Leading for Learning
Learning to Read

Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Winfield, Illinois

Mrs. Ann Piccione, Curriculum Leader
Dr. Margo Sorrick, Assistant Superintendent

Slide 2 - Pleasant Hill School Facts
•	Elementary School
•	605 Students, 16% Special Education,  
•	Suburban District of Chicago, Illinois
•	85 Total Staff Members 
•	State Tests with National Norms, Local Assessments
•	Wheaton-Warrenville School District 200  

Slide 3 - Curriculum Leader Initiative 
•	Interest in Building Leadership Capacity
•	Need for On-site Curricular Specialists
•	Provide for Equitable Teacher Representation in a Large District
•	State Approved Building-directed New Teacher Induction Program

Slide 4 - Curriculum Leader Model
•	Members of the Bargaining Unit
•	Half-day Teachers with Instructional Responsibilities
•	Half-day Curriculum Leader Administrative Interns
•	Teacher Work Calendar
•	Serve as Support to the Building Instructional Leader, the Principal

Slide 5 - Liaison for Board of Education Initiatives
•	District Level Meetings Bi-monthly
•	Provide for Consistent and Effective Communications 
•	Leadership Responsibilities with the School Improvement Team
•	Direct the State and Local Assessment Programs
•	Peer Coaching for Novice and Veteran Staff

Slide 6 - School Level Responsibilities
•	Instructional Resource for Staff
•	Communicate Curricular Initiatives
•	Facilitate School Improvement Plans
•	Classroom Instructional Coaching
•	Direct State and Local Assessment Programs
•	Coordinate Student Services Programs 

Slide 7 - Impact of the Curriculum Leader Administrative Intern at Pleasant Hill Elementary School
•	Accurate and Efficient Communication 
•	Seamless Direction of Accountability Programs
•	Coordination of Student and Financial Resources
•	Effective Transition of New Staff Members  
•	Provided Stability During Leadership Change

Slide 8 - Impact of Curriculum Leader Position Relative to Student Learning at Pleasant Hill
•	State Reading Achievement Scores
	Grade Three – 79% Increased to 86%
	Grade Five – 89% Increased to 90%
•	State Math Achievement Scores
	Grade Three – 95% Increased to 97%
	Grade Five – 93% Increased to 96%

Slide 9 - Impact of Curriculum Leader Position Relative to  Student Learning at the District Level
•	State Reading Achievement Scores
	Grade Three – 85% Increased to 88%
	Grade Five – 81% Increased to 84%
•	State Math Achievement Scores
	Grade Three – Consistent at 94%
	Grade Five – 88% Increased to 92%

Slide 10 - Impact of Position on NCLB Expectations
•	Three Schools Removed from NCLB Watch List

•	Initiated Pro-active Intervention Programs for Designated Sub-group Needs

•	Decreased the Achievement Gaps  Across the District

Slide 11 - Financial Implications of the Position
•	Grant Funds Support the One-half Day Portion of the Day for the Curriculum Leader Administrative Intern
•	Curriculum Work Expenditures Reduced by 37% from Curriculum Committee Structure 
•	Position Provides Additional Instructional Resource Personnel Previously Not Affordable

Slide 12 -S ummary Points
Key Learning's
•	60% (+) Curriculum Leaders Have Assumed Administrative Positions in the Profession
•	It is NOT All About Money 

Challenges Still Ahead
•	Building the Next Generation 
•	Maintaining the Representative Balance