Saint Paul Public Schools launches International Search for Excellence

Saint Paul Public Schools launches International Search for Excellence
3/4/2005 3:20 PM

Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Harvey's search for the best ways to improve teaching quality has taken her from sea to shining sea. Now, thanks to grants from the British CouncilUSA and 3M, the journey will continue across the pond, to the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, March 6, Harvey and a delegation of Saint Paul teachers, principals and state education officials will travel to London as part of the school districts International Search for Excellence, a project aimed at helping Saint Paul teachers implement educational best practices from around the world.

The Saint Paul delegation will compare Saint Paul's curriculum, instructional methods, professional development, leadership and organizational structure with those in the United Kingdom. Harvey hopes that doing so will allow Saint Paul Public Schools to offer even more high-quality professional development opportunities for teachers, and therefore improve teacher quality in Saint Pauls schools.

"Guided by our '2002-05 Action Plan,' we've invested heavily in improving teacher quality through professional development," Harvey said. "As we near the conclusion of the implementation of the district's 'Action Plan,' the time has come to conceptualize the next phase of our reform. The quality of the planning process will be greatly enhanced by considering not only national but also international educational best practices."

According to Harvey, exploring different approaches to teaching and learning in diverse urban environments by visiting schools in different countries is critical to understanding educational outcomes.

"If we want our students to compete in the international community when they graduate, our teachers must understand what is working around the world and be able to implement it here in the United States," Harvey said.

During their trip, the Saint Paul delegation will tour several schools and meet with national education officials from England. They will also begin to develop the framework for ongoing partnerships, discourse and opportunities between Saint Paul schools and those in the United Kingdom.

According to Harvey, the ability to develop an ongoing professional development program with schools and education professionals from around the world would not be possible without the generous support of the British Council-USA and 3M.

"The British Council is pleased to partner with the Saint Paul Schools on this exciting project. We expect the discourse among educators and policy makers to produce many useful insights on classroom instruction. The Council is delighted to support this effort as a catalyst for ongoing professional dialogue and networking," said Kirsten Haines McKinney, education manager, and David Condon, education policy advisor, for the British Council in Washington, D.C.

"3M is pleased to award a grant to the Saint Paul Public School to support the districts efforts to invest in one of its most valued resources--its teachers," said Alex Cirillo, staff vice president, 3M Community Affairs. "By comparing practices, the district can continue to bring innovative teaching methods into its classrooms."

A list of the Minnesota delegation follows:

Patricia A. Harvey, superintendent, Saint Paul Public Schools
Denise Quinlan, director, Saint Paul Public Schools Center for Academic Excellence
Mathew Mohs, assistant director, Saint Paul Public Schools Funded Programs
Peter Christensen, principal, Battle Creek Middle School
Todd Hochman, principal, World Cultures Magnet
Mary Wurl, teacher, John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School
Mary Catherine Ricker, teacher, Cleveland Quality Middle School
John LaCompte, teacher, Highland Park Senior High School
Kris Emerson, coordinator, Saint Paul Public Schools
Barb Wencl, president, Saint Paul Federation of Teachers
Mary Ann Nelson, assistant commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education
Beth Aune, director, Minnesota Department of Education