Career Dreams Educational Foundation

Evaluation

TEACHER & STAFF WORKSHOP

Communities in Schools
(staff for kids at risk - TOPS program)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

AUGUST 9 & 10, 2000

Evaluation of speaker:

1 = poor – 10 = excellent     average = 9.1

7, 10, 10, 8, 10, 10, 10, 9, 10, 9, 8, 5, 10, 9, 10, 10, 10

• Motivating, clear, calming, informative, positive.
  
  
• Encouraged me to encourage myself and expand the possibilities of my thoughts becoming positive actions.
  
  
• Both speakers were passionate about their ideas and commitment to dreaming. Their approach was simple and sincere.
  
  
• Their enthusiasm was contagious and sometimes out paced the practical.
  
  
• Well prepared and organized.
  
  
• Motivated, energetic and believable. Believes in the product or service they presented.
  
  
• This evaluation is based on two speakers (Greg & Jeff). Although there was significant enthusiasm, at times the stories were repetitive and somewhat patronizing. Too many examples of generalization.
  
  
• Knowledgeable of CIS is evident.
  
  
• Informal - Non Threatening - Knowledgeable

Evaluation of the content and organization of the program:

1 = poor – 10 = excellent     average = 9.3

8, 10, 10, 9, 8, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 9, 9, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10

• Clear and easy to understand. (When asking about the name of the company make sure people are not limited to the School District.).
  
  
• Novel and innovative (phone interview with manual followed up with visible personnel).
  
  
• Need more clarity - I do have some insight - just need more.
  
  
• This "is" great!
  
  
• Well organized and presented.
  
  
• Concise and to the point.
  
  
• The program took me to a different level of thought and action - look out!
  
  
• A true step in developing the spirit of learning. I can and I will succeed. This will be brought to the classroom and continued forth from there.
  
  
• Powerful, thought provoking. Allowed us or encouraged us to "rethink" our philosophy about kids and education.
  
  
• The graphics were not as professional looking as they could have been. Many of the concepts were not original. The program was in need of more innovative activities.
  
  
• I would like more examples of school related stories, rather than private industry.
  
  
• Fresh Interesting Exciting.
  

How do you feel the CDI program has helped you personally?

• It is extremely important to approach life with a positive attitude. Equally important is being positive about a profession and toward students and staff. CDI certainly addressed this approach.
  
  
• It made me feel good about myself and others in the School District. There are many people who want to make Philadelphia Schools a wonderful place.
  
  
• It helped me to do some soul-searching so that I might find activities that are doable in my situation.
  
  
• The phone interview was the catalyst for two days of soul searching, planning & dreaming. It was "all good."
  
  
• It has given me a tool to take and share w/my team in another business venture.
  
  
• Extremely stimulating and timely!!
  
  
• To open my eyes as to the many sources of aid and assistance along with the comradeship fastened with all providers.
  
  
• This experience has opened not only my mind but also my heart to both students and life.
  
  
• The program enhanced many of the attitudes I value in myself and helped me rediscover them.
  
  
• It’s good to have the desire to achieve further and higher reinforced.
  
  
• I believe that the TOPS program that will be starting at my school in the fall will be a success.
  
  
• It opened me up to greater possibilities.
  
  
• I am new to the TOP’S program. I do not have another frame of reference to compare.
  
  
• It gave me the opportunity to meet, share and get a better handle on the TOPS teachers and program. To learn about their goals and dreams & help me realize my own.
  
  
• Will have to evaluate.
  
  
• New insights into what is going on in education today. Exciting.
  
  
• To see that I can accomplish more things if I think positively.
  
  
• A feeling of personal empowerment. - Increases positive thinking. New ideas for creating our ideal company.

How do you feel the CDI program has impacted your team, group, and/or organization?

• The Career Dream sessions opened the flood gates for ideas to improve all aspects of the program. Having the TOPS people together allows everyone to perform as a team.
  
  
• Positively! We have come together. We feel united. I believe we can make TOPS a huge success.
  
  
• New ideas were exchanged and that enabled us to embrace or envision things to do which will enhance TOPS.
  
  
• I feel rejuvenated and ready to practice some of the CDI techniques with my TOPS classroom.
  
  
• There was a positive impact on the teachers present, but my staff was not here.
  
  
• I feel that we have been able to assemble together and prove that "no one of us is as smart as all of us." We are now an "us."
  
  
• The CDI program created a relationship of all the teachers and or providers and will foster a family relationship for years to come.
  
  
• It has given us a sense of hope and unity. We should realize we have freedom and should act upon it to enhance the learning experiences our students encounter. The sky is the limit!
  
  
• We are more confident, empowered and focused to begin to change peoples lives.
  
  
• A spirit of community has developed.
  
  
• I believe that it will create or promote a positive "start" to my TOPS class that will begin in the fall.
  
  
• Please note the above answer (It opened me up to greater possibilities) as well as providing cohesiveness among the group.
  
  
• It will give us the resources to implement a program that could reach those who were considered unreachable.
  
  
• The CDI currently has a positive impact.
  
  
• Positively - Helped them to see that they are part of a larger team. That have the same sentiments and problems.
  
  
• Positively. - Provided a fresh outlook for the upcoming year. - Provided the challenge or notion of "No Negatives" with program and student population. Empowerment - No Limits.

Do you feel that continuing the CDI programs will impact your team, group, and/or organization? If yes, what do you believe the impact will be?

• From a practical standpoint, decision makers and money people should experience the program to enact some of the ideas generated during the sessions. The students whose attitudes are often negative because of the difficult lives they lead every day, may benefit from the wide open ideas of the program.
  
