Hinsdale High School Teachers Association

During the October 4 Board of Education Committee of the Whole Meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Bruce Law updated the Board on the following question:

“Have we extended the Hinsdale District 86 tradition of excellence?”

The answer was presented in data for student achievement. Student growth was measured in the difference between Explore testing taken in 8th grade and ACT testing taking in a student’s junior year:

Hinsdale South did not make AYP last year. However, it is important to observe that over the past five years the doubling at Hinsdale South of those sub- groups that historically and generally have under-performed has not always had the predictable, downward effect on PSAE scores or academic growth. Moreover, Hinsdale South juniors for whom the school has both an Explore test (taken in eighth grade) and the ACT (taken in eleventh grade) consistently made as much progress as national norms of progress for nearly every sub-group, even in those sub-groups that did not make AYP.

Students at Hinsdale Central also grew beyond national norms, which is striking because Central students started with higher Explore scores. The PSAE tells us how academically tall students are; we use the Explore and ACT tests to see how much they grew, regardless of their original academic stature. Thus while we clearly see more students in certain sub- groups need to be lifted up to state standards by their junior year, the amount of growth at both Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central strongly suggests that our students work very hard under the instruction of highly effective teachers.

Where differences in Explore and ACT tests showed growth, AP classes were used to demonstrate rigor:

AP classes are more demanding than regular courses in the same subject area and thus serve reasonably well as a proxy for curricular rigor. Although the percentage of students taking at least one AP course during their four years rose only slightly at Hinsdale Central and decreased at South in 2010 over 2009, both schools had more students taking AP courses in 2010 than five years ago. Compared to 2006, six percent more students at Hinsdale Central took an AP course in 2010, and the percentage of tests of Central students earning at least a three on a five point scale on AP examinations—and therefore passing, according to the College Board—rose slightly. That is remarkable.

How do District 86 students compare to other students nationally on AP exams:

Compared to 2009 results, the most recent year the College Board makes data available, 13 percent of students in the US who took an AP course scored at least a three, compared to 48 percent at Central and 37.1 percent at South. For students to learn at high levels in rigorous courses, teachers must offer an instructional program to empower students to succeed, and the percentage of students who consistently pass AP exams indicate the strength of the instructional program.

Congratulations to Hinsdale South Economics Teacher Jeff Waterman for being named a 2010 3M “Star in the Classroom” award recipient. From Econ Illinois Website:

Winners of the 2010 3M Economic Educator Awards will be lauded for their outstanding commitment to economic education.

[…]

Criteria for Stars in the Classroom: Effective implementation of Econ Illinois programs in the classroom, helping students learn more about our economy and their roles as workers, consumers, investors and voting citizens.

Jeff and twelve other teachers will be recognized at the Econ Illinois Economic Education Day luncheon on October 26 held at the Union League Club of Chicago. Congratulations Jeff!

Can you believe it’s nearly Homecoming already! One reason is that, unlike the last couple of years, Homecoming at Central is the weekend BEFORE Columbus day this year. And with Homecoming there’s the parade, the football, the activities and of course - THE PANCAKES!

Homecoming at Central is when HHSTA traditionally holds our Annual Pancake Breakfast. This year, teachers will be preparing the hot and delicious treats on Saturday, October 2nd from 7:30am to 11:00am. Tickets are available from any Central teacher or on the day of the event at the door. Tickets are $5.50 in advance and $6.00 at the door. Kids 3-12 cost $3.00 and children under 2 eat free.

Come see current and former teachers do daring deeds like flip pancakes, juggle cups of coffee, and balance pans of hot sausages before the parade and games. We’ll even see if we can get new principal Mike McGrory to show off his pancake flipping skills. Tickets can be purchased in advance from teachers for a price of $5.50; tickets are $6 at the door. Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast benefit the Hinsdale High School Teachers Association Scholarship Fund.

For more information, please contact the event coordinator, our own “pancake princess” Dr. Annette DeAngelis-Marshall at 630-570-8337.

