The American Classroom

Rocco G. Tomazic, Ed.D.

Superintendent, Linden Public Schools

A presentation by the Linden High School Confucius Classroom to New York University

Pre-Service Teachers of Chinese

Friday, September 28, 2012

New addition to the Academy

Background

Currently Superintendent of public school district

College teachingUniversity of Maryland (Theatre, Public

Speaking)Rutgers University (Education)

20 years as a U.S. Navy Officer Retired as a Commander Lived 2 years in Japan, 3 years in Italy

Post Graduate Education

– Master of Fine Arts Theatre ManagementFlorida State University, Oxford University

– Master of Arts International Relations Salve Regina College

– Master of Arts National Security Affairs Naval War College

– Master of Arts Educational Administration St. Peters College

– Doctor of Education Rutgers University

Authority of Education

U.S. Constitution gives authority for education to the states

State Constitutions address educational matters

State is responsible, but authorizes local control

State Departments of Education

Graduation requirements

Curriculum standards

Assessments

Teacher Certification

New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards

Language Arts Literacy

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

World Languages

Visual/Performing Arts

Health/Physical Education

Technology

Life and Careers

Tested

Tested

Tested

Not Tested

Not Tested

Not Tested

Not Tested

Not Tested

Not Tested

NCLB Categories for Reporting

Total schoolTotal special educationTotal limited English proficientTotal low income

Total White

Total Black

Total Hispanic

Total Asian

Total Native American

COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS (CCSSO)

&NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION

CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES(NGA CENTER)

Standards Development Process

College and career readiness standards developed in summer 2009Based on the college and career readiness standards, K-12 learning progressions developedMultiple rounds of feedback from states, teachers, researchers, higher education, and the general publicFinal Common Core State Standards released on June 2, 2010– 46 states and DC have adopted

What are the Common Core State Standards?

Aligned with college and work expectations

Focused and coherent

Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills

Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards

Internationally benchmarked so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society

Based on evidence and research

State led – coordinated by NGA Center and CCSSO

Why is this important?

Currently, every state has its own set of academic standards, meaning public education students in each state are learning to different levels

All students must be prepared to compete with not only their American peers in the next state, but with students from around the world

STANDARDS FORENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

&LITERACY IN HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES,SCIENCE, AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS

JUNE 2010

Key Advances

Reading• Balance of literature and informational texts• Text complexityWriting• Emphasis on argument and informative/explanatory writing• Writing about sourcesSpeaking and Listening• Inclusion of formal and informal talkLanguage• Stress on general academic and domain-specific vocabulary

Key Advances

Standards for reading and writing in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects• Complement rather than replace content standards

in those subjects• Responsibility of teachers in those subjects

Alignment with college and career readinessexpectations

Model for Communication

NJ Graduation Requirements

Area 9th 10th 11th 12th

English English I English II English III English IV

Math Geometry Algebra II Pre-Calculus Calculus

Science Biology Chemistry Physics Anatomy

Social Studies World History Am History I Am History II  xxx

Health/PE Health/PE Health/PE Health/PE Health/PE

World Lang World Lang World Lang World Lang World Lang

FPA/Career FPA Career  xxx  xxx

140 max 120 min

Understanding the Wider Aspects of Public Education

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Buildings and FacilitiesSchool Buildings– Linden High School – 2

Main building and Academy– Middle Schools – 2– Elementary Schools – 8

Support Buildings– Administration Building– Special Education Building

(Sunnyside)– Maintenance Facility– Field House/Athletic Field

Students and Staff

Students – 6091– Elementary – 2869– Middle School – 1343– High School – 1745– Out-of-District – 134

Faculty & Staff 976– Administrators - 35– Teachers/Certified Staff - 585– Non-certified Staff - 356

Student Ethnicity and Poverty

Ethnicity– Black – 37%– Hispanic – 33%– White – 24%– Asian – 2%– Other – 4%

Free and Reduced Lunch – 56.5%

Comprehensive District

Autistic

Learning disabled

Behavior disabled

Vocational

College prep

Elite colleges

Students 6-16

Length of School Year

180 school days

Teachers 184 days– Day before– Day after– X2 Professional

Development

Public schools only

Length of School Day

High School– 7:45am – 2:45pm

Middle School– 7:45am – 2:40pm

Elementary School– 8:25am – 3:00pm– 8:45am – 3:20pm

Must be 4 hours

Snow Closings (or Hurricanes)

