Successful companies rely on extensive sets of data to make decisions and evaluate performance. One universally recognized problem facing our education system is that schools do not do the same, and instead rely solely on simplistic measures of performance including test scores and graduation rates. This week, the Eagle Rock Professional Development Center is working with the New Mexico Center for School Leadership and the McCune Charitable Foundation on a groundbreaking project that seeks to identify new metrics that go beyond test scores and assess how well schools are preparing students to use both inter-personal and academic skills to creatively solve problems. It’s one of the many ways the Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock is helping schools around the country solve tangible problems on the ground while shaping the national narrative about student engagement and scholastic achievement. Check out this video for an eloquent assessment of the importance of this project from Henry Rael of the McCune Charitable Foundation.

The Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock will continue education renewal work in collaboration with the New Mexico Center for School Leadership in Albuquerque, NM during the week of July 21st in an effort to increase staff capacity at Health Leadership High School. The Mission of Health Leadership High School is to equip young people who are interested in the health industry with the skills they need to become leaders in developing healthier communities. This requires students to have a deep understanding of the social, economic, and physical conditions of our communities and the people who live there. We develop students as deep and complex thinkers, specifically serving young people who have limited means to have successful careers by caring for their intellectual, physical and emotional well-being as students.

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About Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock, a nonprofit subsidiary of the American Honda Motor Company, is both a school for high school age students and a professional development center for adults, particularly educators. The school is a year-round, residential, and full-scholarship school that enrolls young people ages 15-17 from around the United States in an innovative learning program with national recognition.

The Professional Development Center works with educators from around the country who wish to study how to re-engage, retain and graduate students. The center provides consulting services at school sites and host educators who study and learn from Eagle Rock practices.

For more information please visit www.eaglerockschool.org and check us out on Twitter @eaglerockschool and on Facebook at facebook.com/EagleRockSchool.

For interview and photo opportunities, please use the contact information at the top of this page.

The Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock will continue education renewal work at the SXSWedu Conference & Festival in Austin, TX from March 9 – 12, 2015 and has limited appointments available to discuss what we do and how we might work together. Interested educators can tweet at us @eaglerockschool to set up a meeting.

Eagle Rock, a nonprofit subsidiary of the American Honda Motor Company, is both a school for high school age students and a professional development center for adults, particularly educators. The school is a year-round, residential, and full-scholarship school that enrolls young people ages 15-17 from around the United States in an innovative learning program with national recognition.

The Professional Development Center works with educators from around the country who wish to study how to re-engage, retain and graduate students. The center provides consulting services at school sites and host educators who study and learn from Eagle Rock practices.

Education’s most energetic and innovative leaders from all backgrounds of the learning landscape including teachers, administrators, university professors, business and policy leaders converge each March at the SXSWedu Conference & Festival. The four-day event is a platform for the growing SXSWedu community to connect, collaborate, create and change how we teach and learn.

For more information please visit www.eaglerockschool.org and check us out on Twitter @eaglerockschool and on Facebook at facebook.com/EagleRockSchool.

For interview and photo opportunities, please use the contact information at the top of this page.

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Opportunity Nation includes over 150 non-profits, grassroots organizations, social entrepreneurs, celebrities, elected officials, and thought leaders who are working together to create a bipartisan agenda for reinvigorating the American dream

Dan Condon has been chosen to serve as a one of 130+ national leaders from 42 states and the District of Columbia for Opportunity Nation, a national campaign launching in November that will work to restore access to the American Dream by increasing economic opportunity and social mobility in America. Dan was selected to serve on this distinguished panel because of his commitment to increasing economic opportunity in Colorado through his role as the Associate Director of Professional Development at the Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center, a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the American Honda Education Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary of the American Honda Motor Company.

Opportunity Nation has formed a powerful, bipartisan coalition of non-profits, foundations, educators, business and political leaders who are working together to put promoting opportunity and social mobility back on the national, state and local community agendas. The campaign will host its second annual Summit at George Washington University on September 18 and 19 with lead partners including TIME Magazine, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Steering Committee members Year Up, Jumpstart, United Way Worldwide, World Vision, CFED, Points of Light and America’s Promise Alliance.

Dan will serve as part of the Opportunity Nation Leaders and Scholars Program, a national network of experts with personal experience facing barriers to opportunity and a track record of making meaningful change in their respective communities. Acting as community mobilizers and lending their insight to campaign policy ideas. Opportunity Leaders and Scholars will be essential voices in galvanizing support across the country and making a tangible difference in their communities in 2012 and beyond.

WHO:
Confirmed speakers include: Senator Chris Coons, Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Deval Patrick, Melody Barnes, John Bridgeland, Senator Tom Harkin, Angela Glover Blackwell, Michael Gerson, Arianna Huffington, Bob Putnam, Judy Woodruff and more.

