The document summarizes updates from the ISSN Leader Meeting on October 27, 2011. It discusses the expansion of the ISSN Network from 24 to 34 schools serving nearly 16,000 students. It also reviews accomplishments over the past year including professional development opportunities and the continued development of tools to implement the Graduation Performance System. Upcoming opportunities and areas of focus for the coming year are outlined, including additional site visits, a Leaders Meeting in Los Angeles, and the Summer Institute in New York.

1. Welcome!
ISSN Leader Meeting
October 27, 2011
Brandon Wiley, ISSN Director

2. Keeping Perspective
“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It
means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.”
“Just for today, no matter where I am going, or what I am doing,
or who I am doing it with, it is my intention to focus on the
positive.” - Lucy MacDonald
“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one
after another.” - Walter Elliott
“Life is not a matter of having good cards, but of playing a poor
hand well.” - Robert Louis Stevenson
“When faced with the reality of how fragile life is, it’s amazing
how priorities can change in an instant. In the end, we’re only
as good as the relationships we build, maintain and cherish.”

5. What a difference a year makes…
The Network has expanded from 24 to 34 schools
(Serving nearly 16,000 students - 64% are low-income students,
81% are minority students, and 18% are ELL)
In June 2010, eleven ISSN schools had graduating classes.
The Network average on-time graduation rate was 93% and the
college going rate was 94%, of which over 70% went to four-
year colleges or universities
The Network has become more diverse:
Rural, suburban and urban
Traditional public, charter and independent schools
Academies, small high schools and comprehensive high schools
K – 5, 6 – 8, 9 – 12, 6 – 12

6. We also…
GPS Retreat in October/April in Houston, TX for
about 100 teachers
Held two Leaders Meetings (Houston/New York)
Largest ISSN Summer Institute to date
(In Washington DC…ok, Rockville, MD ☺)
Several regional PD sessions across the Network
Over 7 site visits for new or third year schools

7. And don’t forget…
Continued the development of the tools and resources
necessary to implement GPS
Revised the Performance Outcomes to align them to
the Global Leadership POs
Partnered with ShowEvidence to build the digital
platform for GPS
Awarded a 2-year grant to implement a “Mastery
based” system in several Network schools, with GPS
serving as the vehicle for students to earn course credit
instead of seat time

8. Work to Be Done This Year…
Currently, we
have 10 site visits
scheduled for this
year – in the
process of
identifying the
teams and
making invitations

9. First ISSN Site Visit to an
International School
No. 1 High School Affiliated with
Central China Normal University in Wuhan, China
International Experimental Class

13. If you know
Barb Kelley…

17. Work to Be Done This Year…
Need to schedule about
10 school study tours
Teams of 7 to 10
teachers and leaders to
visit established schools in
the Network
Tour of school, focus
group discussions with
students, teachers, leader
Potential for the Future…All ISSN Schools become demonstration
sites…to communicate about our model…to generate revenue…

18. Spring Leaders Meeting
Los Angeles, CA
Originally scheduled for March 22 & 23
Several conflicts…
Therefore, we need your feedback on the
dates of February 13 – 17
An online survey will be sent today for feedback…

19. Havana, Cuba
March 16 – 23 / March 25 – April 1
• Visits to daycare and job training centers
• Opportunities to learn about community development projects
• Interaction with staff & children @ the House of Loving Care
• Meetings with children and teachers at a dance school for urban youth
• A visit to a special needs school
• A visit to the Muraleando community project
• UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Still space for about 10 more students…

20. Summer Institute/PGL Conference

21. Summer Institute/PGL Conference
June 26 – June 30
Brooklyn, New York
New York Marriott @ the Brooklyn Bridge
Tuesday, June 26 – Optional Pre-Conference Day
Wednesday, June 27 – ISSN SI Breakouts & Opening Dinner
Thursday, June 28 – ISSN SI Breakouts & Experiential Learning
Friday, June 29 – PGL Breakouts & Keynotes
Saturday, June 30 – PGL Breakouts & Keynotes

22. Summer Institute/PGL Conference
Optional Pre-Conference
The day will focus on day-long workshops to help teachers
develop the instructional strategies necessary to prepare
students to be globally competent and college ready.
Focus on how to develop the skills necessary to succeed in
the 21st century.
Please…send us suggestions and ideas about speakers and
facilitators for these sessions…

23. Further Development and Implementation of the
Graduation Performance System
Task
Implementation
Standards/
Portfolio of College Ready
GPS
Assessment and and Globally
Performance Task Design Scoring of Student
Competent
Outcomes & Student Work Work Graduate
Rubrics
Teacher & Student
Feedback and
Reflection

24. Levels of GPS Implementation
District Level
Goal: Focus:
Embedding Policies for Proficiency-
Mastery Based Credit
School Level
Goal: Focus:
Demonstrating Portfolio System
Competence
Classroom Level
Goal: Focus:
Improving Task Cycle
Performance

25. Work to Be Done This Year…
Consistent…
Set of Outcomes for what “doing GPS” means
Definitions and language
Set of Tools – including PD modules and coaching
resources
Collection/Creation of Exemplary Tasks for “Task Bank”
Roll-out of Show Evidence

27. Badges for Learning
Asia Society has submitted a grant application to explore
the development of “badges” for students to earn that
signify that they are globally competent and college-
ready…
Likewise, we can offer a badge system to allow teachers to
demonstrate they know how to teach for global
competence…
This may lead to further discussion about an ISSN Diploma

28. ISSN NING
The NING has undergone a redesign to
accomplish several goals…
1.) Make it more user-friendly and intuititive
2.) Encourage greater collaboration, sharing and
communication
3.) Serve as a “one stop shop” for information, resources
and ideas
4.) Facilitate “anytime, anywhere” professional
development and opportunities to “meet”

31. The Future of the Network…
As we move forward, we face challenges to sustain,
remain viable and effective…
Your continued leadership, feedback and commitment to
the ISSN Mission will be more important than ever.
Change is inevitable.
Thank you for sharing your gifts with the ISSN -
you are the network; the network is you.