiatives.Dr. Daggett has also collaborated with education ministries in several countries and with the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors Association, and many other national organizations. He serves on several advisory boards. His most recent work is with the nation's most rapidly improving schools. He studies these rapidly improving schools and isolates commonalities that may translate to success in other districts, including our own! Auburn ProgramAuburn Quest Program
The Quest Program is designed to give middle school students an opportunity to experience a variety of hands-on activities that may spark an interest in a future field of employment. |
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 | Domenic Paolo: Early College School District | Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 9:56 AM |  Discuss |
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