Welcome to the 2016-2017 School Year

Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year!

Kiri's Message

This is a very special year for UAI.  This year, our founding class of girls are entering their 4th year of college.  Many of them are still in college and are preparing to finish and become our first cohort of college graduates!  At UAI, we are on a mission to change the lives of young women.  It's easy to lose site of of what we do during the day-to-day grind, but this year, we have to remember to make the time to pause and look at why we do the work we do.  Below are the brief stories of two of our founding students.  Like so many of our girls, these two arrived at UAI with a mountain of baggage and challenges.  We worked with them and their families for 7 years to help them reach their dreams.  Each year, we step into the lives of each of our students.  We sometimes forget the power we wield in the future that can unroll.  Today, I want to remind you all, that as we begin another school year, we must remember that we have the most powerful, most meaningful, and most rewarding job in the universe.   No amount of MOSL scores or NY Post articles can ever take away the real work we do.  Here's two of the many, many wonderful girls from that class.  They are true reflections of the success and joy that is working at UAI.

Updates and News for This Week

This is our 11th year, and it is already shaping up to be a prime one! (insert laugh track here).  Last year was marked by a large transition in leadership and school structure.  This year is already shaping up to be an exciting rebirth for our school and community.  Here are some of the amazing things that are have already happened!

• Summer School This summer, we had one of the most successful summer credit recovery programs and middle school remediation.  Many thanks go to Michael, Doris, and Matthew who stepped up to run our credit recovery and middle school remediation programs.  Many more thanks to our team of Regents Prep teachers (Ilyana, Elena, Anna, Paula, Mike, Danielle, and Jamie) who worked with our girls to help them prepare for the August Regents.

• Hiring  Also this summer, many folks volunteered to be part of our hiring process.  Colleen, Val, Jen, Michael, Doris, Paula, Kerry, Kristin, Annie, Martine, Alison, and Matthew all participated in vetting over 500 resumes and interviewing over 100 different candidates this summer.  Through their work and efforts, we have hired 8 amazing new teachers and 2 new deans.  Welcome aboard to:
• Lauren Haynes, 6th Grade Reading
• Kristina Coriarty 7th & 8th Grade Writing
• Kristina Slaterlee 7th & 8th Grade Liv. Environment
• Cherry Reid 7th & 8th Grade Math
• Cassandra Guerier 9th Grade Writing
• Suzannah Tartin 10th/12th Social Studies
• Tiffany Richards 10th Special Education
• Meaghan Haugaard, 11th/12th Biochemistry
• Annie Anunziato, Dean
• Brandon Valery, Assistant Dean

• Subject Team Summer Camp  All of our subject teams (except science) had successful summer planning camps where we looked at last year's data sets, analyzed trends, and began unit and lesson planning to address the underlying causes of those trends.  We also made the time to learn about new ways to build relationships through subject-specific ice-breakers and activities.  Together, the teams worked on the classroom environment and collectively ordered supplies for the year.  Way to go subject teams!  The work you've done together has given each member a strong leg up to begin the year.   {Don't fret Science Team - we will meet with you all individually to help you get started!}

• Peer Coaching  This summer we've also begun launching our new coaching model, using the Artisan Teaching Model.  This year, teachers will use their professional periods to meet with a peer to collaboratively work on unit & lesson planning, management techniques, assessment, strategies to engage learners, and a host of other activities related to developing our craft as teachers.  Working with Colleen or Kiri, each of these pairs will receive weekly support and feedback on their work and thinking to optimize performance (and enjoyment!) of your work in the classroom.  Here are this year's pairs
• Lauren & Phillan
• Alison & Matthew
• Marsha & Kristina C
• Kristina S & Jamie
• Natalie & Brodie
• Cherry & Mike
• Ilyana & Cassandra
• Erick & Rebecca
• Danielle & Tiffany
• Suzannah & Michael
• Tom & Elena
• Martine & Meaghan

• Professional Period Support  A number of our other teachers are using their professional periods to provide students with critical support services:
• Kristin & Christina will be using their professional periods to write student IEPs, provide support for teachers, and work with Val to ensure school compliance.
• Damon will be using his professional periods to provide UFT support and curriculum support for our newest Living Environment teacher, Kristin!
• Kerry, Paula, Anna, Joanna* and Michelle will be providing academic intervention support for our most struggling students.  *Joanna will be pulled for test-coordinating activities when testing begins.
• Elana, Sursattie, Tracy will be using professional periods for small-group conflict resolution (e.g. working with students in the Save Room)
• Annie & Doris will use professional periods for Dean support work.

• Teacher Programs.  Here is the most up-to-date schedule.  Please review it.  There are a lot of moving pieces and parts, and humans make this!  So, if you see something that doesn't make sense, please do reach out!  It could be that we missed a change somewhere, or it could be that we had to make a change due to staffing and students needs but haven't had a chance to talk to you yet!  If you have any questions or notice a problem, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Val to let her know ASAP!

Per Session Posting

Coaching Per Session.  Coaches will receive per session to meet and prepare for the training of their peer coaches.  Hours vary as needed.  Coaches are selected by Principal (Kiri) and Instructional AP (Colleen) and have already been identified for the 2016-17 year.  If you are interested in being formally trained as a UAI instructional coach, please reach out to Kiri or Colleen ASAP!  Coach meetings are Wednesdays or Thursdays after school and begin the week of 13SEP and go through May 2017.

After School Activity Per Session.  If you are interested in running an after school program with Girls Inc., please contact Kree (kreec@uainstitute.org).  After school positions are 1-2 hours per week and must have a constant enrollment of at least 10 students.  Fewer than 10 students will result in cancellation.  After school teachers must adhere to all Girls Inc requirements.