<p> FY16 CFE STUDY GROUP COACH GRANT INFORMATION Application Due: Monday, February 15, 2016</p><p>Program Description This CFE grant program offers experienced PreK-8th Grade teachers (“Coaches”) the opportunity to share a teaching strategy or methodology with colleagues across the Chicago public school system. The group focus can be either a particular methodology or a thematic project involving integrated teaching strategies that has been successfully employed to increase student achievement. Groups can center on one core content area or engage various elements of a larger curriculum. Examples of past CFE Study Groups include:</p><p> Adding the (A)rts into STEM Projects  Math Groups: How to Make Small Group Time More Meaningful  Creating Differentiated Literacy Centers for All Learners  Transforming Your Classroom through Love and Logic  Guided Reading 101: Creating Deep Thinkers and Fluent Readers  Whole Brain Teaching for Foundational Literacy Skills</p><p>Each Coach mentors a team (“Study Group”) of 6-8 teachers (“Team Members”) through the adaptation and implementation of the group’s focal approach within their own classrooms. Coaches will be expected to assist CFE with recruiting Study Group Team Members, and these Team Members will be selected at the end of April 2016 through a distinctive application process. A majority of CFE Study Groups will be district-wide, but approximately one-third will be CPS Network-based (i.e. Network 9 or AUSL) or school-based. </p><p>Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be full-time PreK-8th Chicago public school educators (classroom teachers, librarians, social workers, specialists, etc) working directly with students at least 50% of the time. Applicants should be in at least their 2nd year of teaching (in CPS or otherwise), and if applying for the Coach Grant for the first time, should have had at least one prior peer- leadership experience.</p><p>The success of a Study Group rests largely on the Coach’s ability to facilitate and support the learning of others. CFE welcomes applicants who have demonstrated an aptitude for the following:  Facilitating the learning of others  Fostering collaboration, reflection, and professional commitment  Meeting the needs of colleagues and adult learners in general</p><p> continued  Offering critical, substantive feedback and mentoring opportunities CFE Study Group Coach Award Information Coach Benefits  Receive a total of $1,000 ($1,100 with a Character Education Bonus). o $700 honorarium ($800 with the integration of Character Education/SEL). o $300 to purchase resources and/or materials for your Study Group.  Earn up to 28 CPDUs by facilitating professional development for teacher colleagues.  Receive training on effective Study Group facilitation.  Develop leadership skills and network with educators from across the Chicago Public School district.</p><p>Coach Responsibilities  Facilitate 15 hours of group meetings (between June and November 2016).  Utilize meaningful activities to facilitate the learning of others (past Study Groups have worked collaboratively to: examine student work; model and critique lessons; develop curricula; and/or discuss professional texts).  Participate in two mandatory after-school training sessions (tentatively May 4 & 10, 2016).  Participate in the mandatory Study Group Kick-Off Dinner Meeting (tentatively June 7, 2016).  Collect attendance, report on progress, and submit all meeting documentation in a timely manner.  Welcome classroom visits by your Team Members and CFE observers.  If asked, present your Study Group experience at the Teachers as Leaders & Learners Workshop (will be held in October 2016; specific date determined spring 2016).  Offer a Study Group Information Session in the winter of 2017 to colleagues.</p><p>Award Criteria Study Group applications are reviewed and rated on the following criteria:  Teaching method and benefit to students (30%)  Approach toward facilitating adult learning (20%)  Coaching potential and leadership skills (30%) For CFE Office Use: District-Wide  How the “Letter of Support” references the qualities listed☐ in the Application Instructions; see Part I: Application Instructions below (10%)☐ School/Network-Based  Overall presentation of application (10%)</p><p>FY16 CFE STUDY GROUP COACH GRANT INFORMATION</p><p> continued Application Due: Monday, February 15, 2016</p><p>PART I: APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS </p><p>Email your completed application to [email protected] on or before Monday, February 15, 2016.</p><p>In the same email, attach a Letter of Support from your principal, assistant principal, or other individual (school administrator is strongly suggested but not required). The Letter of Support should specifically reference the applicant’s:</p><p> o Commitment to teaching and student achievement. o Leadership abilities exhibited (including relevant examples). o Personal and/or professional qualities likely to foster adult learning and collaboration. o School-Based and Network-Based applicants only: See Part VII for additional requirements.</p><p>PART II: APPLICANT INFORMATION </p><p>Name: Preferred First: Title (check one) Ms. Mrs. Mr. Dr.