TylerDavenport

WILSON HIGH SCHOOLTEACHER’S ASSISTANT (TA) REVIEW

Why study and research TA’s?Wilson High School profileActivity – Can you tell me…Field Research from Area High SchoolsStaff Assessment Data“Comprehensive” TA ProgramsProposed Solutions

AGENDA

Potentially a valuable experience for teachers and students Teachers have the chance to mentor students/workers while they

complete valuable tasks on the job Students gain work experience and build valuable relationships with

their teachers/supervisors

Analyze productivity and efficiency

Rethink expectations and responsibilities assigned

Streamline the TA registration/selection process throughout a given building, district , or state

There is minimal, if any, research focused on secondary TA’s

WHY RESEARCH TEACHERS ASSISTANTS?

WHAT DOES WILSON LOOK LIKE?1% 1%

4%

4%

4%

7%

79%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

American Indian/Alaska Native

Multi-Racial

Asain

Black/African American

Hispanic/Latino

White

w w w . o d e . s t a t e . o r . u s / g o / S c h o o l R C

Wilson by the Numbers in 2013

Population 2012-13: 1,185 students About 9% down from the previous year

SAT Scores:  Exceeded District , State and National averagesFive-hundred and fifty-six: AP exams taken by Wilson

studentsSeventy-Two : Percentage of staff holding a master's degree or

higherOver $1 million : Estimated amount of scholarship dollars

received by Wilson graduates 

h t t p : / / w w w. p p s . k 1 2 . o r. u s / s c h o o l s / w i l s o n / 1 9 4 . h t m

WHAT DOES WILSON LOOK LIKE?

Can you tell me…

ACTIVITY

One half (.5) credit available per semester No written limit on the number of times a student can hold a TA

position

Different types of TA positions available Office/Counseling TA, Community Mentor, Peer Helper, etc.

Some positions are eligible to earn a letter grade

Imbalance in responsibilities between positions

Outdated job description and language, i.e. “No skimpy tops”

C o u n s e l i n g D e p a r t m e n t , W i l s o n H i g h S c h o o l

WILSON HIGH SCHOOL

One half (.5) credit available per semester

No opportunity to earn a letter grade

Students can hold a TA position 2 times per year

Counseling Office TA’s are expected to organize notes and materials to be delivered to staff and students

L i n d a K e l l e r , C o r v a l l i s H i g h S c h o o l , C o u n s e l i n g S e c r e t a r y

CORVALLIS HIGH SCHOOL

One half ( .5) credit available per semester

TA Positions are limited Juniors and Seniors make up the bulk of the positions Sophomore positions are limited Freshman are ineligible

No opportunity for letter grades

Can work for 1 semester as a TA and: Apply to work for a 2nd semester or Enroll in an elective course or study hall

Must sign teacher agreement

S h a r i t h a M c K e n z i e , J e f f e r s o n H i g h S c h o o l , C o u n s e l o r

JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL

TA Contract for Peer Tutors

No opportunity for letter grades

One half (.5) credit available per semester

One (1) credit limit for TA or Peer Tutor

No formal cap on TA’s per Teacher per period, however, the administration encourages no more than 1 in most cases

D a n i c a J e n s e n , W e s t v i e w H i g h S c h o o l , C o u n s e l o r

WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

THE DATA

98%

3%

Have you previously had/do you currently have a TA working for you?

Yes

No

THE DATA

1%

16%

15%

14%

15%

11%

12%

2%

8%

6%

Tasks Assigned to TA's

I don't use TA's

Organize classroom materials

Make copies

Assist peers

Deliver information (passes, etc.) to students and staff members

Clean classroom materials

Complete projects as assigned

Set up a lab

Grade assignments

Other

THE DATA

84%

13%

3%

How many periods per day should students be allowed to serve as a TA?

1 Period

2 Periods

3 Periods

THE DATA

52%

32%

3%

3%

10%

How many TA's should teachers be allowed to have per period?

1 TA

2 TA's

3 TA's

4 TA's

5 TA's

THE DATA

1%

35%

22%

24%

9%

8%

Reasons for having a TA

I don't have a TATA's help me with projects and tasksStudents tell me that they don't have any option besides being a TA for elective creditStudents tell me that they need the credit for graduationStudents tell me that they need to be a TA to stay eligible for athleticsOther

THE DATA

50%50%

How much credit should students be able to earn for working as a TA?

0.5 Credits per Semester0.25 Credits per Semester

THE DATA

35%

40%

25%

Should students be able to earn a letter grade for working as a TA given uniform expectations?

YesNoOther

Chaska and Chanhassen High Schools, Chanhassen, Minnesota

Created and monitored by the Coordinator of Gifted Services Geared towards academic tutoring in a given subject area Clear, objective expectations and requirements for both students and

mentor teachers to sign off on Minimal work added to teachers caseload

Northgate High School, Walnut Creek, California Grading Rubric is included in the TA Contract Reasonable expectations are outlined

EXEMPLARY TA PROGRAMS

Being a Teacher Aide requires the student to be punctual and take instruction as well as work independently to be productive in the student's assigned area of responsibility.

The student will learn the skills and perform the duties required by the teacher or office to which assigned.

The primary focus is to assist the teacher/supervisor and administrators as needed.

A maximum of twenty (20) credits of teacher aide can receive graduation elective credit towards graduation.

A 10th-12th grade student can be a TA for only one period each year.

COURSE DESCRIPTION - NORTHGATE

Advocate for a meaningful TA experienceWith proper funding (0.50 FTE) I propose to:

Reassess the expectations and responsibilities of all TA’s Rewrite contracts and agreements to include:

Which TA positions are eligible to earn a letter grade Which TA positions are pass/no pass Updated language (i.e. “No skimpy tops”)

Combine the TA application and ContractDefine and advertise the different types of TA’s

Make sure students know what they are signing up forRestart and shift the culture of TA’s within the building

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

Connect with professionalsAdvocate for a meaningful TA experience

Assess and reassess current practices

CONCLUSION