WHEN:
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 – Wednesday, September 19, 2012

WHERE:
George Washington University

2121 Eye Street, NW

Washington, DC 20052

MEDIA CREDENTIALS/ACCESS:
To interview your Leader or Scholar please contact ccashman@bethechangeinc.org.

More information about Opportunity Nation and the September Summit can be found at

www.opportunitynation.org

Educators from all over Vermont gathered together on June 21st to discuss Proficiency Based Graduation Requirements. The workshop was organized by Jason Cushner of Big Picture South Burlington School and Michael Soguero from Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center—at the beginning of the day they described their excitement of realizing their dream of gathering educators together in one room to discuss the importance and progression of PBGR’s in the educational system and despite the very hot weather, everyone seemed very excited to participate in the event.

As stated by Michael in his opening speech, the big goal of the day was to focus on looking at works in progress and help each other think about the issues—the day was about interaction and creating conversations which would at later times during the school progress into action plans.

The agenda for the day was organized into three sessions of which participants had their choice of workshops ranging from:

Looking at Student Work

• When Is It Worth Credit? (Big Picture South Burlington): A rubric and system where students defend that they have achieved proficiency. Looking at a student who wanted to learn to teach through being a naturalist.

• The 5 Competencies (Mt. Abraham): Students are assessed using our 5 competencies in an exhibition round table.

• Calibrating Competencies (Rochester): We will be looking at documentation, project work, and competency rubrics for a student who built his own pair of skis.

• Getting Started with PBGRs: An introduction to the what, why, and how of PBGRs.

Digital Proficiencies or Portfolios (Harwood Union High School): Engage in a discussion about the differences between ‘Portfolio-Based Assessment’ and ‘Proficiency-Based Assessment’ and learn more about the technology tools that can help us achieve our goals.

To more interest based workshops in the afternoon like:

• Vermont Department of Education Support of PBGRs: Workshop is designed to highlight past, present and future strategies regarding the implementation of PBGRs.

• Selecting Meaningful Proficiencies: Big Picture South Burlington In this workshop, we will examine how BPSB selected the proficiencies which students pursue. Participants will have an opportunity to work on proficiencies for their own school with sharing and feedback from the group.

• Badges for Life-Long Learning: Discussion will include how badges can play a vital role in new assessment schemes.

Staying Connected: How to stay connected and keep the conversation alive to support each other in doing this innovative work.

Each workshop was run by different members of the attendees, so there was a great flow of conversation between those facilitating the workshops and those attending the workshops. What seemed to be a mainstay or running thread between all of the workshops was that everyone seemed focused on clarifying goals, exploring options for students doing PBGR’s, and also how can educators share their best practices between not only content area, but also between schools in different regions.

At the end of the day, groups gathered together by schools to discuss their next plan of action. Each group reflected upon the day’s workshops and came up with what a collective best next steps action plan for their group to take in approaching their PBGR goals for the upcoming academic school year. The philosophy behind this, was based on the chalk talk given by Michael Soguero where he gave the group a step by step plan on how to achieve the most intimidating goals—mostly through breaking down the big goal into a step by step procedure which makes a huge goal easy and achievable through bite size pieces. Each school shared out with the collective group and the workshop ended on a very positive note whereby we note only began a dialogue, everyone walked out of the door with a very achievable action plan.

Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center announced today that it is joining the Opportunity Nation campaign, a broad-based, cross-partisan coalition of 250 public, private, non-profit, civic and faith-based organizations all working together to expand economic opportunity and close the opportunity gap in America.

“We are excited to join the Opportunity Nation coalition to further their aim in addressing opportunity for the 7,000 students who drop out of high school each school day. Eagle Rock’s Professional Development Center has been engaged in school reform initiatives nationally for the past 20 years,” said Michael Soguero, Director of Professional Development.

“Opportunity Nation starts from the belief that the zip code you’re born into shouldn’t pre-determine your destiny, and that when social mobility grinds to a halt, we are in grave danger of losing the best of America,” said Mark Edwards, executive director of Opportunity Nation. “As an organization working everyday to enhance opportunity, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center to our coalition.”

A centerpiece of the campaign is a new measure designed to show exactly what opportunity in America looks like today. The Opportunity Index (www.opportunityindex.org) provides the first-ever snapshot of access to opportunity at the state and county levels. Using sixteen indicators that collectively illustrate a community’s strength, the Opportunity Index ranks every state and assigns almost every county in America a first of its kind Opportunity Score ranging from “A” for excellent to “F” for failing.

Armed with this knowledge, engaged citizens and leaders at the local, state, and federal levels can identify concrete solutions to improve economic mobility at the ground level. The Opportunity Index will be issued annually, giving leaders a way to measure the effectiveness of their efforts.