</p><p>Home Address: Apt: </p><p>City: State: Zip: </p><p>E-Mail: Cell: Home: </p><p>Current teaching position: How did you learn of this What are the top three things grant? (Check all that apply.) that influenced your decision to apply to be a CFE Coach? Teacher, Gen Ed Principal announcement Teacher, Subject: Nominated to apply Prior CFE Coach Grant winner Specialist, Title: Another teacher/colleague Prior CFE award-winner Other, Title: CFE Teacher Workshop Received nomination CFE poster Gain leadership experience What grade(s) do you teach? CFE email/e-newsletter Networking opportunities CFE mailing Colleague recommendation CFE website School asked me to apply Do you hold a leadership role Other: Grant money within your school? Other: Team Leader N/A Other: </p><p>How many years have you been teaching? At Current School: With CPS: Total: </p><p>How many students have been impacted by your proposed teaching method? (Conservative estimate): </p><p> continued PART III: SCHOOL INFORMATION </p><p>School Name: Principal Name: School Phone: Principal Email: School Address: School Fax: </p><p>PART IV: GRANT INFORMATION </p><p>TEAM Application* or INDIVIDUAL Application *If you are applying as a team, EVERY MEMBER of your team must complete Part II of the application. DISTRICT-WIDE Study Group Application or SCHOOL/NETWORK-BASED* Study Group Application The Study Group’s focal teaching approach is a: Methodology or Project (check one) Working Study Group Title: For which grade levels is this Study Group applicable (MAX of 4 grade levels)? Primary Subject Area of Study Group (check one): Art/Music/Drama Language Arts Science Special Ed Character Ed/SEL Math Social Studies Other: </p><p>*PLEASE NOTE THAT NETWORK-BASED AND SCHOOL-BASED APPLICANTS MAY BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A SCHOOL SITE VISIT WITH A CFE STAFF MEMBER.</p><p>GUIDELINES FOR PARTS V, VI, AND VII: </p><p> o Each response should be approximately 7-10 sentences. o Any education terminology must be clearly defined. o If you do type the answers on another sheet, please include the full question before each response.</p><p>PART V: APPLICATION QUESTIONS (ALL APPLICANTS) </p><p>Q1. Provide an overview of your proposed Study Group, including the instructional methods employed in the focal teaching approach (particular methodology or thematic project involving integrated teaching strategies). Response: </p><p>Q2. What specific kinds of student activities will be included in your group’s focal teaching approach? Exactly how do these activities engage students in the learning process? Response: </p><p>Q3. How has the teaching approach you are proposing impacted student achievement in your classroom? Share the tools you have used for measurement, as well as examples of quantitative and qualitative results you have seen. Response: </p><p> continued Q4. What specific professional learning activities (i.e. literature reviews, text studies, video critiques) will you utilize to facilitate Team Member understanding of your group’s teaching approach? How specifically will you engage Team Members in these activities? Response: </p><p>Q5. Please discuss the biggest challenge you anticipate in leading a group of diverse adult learners. How specifically might you overcome this projected challenge? (To past CFE Coaches: How do you plan to approach your Study Group differently this year?) Response: </p><p>Q6. How will you and your Team Members build and maintain collaborative relationships throughout the learning and implementation phases of the Study Group process? Response: </p><p>Q7. Specifically explain three to four qualities (personal and/or professional) that make you a strong Study Group Coach candidate. Response: </p><p>Q8. Share one salient experience in which you have fulfilled a leadership and/or collaborative role. What did you learn? Response: </p><p>PART VI: CHARACTER EDUCATION (CE)/SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) APPLICANTS ONLY Yes! I am applying for a Character Education/SEL Bonus for my Study Group and will answer the two questions listed below. No. I am not applying for a Character Education/SEL Bonus and therefore will not be answering the following questions.</p><p>CFE will award $100 Character Education/SEL Bonuses to Coaches who incorporate the principles of Character Education and/or Social and Emotional Learning Standards into their Teaching Approach. If you would like to be considered for a Character Education/SEL Bonus, you must check the first box above and answer the two additional questions below. If you apply for, but do not win, a Character Education/SEL Bonus, you will still be considered for a $1,000 Study Group Coach Grant.</p><p>Q9. Describe the specific Character Education concepts and/or SEL standards you will integrate into your methodology or project. How will you model these CE/SEL concepts and/or standards for your Team Members during the Study Group experience? Response: </p><p>Q10. How specifically will you and your Team Members evaluate the success of the Character Education/SEL components of this project on students? Response: </p><p> continued PART VII: NETWORK-BASED* AND SCHOOL-BASED* APPLICANTS ONLY Yes! I am applying for a Network- or School-Based Study Group and will answer the following questions. No. I am applying for a district-wide Study Group Coach Grant, and therefore will not be answering the following questions.</p><p>A majority of CFE Study Groups are open to teachers across the district. However, if your area or school would like to limit participation to teachers within your specific community, you must check the first box above and answer the two additional questions below. If you are applying to lead a community- specific Study Group, your letter of support must be from your Principal or another senior administrator. In addition to the components listed above in Part I: Application Instructions, your letter must corroborate: o The need to limit your Study Group to this specific teacher population (school or network). o How your administration will support you throughout this leadership experience. o How your administration will identify potential Team Member candidates, and help encourage their participation for the program’s duration.</p><p>Q11. Why are you requesting that your Study Group be limited to this particular population of teachers? What specific network-wide or school-wide goals will be met as a result of your Study Group being network-based or school-based, respectively? Response: </p><p>Q12. In what specific ways do you foresee your administration supporting your Study Group? How will the adaptation and implementation of your teaching approach by all Team Members be encouraged by administrators? Response: </p><p> continued</p>