Decision by 5:00am

Other districts

Phone– Robotic Call– Manual Call

Media– Web page– Facebook– Email

School Security

Lockdown

Bomb Scare

Active Shooter

Fire

Shelter in Place

Uniforms & ID

Young Children

Events I Attend

Back-to-School night

Sports events

Musical performances

Plays

Award ceremonies

PTA meetings

Civic occasions

Employee Benefits

No national medical plan in America

District provides– Medical– Dental– Pharmacy

Family medical cost district $20K/year

Medical Issues

Head lice

Ring worm

Bed bugs

Asthma

Peanut allergies

Bee stings

Diabetes

Sports injuries

Teacher Tenure

Four years + 1 day

Continuous in same district

Protection against political influences

Used to be difficult and expensive to remove– Now easier

Teacher Pensions

District and individual contribute

Can retire after 25 years– 25/55 x Avg Salary

Can retire at 60 years old– 5/55 x Avg Salary

Revenues for 2011-2012Budgeted Fund

Balance2.90%

Interest on Reserves

.01%

Miscellaneous Revenue

.74%

Withdrawal from Capital Reserve

.04%

Withdrawal from Maintenance Re-

serve.03%

State Aid18.30%

Special Education Medicaid Initiative

.38%

Local Levy76.52%

Education Jobs Fund.96%

Tuition .12%

Expenditures for 2011-2012

Instruction32%

Special Education20%

Health/Student Ac-tivity2%

Operations/Main-tenance

10%

Personnel Services/Employee

Benefits18%

Transportation5%

Administration8%

Improvement of In-structional Services

2%

Capital Outlay4%

What do the schools look like?

Compare your perceptions with the pictures

Painting of classrooms

Painting of classrooms

Painting of corridors

Painting of corridors

Refurbish gym floor and painting of gym

Refinish gym floor

Refinish gym floor

Completed running track at Cooper Field

What do the students look like?

Compare your perceptions with the pictures

5 C Standards Comparison

比较Connections

贯连（其它学科）

Culture

文化

Communication

沟通 Community

社区

Interpretive理解诠释 Interpersonal

与人沟通Presentational

表达演示

Use Beyond the Classroom学无止境

Life- Long Learners学以致用

Health/Physical Science

Math/Number/CountingMusic/Art

Culture比较文化

Language比较语言

Products文化产物

Practices文化习俗

Perspectives文化认知

Diagram By : Celia Liu

以 5C 准则来评估长城汉语是否符合全美外语教学目标

劉亮吟 69羅格斯大學孔子學院 K-12 中文教學提綱

Multimedia Learning Tools

In ClassAfter Class

Teacher’s Lesson Plan

Textbook Materials

Games and In-Class Activities Suggestions

课堂学习课后温习

Web-BasedActivities and Assignments

On-Line Review and Assessment

长城汉语把【老师带回家】长城汉语将【学习】延伸到【课堂之外】

全方位的设计

整体架构 循序渐进教学方案多

媒体教材提供课

堂活动设计

网上复习与评量

多媒体练习工具网

上作业缴交

The NYC Metro Area

Becoming a Teacher in NJCertificate of Eligibility– Alternate Route

Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing– Traditional Route

Provisional– 1st year in district

Standard– Non citizen

One license is good, more is better

Maintaining Professional Growth

Attend workshopsGive workshopsContinuing education– Through school and outside

Certificate programsDegree programs– Pay guide implications

Blending learning?– Online or bricks & mortar

Getting a Job

Paper vs. OnlineRésumé format– Licenses, education, experience

Supplemental materials– Licenses, transcripts, references– Immigration status

Interviews– Demonstration lessons

Negotiating pay, benefits

Alternatives to a Job

Long term replacementPer diem substituteParaprofessionalBilingual AideVolunteerAdult school/after school programs

Who Would You Hire?

Fluent and proficient in ChineseSpeaks well with an open personalityHonest and hard workingFriendly and likeable Capable of working on a teamGood with studentsCommunicative with parentsAware of wider aspects of education

Comparing and Contrasting

Questions?

rtomazic@linden.k12.nj.us