Transformation Zone

The Transformation Zone consists of schools that may need more support as they strive to ensure that students are prepared and poised for 100 percent success during their education journey. Within the Transformation Zone, educators at all levels work collaboratively to build strong schools that enables all students to achieve at or above grade level.

What are Opportunities to Think (O.T.)?

• O.T. is a way to ensure each and every scholar, regardless of perceived readiness or behaviors, are exposed to an increasing number of opportunities daily to engage in activities and tasks that are of a higher depth of knowledge (D.O.K.).
• This leads to increased levels of rigor and engagement. Coaches and teachers will plan and create a higher percent of tasks that will require scholars to analyze prompts/texts, synthesize their thoughts, and apply their thinking.

Why are Opportunities to Think (O.T.) so important for Scholars?

• All Florida Scholars in grade 3-10 are required to take the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) in both Reading and Math. The FAST is composed of approximately 80-90% DOK level 2-3 questions. The results of the assessment are utilized for more than school/district grades, and teacher effectiveness. They are also utilized heavily in both middle and high school to determine student’s placement in courses.

• The more opportunities scholars have to utilize high level thinking, the more likely they will become skilled problem solvers who are set up for success in the college or the career of their choice. High-level questions require the ability to think, and problem solve at equally high levels in order to be successful. Increasing daily exposure to O.T. will lead our scholars to become confident and comfortable with solving more complex questions and problems.

• Scholars who are in classrooms that purposely and frequently (embedded in teacher plans) provide scholars the opportunity to think at high levels (O.T) have shown a greater likelihood to score level 3 or higher( levels 3,4,5 are considered on grade level or above) than their peers in classrooms who are not provided frequent and purposeful opportunities to think at increased levels.  
• All classrooms in the Transformation Zone will increase the number of times our scholars are exposed to O.T. daily and teachers will receive quantitative feedback from administrators to ensure our scholars have equal or greater opportunities to problem solve as any other group of scholars across the district.

What does it look like in my child’s classroom?

• Teachers will embed opportunities to think through out their daily lessons. These opportunities could be in the form of essay prompts, text dependent questions, or benchmark aligned tasks.
• At designated moments they will release the scholars into productive struggle as they are pushed to problem solve and think critically about the task or content.  

**Our mission in “THE” Zone is to continually provide the opportunities to think for all scholars, not just those who are deemed “ready”. All scholars take the same assessment that sets them on their path, we must ensure that all scholars have equal opportunities to be prepared for critical thinking and the application of their thinking to be successful. **

Chief Transformation Officer

LaKisha Lawson

Contact: lawsonlak@pcsb.org

Scale up for Success

The Scale Up for Success Initiative is a model of support, designed in collaboration with the Juvenile Welfare Board and the principals and teachers of the five schools and focuses on increasing achievement for all students with an emphasis on closing the achievement gap and turning around low-performing schools. The Scale Up for Success Initiative’s implementation began in September 2014 at Campbell Park, Fairmount Park, Lakewood, Maximo and Melrose elementary schools. Read more about Scale up for Success.