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DCG principal presents 'Mustang University' staff development program focused on 'all means all'
Summary
Dallas Center-Grimes High School Principal AJ Blackmore described a weekly professional development program, 'Mustang University,' aimed at aligning teacher practice and increasing student proficiency across the high school.
AJ Blackmore, Dallas Center-Grimes High School principal, told the school board Wednesday that the high school's new weekly professional development program, called Mustang University, is intended to align staff on the district strategic plan and ensure "all means all" for student learning.
Blackmore said Mustang University meets on early-out Wednesdays and is built around three priorities: learning, building a collaborative culture and producing measurable results. "We believe that all students must learn at high levels," he said, and added that the high school applies the professional learning communities (PLC) process and "the four critical questions" to maintain rigor for students, including the fewer than five students taking alternate assessments.
The principal described an instructional practice he launched called "prep," a short team protocol that asks staff to clarify purpose, roles, effort and progress before meeting. Blackmore said the practice is anchored in research on collective teacher efficacy: when teachers share common expectations and observe one another, student achievement improves.
Blackmore also recounted a learning-walk pilot held Sept. 18 when 18 staff members visited 55 classrooms in about 25–30 minutes to look for five core values (supportive, inclusion, innovation, passion and collaboration). "We covered 55 classrooms in about 25 to 30 minutes with those 18 people," he said. Staff reported seeing classroom audio enhancements, diverse role models on displays, small-group collaboration and positive student feedback; an Alt Ed program graduate was noted as an early success.
Board members asked Blackmore to summarize his first 90 days. He said he has found the district welcoming and praised staff-family partnerships. He invited board members to visit classrooms and offered to host tours.
Blackmore said Mustang University will continue through October, November and December with rotating blocks so staff across the high school participate. He closed by asking the board if it had questions; none were raised that required action.
The presentation was described as informational; no board action was taken on Mustang University at the meeting.