Dan Condon, Associate Director of Professional Development shared, “We’re honored to join the efforts of Opportunity Nation and other partners of the coalition who we have been collaborating for years such as Public Allies. The Opportunity Index specific to education will better inform Eagle Rock’s Professional Development Center which regions we will engage with nationally.”

The Index reveals some interesting new facts:

· The indicator with the strongest correlation with the final Opportunity Score for a state is youth academic and economic inclusion. Specifically, states with a higher percentage of “Teenagers (16-19) Not in School and Not Working” have low opportunity scores;

· Twelve of the 15 lowest scoring states are in the south;

· Five of the 10 highest scoring states are in the northeast region;

· Income is surprisingly not the strongest indicator of opportunity. Nevada has higher than average median household income, but ranks last in the nation in opportunity due to low scores in education and community dimensions.

This September, Opportunity Nation will host its second national Summit to shine a spotlight on one of the earliest and most critical rungs on the ladder of opportunity: ensuring that the rising generation is equipped with the skills needed to compete in the current and future economies. The campaign will release a bold set of bipartisan, pragmatic ideas that illuminate pathways to success beyond just a four-year degree, including those that link education to work.

The September Summit will also serve as a platform for businesses to share actions they have taken over the past year to deepen their commitments to the 21st century American workforce, and for leading elected officials from across the political spectrum to share their plans to create communities of opportunity across the country.

To learn more about Opportunity Nation, the September Summit, and the steps they are taking to develop a shared plan to close the skills gap and restore opportunity in America, please visit www.opportunitynation.org.

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Eagle Rock, a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the American Honda Education Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary of the American Honda Motor Company, is both a school for high school age students and a professional development center for adults, particularly educators. The school is a year-round, residential, and full-scholarship school that enrolls young people ages 15-17 from around the United States in an innovative learning program with national recognition. The Professional Development Center works with educators from around the country who wish to study how to re-engage, retain and graduate students. The center provides consulting services at school sites and host educators who study and learn from Eagle Rock practices. For more information please visit www.eaglerockschool.org and check us out on Twitter @eaglerockschool and on Facebook at facebook.com/EagleRockSchool.

Opportunity Nation is a broad coalition of more than 200 businesses, non-profits, corporate partners, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, and civic organizations focused on closing the opportunity gap in America. The campaign has created a shared agenda of bipartisan policy proposals and private sector innovations to increase opportunity, economic mobility, and access to the American Dream. For more information please visit www.OpportunityNation.org and check us out on Twitter @OppNation and on Facebook at facebook.com/OpportunityNation.

May 14, 2012 . . . Washington, DC – The Character Education Partnership (CEP) has named Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center as a 2012 National School of Character (NSOC).

Each year, CEP selects schools and districts that demonstrate through a rigorous evaluation process that their focus on character development has had a positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior, and school climate. Selected schools are then expected to serve as models for other schools, helping them to achieve the same results. Eagle Rock School is one of 24 schools and 1 school district being recognized nationwide in 2012.

“You hear so much about school problems these days that it’s great to focus on schools that work,” said CEP President & CEO Mark Hyatt. “These schools went through a very rigorous evaluation process and we are thrilled to recognize their achievements and tell their stories.”

Schools and districts from over 30 participating states are named State Schools of Character (SSOC) before advancing to the national level for review. Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center will receive the SSOC award from The Foundation for Character Development for Colorado later this Spring.

CEP will honor the 2012 National Schools of Character at the National Forum on Character Education, to be held November 1 – 3 in Washington, DC. At the ceremony, Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center will receive an NSOC award, banner, and a small grant to help with outreach efforts.

“These schools have built strong communities that bring people together around shared goals,” said Lara Maupin, NSOC Director. “Nobody feels alone or unwelcome in these schools. Adults are all on the same page about what’s important and, as a result, kids thrive.”

Eagle Rock, an initiative of the American Honda Education Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary of the American Honda Motor Company, is both a school for high school age students and a professional development center for adults, particularly educators. The school is a year-round, residential, and full-scholarship school that enrolls young people ages 15-17 from around the United States in an innovative learning program with national recognition.

The Professional Development Center works with educators from around the country who wish to study how to re-engage, retain and graduate students. The center provides consulting services at school sites and host educators who study and learn from Eagle Rock practices.

The Character Education Partnership is a national advocate and leader for the character education movement. The Washington, DC-based nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition of organizations and individuals is committed to fostering effective character education in the nation’s schools.

For more information about CEP, the NSOC program, the 11 Principles, or the National Forum, visit www.character.org

Contact:
Rebecca Sipos, CEP Communications Director, rsipos@character.org, (202) 296-7743
Dan Condon, Associate Director of Professional Development, dcondon@eaglerockschool.org, (303) 351-1326

The Coalition of Essential Schools welcomes new National Director Elizabeth Jardine, moves its offices to South Providence and gears up for its annual Fall Forum November 10-12 in Providence. Founded 25 years ago by renowned educator Theodore R. Sizer, the CES national network of schools and educators embraces the CES Common Principles as a guiding philosophy for excellence in education.