HHSTA would like to extend our congratulations and recognition to Central Art Department Chair and Art teacher Laura Milas for receiving the Illinois Art Education Association’s Art Educator of the Year 2010 Award. From the IAEA website:

The IAEA Awards Program is intended to recognize art educators who are committed and dedicated to their students and the art education profession. This program, which recognizes excellence in individuals and programs, helps provide for the development of quality art education throughout the state of Illinois.

Congratulations!

The Hinsdale High School Teachers Association is pleased to report that eighteen graduating seniors were the recipients of $12,800 in scholarships awarded by the Association this year. The scholarship fund was raised through the Staff Talent Show and Spaghetti Dinner at Hinsdale South, and Pancake Breakfast at Hinsdale Central. Events were held during Homecoming week at both schools.

Student recipients were selected from an outstanding pool of applicants. Criteria for consideration included: academic achievement, community service, demonstrated pursuit of excellence, commitment to a career in teaching and financial need.

Recipients at Hinsdale South included four $1,000 scholarships and eight $500 scholarships awarded to:

• Gina Calvello
• Grace Chang
• Cristina Duran
• Yasmine Hatamleh
• Christine Miller
• Kevin Miller
• Justin Ng
• Rahul Puranmalka
• Jessica Reif
• Vienet Romero
• Mariah Wood
• Dan Zangri

Recipients at Hinsdale Central included five $700 scholarships and one $1,300 scholarship awarded to:

• Maeve Andrews
• Christina Lantero
• Colleen Leahy
• Erin Quaid
• Ann Marie Richard
• Jordan Spinazola

Congratulations and best of luck in college to our recipients!

Terry Meyers has been a fixture in the Hinsdale Central World Languages department for over three decades. She has also been a great source of support and inspiration for me. Not that I’ve learned any French from Terry, but rather that she has been a long time HHSTA-Central Vice president and continued to be active in the Association even after her service as an officer ended. She’s been a source of information, guidance and a go-to person for help with Association business over the years.

Suburban Life had a nice write up on her career influence on her students recently. In it, you can read all about Terry’s career as an outstanding educator who modeled educational excellence for our students for more than three decades. Here’s a snip:

“What really is gratifying is to see the improvement (students) may not notice themselves, or when I take students on a trip to France and see the impact it has on them.

[…]“Even over just the last 10 years, teaching has changed, especially with progress made in technology. Today the tools with which we work is just off-the-charts better than before, the materials at our disposal have improved so much,” Meyers said. “I know the expectations of teachers has also increased exponentially, from the planning to the record keeping,” Meyers said.

We wish Terry all the best of luck!

Hinsdale High School Teachers Association is proud to recognize the achievement of Hinsdale Central Social Studies teacher Mike DiMatteo on being recognized as a 2010 Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction. Aside from being the varsity head football coach and member in the Association, Mike is always striving to represent the professional excellence in the classroom that our teachers are known for.

From the Golden Apple Foundation press release:

Teachers of Distinction are recognized for their distinguished contribution to teaching and are asked to participate in Golden Apple programs.

The honorees, all high school teachers, were selected from a pool of 562 nominees. Golden Apple has recognized outstanding Chicago-area educators annually since 1986. The creation of Golden Apple founders Mike and Pat Koldyke, the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognize and honor outstanding teachers for their contributions to building a stronger, better-educated citizenry.

“The 20 outstanding educators we’re honoring as Teachers of Distinction this year all exemplify excellence in classroom leadership. We look forward to their contributions to the mission and programs of Golden Apple,” said Golden Apple President and CEO Dominic Belmonte.

DiMatteo in his own words in a recent Suburban Life interview:

“I think some people have a stereotype that coaches are just Xs and Os guys who teach in order to coach. But that isn’t what I am about. I am a teacher who coaches football,” said DiMatteo, now in his sixth year at Hinsdale Central teaching Advanced Placement European History and World Cultures.

[…]

“It’s an honor because the Golden Apple is the highest level award a teacher can receive,” said DiMatteo.

[…]

He currently is working toward a second masters degree in education.

“Any time you can grow professionally, it is a good thing,” DiMatteo said.

Congratulations to Mike for his outstanding achievement and demonstration of professional excellence!