NOVA
a cooperative effort
YORKTOWN BOARD OF EDUCATION
YORKTOWN CONGRESS OF TEACHERS
The purpose of NOVA, as expressed in its philosophy, is to enable Yorktown educators to develop innovative approaches to instruction. The philosophy upon which this program is based was developed by a joint committee of administrators and Yorktown Congress of Teachers representatives.
You are urged to obtain input from your colleagues and to think your proposal through carefully before you start completing the attached application. The more care and attention given in preparing your proposal, the easier the review process will be for you and the proposal review committee.
The entire application form must be completed before the review committee can give the proposal full consideration.* If you have difficulty with any aspect of the application process, you may wish to meet with the NOVA committee to discuss your proposal prior to final submission of your application. Such a meeting can be arranged by contacting the chairperson of the NOVA committee.
Proposals will be reviewed by the NOVA Committee in the school year prior to the implementation. Completed final applications for proposals must be submitted to the committee by December 15. Successful proposals will be selected by February 15 and forwarded to the Superintendent for final approval. Proposals which are supported by the Superintendent will be forwarded to the Board of Education by April 1. Funding for proposals will begin on July 1.
* While the entire application form must be completed before the NOVA Committee can act upon it, you may wish to submit a partially completed form if you are uncertain whether the subject of your proposal would be acceptable for NOVA consideration. If you select to submit a partial application form, complete only those items that are marked with an asterisk. Submit the partial application form the NOVA Committee. After review, you will be notified of its decision and instructions will be provided for further actions you may wish to take.
All children can learn and profit from their school experience.
The goal of the NOVA committee is to create a mechanism for staff participation in activities which will enhance learning by our diverse population of students, provide more outlets for professional expression by staff and create an atmosphere in which we can better assure the success of these activities.
Children have different abilities and interests and learn in different way. Correspondingly, teachers have unique strengths, abilities and interests. Current studies and national reports indicate that the typical structure of the school organization frequently stands in the way of the fullest realization and utilization of the differences. Any stimulus we can provide to build upon these differences will ultimately enhance both the teaching and learning acts.
This committee seeks to foster openness and acceptance of change. We welcome diversity in our schools and encourage collegiality and joint decision making between staff and administration. We seek to provide an atmosphere which stimulates experimentation by staff for the purpose of enhancing the learning by our increasingly diverse population of students.
We believe there is no one best approach to learning and teaching. We desire to foster innovation in ways which may alter the learning and teaching act. We want to minimize the isolation of staff and maximize the cooperation and interaction among staff. We will not prescribe the appropriate mechanisms for such education innovation, but will be disposed to look most favorably upon proposals which go beyond traditional approaches and emphasize such changes as: restructuring the means with which we present the educational program, assign teaching responsibilities, and structure the student instruction day. We encourage plans which incorporate means to increase teacher interaction and student interaction which can produce a more varied student experience.
A final goal of this committee is to stimulate our staffs to reach their full potential in an atmosphere of cooperation, openness and willingness to experiment with new ways of approaching the teaching/learning act. Ultimately we want to assure success for your students and provide a means for cooperation and professional expression for teachers and administrators, while creating an atmosphere in which innovations, which may lead to diversity and pluralism, are valued and supported by staff, students and the community.