Ms. Jardine, previously with MPR Associates and the Rhode Island Department of Education, will manage the network and oversee communications among CES schools, affiliates and the greater community. “It is a sign of the health of CES that we are able to attract a candidate of Elizabeth’s stature to our position. She brings a great deal of experience to us in coordinating large programs with state and federal governments as well as a real passion for the work of CES,” says George Wood, Chair of the CES Executive Board.

The new CES offices, at 325 Public Street in Providence, RI, will be co-located with Big Picture Learning at the Met School’s Public Street campus in the South Providence neighborhood.

CES will celebrate its new leadership and location at “A Conversation Among Friends,” the annual CES Fall Forum, which will convene at the Met School, 325 Public Street, Providence, RI, on November 10-12, 2011. Dynamic educators from across the nation will recharge with new ideas and inspirations at Fall Forum. Dennis Littky, founder and co-director of Big Picture Learning and the Met Center, will give the keynote presentation. In addition to a day of visits to local Essential schools including Boston Arts Academy and the Learning Community in Central Falls, Fall Forum’s featured events include a conversation between Alfie Kohn and Deborah Meier. High School for Recording Arts students will bring their Mobile Studio and help workshop participants write and record their own songs. The Gamm Theatre’s Tony Estrella will lead an interactive workshop on an actor’s approach to playing Hamlet. Screenings of “Parent Power,” “American Teacher” and “August to June: Bringing Life to School” round out the activities. Full Forum program and schedule information, including listings of more than 100 professional development workshops, can be found here:http://www.essentialschools.org/events/8.

In related news, the Executive Board Coalition of Essential Schools has named theProfessional Development Center at Eagle Rock as a resource to serve as conveners of the Coalition of Essential Schools’ Affiliate Centers. Eagle Rock will convene the a meeting of the CES Affiliate Centers on November 10 in Providence in conjunction with Fall Forum 2011.

CES affiliate centers provide technical assistance to schools that have embraced the Common Principles. Each CES center is an independent organization with the autonomy to create services appropriate for the schools it serves. Directors and staff from CES centers meet regularly to exchange ideas and share resources. CES centers intentionally describe themselves as affiliate centers rather than regional centers, reflecting the capacities that they have not only to focus within a region but also to provide technical support to schools and school systems elsewhere.

As a philanthropic initiative of the American Honda Education Corp., Eagle Rock is providing this service at no cost to CES.

Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center has been working tirelessly for 17 years to provide a school for high school age students who are dropping out of high school. Equally if not more importantly, we have been providing professional development services: consulting, coaching and hosting for educators from around the country who wish to work on re-engaging students in learning, keeping them in school, and supporting them through graduation.

With General Colin Powell’s March 1st announcement of the Grad Nation 10-year campaign to mobilize the country and reverse the dropout crisis, the Professional Development Center’s efforts are validated and encouraged in the work that is now receiving so much national attention. Grad Nation is an initiative of America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest partnership providing support to young people.

The Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock School is especially heartened by the five promises of the Alliance: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to help others. All promises exemplified at Eagle Rock School, the school associated with the Professional Development Center.

For the past several years, the Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock School has been working through networks and organizations, bringing together schools in large numbers who are working with disenfranchised youth. We have mentored schools through the Coalition of Essential Schools Small School Project, engaged with the founding team of the New Mexico Building Education Congress committed to launching 23 charter schools, and provided staff development to schools in various districts including Mapleton in Thornton, Colorado and Highline in SeaTac, Washington.

Most recently, we’ve been instrumental in supporting principal training for the Big Picture Learning network. A clip of our recent summit convened in San Diego drawing together seven California schools can be seen here. Last week, we convened a half dozen Big Picture schools in Bloomfield, Connecticut to study how to further improve the innovative model developed by these schools to “give students that individual attention, while also preparing them through real-world, hands-on training and the possibility of succeeding in a career” as cited by President Obama during the March 1^st announcement of the Grad Nation campaign.

For years, we have been endorsing and supporting the work that General Powell’s Grad Nation campaign is designed to address and we are pleased to find our focus amplified through this nationwide initiative. It is our intent that working through the expertise of the existing reform networks mentioned above, the application of our professional development experience and through the addition of the national spotlight of the Grad Nation campaign, every student, regardless of their background will ultimately have the opportunity realize their full potential.

For more information visit www.eaglerockschool.org

Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center is participating the the 2009 AmeriCorps Video Contest. Please check out our two 60 second videos here and here. If you comment positively that factors into our winning so please help us out. Please check it out before May 29th when the contest ends. Thanks!