  
• Yes. It will bring on change. People will be happy to go to school. Students, parents and staff.
  
  
• Yes, we will work harder to realize the goals set forth for TOPS.
  
  
• Students need to know that they can dream also, and I look forward to additional training and/or classroom interaction w/CDI experts.
  
  
• Yes, if the team is exposed to this concept, I feel it would be more successful and empowering.
  
  
• Yes, by helping to empower and focus creative energy into a concentrated and powerful tool for everyday use.
  
  
• Yes, to give greater impetus to the program now and create more interest and thoughts (ideas) for future teams, groups and organizations. To widen the (our) horizon, and thought pattern and plans for the future.
  
  
• We will be more open to explore possibilities collectively without fearing rejection. I plan to utilize the talents of my fellow TOPS teachers.
  
  
• Yes, this will rejuvenate our passion and maintain our focus to improve our world.
  
  
• A family atmosphere will continue to grow.
  
  
• This would be a great staff development for non "TOPS" teachers as well as the TOPS teachers.
  
  
• Yes! In addition to the above. I believe our group will work together to provide solutions for the numerous problems we face.
  
  
• My school is in dire need of a positive model to follow. We often have little time for it during the school year focusing in on all the negatives.
  
  
• Possibly. It will depend on follow-up.
  
  
• Yes. New approaches away from traditional. New enthusiasm for learning process.
  
  
• As teacher learn how to empower themselves they can transfer that skill to their students.
  
  
• All involved should experience the CDI program. - The impact would be a better company (companies.)

THE PERFECT TOPS PROGRAM - NO LIMITS

TEAM ONE:

• Physical environment conducive to learning (desk), rugs, air conditioning, bathrooms, kitchen area/private lunchroom
• Outside area/classes
• Day care
• Transportation vans/buses
• EC Programs (funding) in the community
• Jobs in the community funded by local grants matching student interest
• Personnel & approved staff (social worker, psychologist, counselors, nurse, nutritionist, (cook)
• Wireless computer networking, video conferencing
• Computers for school/home (portable)
• Cultural events weekly/monthly
• Weekend retreats
• Educational vacations
• TV studios & production facilities
• All educational resources available
• Collaboration with outside agencies, industry, businesses
• Innovative programs
• Accessible for handicap students

TEAM TWO:

• Autocratic - Admittance, Attendance
• 1 computer per student
• Two - teacher model (at a minimum)
• Subject teacher to float in & out
• Petty cash to pay honorarium for guests
• Bus for city tour
• Free admission into cultural & sports venues
• Free tokens
• Our own nursery school which provides day & evening hours
• Exchange program (TOPS visits)
• Profit-making source w/funding stream: Student generated - Student employees
• A day for hand crafted projects
• Exchange roles w/administration and teachers
• Tutorial for younger students
• Classroom competition for prizes; written, oral [(electronic CDs) Donated from companies & record stores
• Part time jobs not in fast food industry
  

TEAM THREE:

• Mobile classroom; mobile camcorders, digital buses, satellite linked, year round school, visit other planets
• Teachers for every student
• Recreate curriculum & standards
• Enhance standards
• Use inquiry based instruction
• Recreate battles after research & study
• Include families in learning experience
• Enhance nuclear family by exposing to different experiences along with student
• Use travel to enhance learning
• Interact with other schools as travel is done
• Share dreams as experiencing the dream
• Use resource of other schools in travel
  

TEAM FOUR:

• K-12 At risk students; failure of students at least once, low attendance, discipline problems, low academics, low self esteem
• Pay students to come to school - 30$/week & take it away when absent
• Student driven car.
• Class size = 10 per teacher; (Based on test) Service learning, work based learning
• Get paid bi-weekly
• Staff: teachers/computer, secretaries, custodian, police, NTA, tutors-1/classroom, reading specialist, (corporate partners)
• Social worker: 2 for 10 students, classroom aides counselors, psychologist, nurse, Car. Spect.
• 3 separate bldgs = 1-5, 6-8, 9-12
• Teachers can have class anywhere on campus - open schedule based on students
• Time = 7:30AM - 7:30PM flexible
• Dorms for special occasions or individual needs
• School store & Caf.; modern/open 12 months a year
• Library/computer labs
• Day care
• Music
• Fully equipped campus
• All sports fields
• Swimming pool indoor/outdoor
• Air condition
• Work shops
• Each school will have buses 24/7 fully equipped
• Contract w/airline for yearly trips (travel/tourism)
• Art room; music room
• Workout equip
•  

TEAM FIVE:

• Remediation - math reaching
• Computer Lab (20)
• Personal Dev. Of decision makers (i.e. Career Dreams)
• Staff persons - Prof. Dev. (i.e. school police, nurse, NTa)
• Extensive social services
• Each program needs a social worker/psychologist
• Daycare facilities at each site
• TOPS students to staff daycare
• Employment opportunities for TOPS students within the district
• TOPS assemblies
• TOPS campus
• 2 TOPS classrooms in middle/high sch
• Interaction between TOPS classrooms
• TOPS pen pals between TOPS students
• Service learning projects
• Opportunity for tops students to observe/participate in other learning experiences
• Utilizing parental involvement
• Employ parents in TOPS classroom
• Classroom size 15
• Laptop computer for every student
• All teachers should have cell phones
• 2 classroom area - formal/informal
• Kitchen area
• Students only need to attend school for required hours (personalized schedules)
• Consolidation of paperwork
• Class secretary
• Dollars for student financial support
• Automatic 2000 scholarship
• TOPS students afforded opportunity for visits to other parts of the country or third world countries
• Video conferences