It is “very specific to our school, and our staff. And what our mission and goal is here. It’s what we have a passion for,” said Mario Palacios, 4th grade Spanish immersion teacher, describing the graphic recording that was drawn based on the staff meeting held October 8 at Puesta del Sol. Staff discussed their Professional Learning Community (PLC) goals for the year, the school’s mission, school charter and the district’s initiatives. Principal, Jonathan Shearer, invited artist Anne Jess to depict a visual representation of the meeting in a graphic recording to enhance staff members experience and visual learning.
The school has been and is continuing to focus its resources and energy on ensuring that each and every student is successful, whether in achieving grade level proficiency or for those already proficient, to be supported and challenged to continue to grow. For instance, the Kindergarten team’s goal is for 100 percent of their students to reach grade level proficiency in reading measured by the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment, while the 4th grade team’s target is for 100 percent growth for students already at proficiency in reading and math by growing 100 points on the STAR assessments between the beginning and end of the year.
The meeting was “an informative understanding where all the different teams are and how we’re all doing different goals, but we are all going towards the same finish line for the end of the year,” said Palacios. “The staff meeting taught me to see my piece of the big learning puzzle,” said Nicole Perriella, 2nd grade Spanish immersion teacher. Now displayed in the staff work room, the recording captures abstract components of the meeting to promote dialogue and interpretation among staff members.*
“When I first saw the completed graphic recording I felt valued,” Perriella said. “I love the graphic recording idea. It is colorful, fun and reminds me to celebrate even when I meet tough challenges and sometimes can’t see the end. And it makes me feel included,” added Palacios.
*Two days after the October 8 meeting, Jess came back with the sketched recording to get feedback on her interpretation of Wednesday’s discussion. Teachers suggested Jess include visual representations of the different Spanish-speaking countries where staff is from. Jess outfitted the educators in the drawing in cultural heritage attire.