HMSA Advisory Board Meeting

HMSA Advisory Board meeting August 28, 2012

The meeting was called to order by Katina Dudley at 5:30 p.m.

In Attendance: Katina Dudley, Director HMSA Jesse Turner, Principal MHS Lauren Williamson, Biology Teacher MHS John Donnelly, VP for Instruction & Student Services, PVCC Mike Irani, Assistant Principal Cale Elementary Nikki Hastings, VP for laboratory operations at HemoShear biotech firm; VABIO Fred Diehl, Biology Professor, University of Virginia JC Wolfe, Dentist, Charlottesville Sedation Mary Huffard Kegley, Liason to the School Board and Superintendent of ACPS Susan Stimart, Economic Development Facilitator for Albemarle County Alison Dwier-Selden, Principal Walton MS Richard Lindsay, Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine and Family Practice Adam Southall, Counselor MHS Randy Canterbury, Director UVa School of Medicine Jeremy Dove, Biology Teacher MHS Eric Strucko, ACPS School Board Lianne Landers, UVa Innovations Tony Borash, Lead Coach ACPS Darah Bonham, Assistant Principal MHS

a. Curriculum – I. Dr. Canterbury shared his thoughts related to cumulative assessments: I.i. Do the cumulative assessments determine that there is an “end” to instruction? I.ii. He recommended not binging but purging curriculum. I.iii. Fundamentally, 15% new direction; determine the main ideas that will support future material for the current academic year, as well as curriculum for next year. II. Dr. Canterbury also spoke to the significance of the Flipped Classroom Model and its impact on instruction. This model is being implemented to medical school students and the outcomes are beyond belief. Experiences should be increased, more than just the use of google; do more than fact learning. II.i. Response from Academy: The Academy and the Anatomy and Physiology classes are being introduced to this model periodically. This is a new model used by teachers and the amount of prep required ahead of time is proving to be an obstacle with the opening of the Academy. The instructors plan to continue efforts to increase the use of this model throughout the year. Case studies are being used to enhance and share content that was prepared by the students the night before. II.ii. Response from Nikki Hastings: The Flipped Classroom can lead to an exciting course. III. John Donnelly’s Question: “Where will students go when done?” The answer should drive what we do in the next several years. His suggestions, along with other suggestions are listed below under Next Steps. b. Learning Space – no comment. c. Laptops – no comment. d. Research Course – I. The research course is designed for students in 9th or 10th grade. II. Suggestion to use guest speakers. Susan Stimart suggested a speaker from R and D firm “pocketsonics”. Their research focuses on technology for health care fields, the portable sonogram with applications for IV insertion as well as computer algorithms, sonogram technology, and R&D processes such as grant writing for research. Susan has provided contact information via an email for the Academy. III. Clarification as to when the research course will be offered: Students will receive their Health 9 credit within the academy course work. Those that still need their P.E. credit will take P.E. for nine weeks and then report to the academy classroom for research for the remaining nine weeks (most other students from Monticello will be enrolled in Health 9 during this time.) IV. Dr. Diehl invited members of the Advisory Board to join a smaller committee as the curriculum is finalized for the Research course being offered. This course is designed to be low tech. The goal is to increase students’ interest in science and independent thinking. Please let us know if you are interested. Work has begun but the curriculum is not yet complete. Students from the University of Virginia will be given an opportunity to work in this course as well.

Next Steps and/or items to consider: I. Professional Development for teachers: Team Based Learning. This could possibly be provided by Dr. Canterbury’s team teaching crew. II. Review five colleges/3 programs’ entrance requirements (consider the interest of our group of students when selecting the schools/programs to review). What are these schools looking for when selecting students, i.e. SAT scores, science sequence, research, etc.? Academy staff should contact admission offices and make them aware of the Health and Medical Sciences Academy. Determine if it bothers them as we share what we are doing in the Academy. III. Selection Process: How will we identify 8th graders for 2 year programs and make sure that they are successful. Consider the 4-year plans that are designed for these students and the workload. IV. What do we want to accomplish? a. Not just a 4-year college plan but well-rounded individuals that have engaged in different experiences, exposure to research, stimulate curiosity – get beyond googling. b. Increase interest and independent thinkers. c. Rise above content, not either/or and allow the students to think critically. d. We have a community of like-minded students; this alone has the potential to engage students in experiences that will spark an interest in science. V. Evaluation of the program. a. Focus on undergraduate admissions, where are our students going and are they able to get in. Breadth of knowledge and progression; we need to determine how to pre-assess so that we can determine what they have learned. What skills and essential knowledge is being carried throughout their HS curriculum? b. Determine what colleges think about integration of curriculum. What would William and Mary say? Make it a public relations opportunity. c. Track students here and beyond. Where did they go/apply after graduating HS? What careers were chosen by students? d. Outcome measures need to be varied-it will be important to see where our first few students end up and what support was in place that provided opportunities for success. Follow students through graduate and under graduate coursework into their professional careers. (Increase demands from students/families because of our success.) e. Set up a meeting with Dr. Canterbury to review the evaluation tools used at the Medical School.

Upcoming Meetings: Monday, October 22 – HMSA Open House (5:30-7:00pm) Tuesday, January 22 at 5:30pm Tuesday, March 26 at 5:30pm Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30pm

Meeting Adjourned at 6:40 p.m.