A Principal on Supporting Teachers for Student College Readiness – Podcast Episode 128 | Classnotes Podcast Episode 128

Classnotes Podcast (September 6, 2013) School transformation doesn’t just happen by decree from a superintendent or principal. Systems and support for teachers and other staff must be deliberate and sustainable. This is how, the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district has become a leader in connecting high school students to college. For example, at the district’s College, Career & Technology Academy, two-thirds of high school students last year were in college credit-bearing classes. And the school is aiming for 100 percent.

In this third and final part of our interview, Linda Carrillo, CCTA principal, describes types of college credit students are earning, teacher support and how the teachers feel about what they are doing. Linda is interviewed by Hector Bojorquez, an IDRA education associate.

Show Length: 17:04

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Resources

Video interview with Dr. Daniel P. King, superintendent of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) school district [04:46 min]
In 2007 PSJA had 500 students drop out each year, many in their senior year. In this interview, he describes how he and his district brought them back to a new environment not only to graduate but to do so with college credit.
http://budurl.com/IDRAVidKing

Higher Education Success – Key System Strategies 
María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, Ph.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/higher-education-success/

Defining a Schoolwide College-Readiness Culture for All Students An Interview with Roland Toscano
M.S., Principal at East Central High School in San Antonio, IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/defining-a-schoolwide-college-readiness-culture/

Describing the First-Year Experience for First-Time-in-College Students at Major Community College
Josie Danini Cortez, M.A., and Albert Cortez, Ph.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/describing-first-year-experience-first-time-college-students-major-community-college/

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Show Notes

  • Linda talks about establishing high expectations and a college-going culture for CCTA students “from day one.”

  • Linda outlines the typical path that a student follows at CCTA, noting that 69 percent of students are participating in a college class.

  • Linda discusses the support systems and customer service that CCTA provides its students.

  • Linda talks about the efforts to help CTA students leave the school with even more hours of college credit, including industry certifications and college certificates, with a focus on high-skilled, high-demand courses.

  • Linda discusses how she would support a teacher who is struggling to embrace the CCTA mission.

  • Linda explains why she wants CCTA to be a model “worthy of replication.”