SAINT IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY 2001 37th Avenue San Francisco, CA 94116-1165 (415) 731-7500, Ext.

268 Professional Development

To: From: RE:

Mr. Patrick Ruff, Principal Faculty Development Board Eric Castros Application for Tenure

November 30, 2009 The Faculty Development Board met on Thursday afternoon, October 29, 2009, to discuss the professional growth plan proposed by Mr. Eric Castro and required for his application for tenure renewal. The Board met from 2:35 P.M. until 3:20 P.M. without Mr. Castro, and then invited Eric to discuss his reflections and plans for professional growth. The Board concluded this meeting at 5:35 P.M. after discussing how its recommendations could assist Eric in this part of his career. Prior to these meetings, Eric met with the Professional Development Director to reflect upon his ten years at St. Ignatius, and how he could grow from this tenure renewal process. Another purpose of the meeting was to discuss the resources the school would make available for Erics professional growth. In addition, both Eric and members of this Board met with the assistant principals to seek their input about Erics contributions and plans in the academic, co-curricular, and Campus Ministry areas of the school. Present at this meeting were the members of the Board: Mr. Robert Gavin, Ms. Theresa Bayze, Ms. Patricia Kennedy, Ms. Danielle Devencenzi (Social Science Department Chair), Mr. Paul Molinelli (Secretary), and Mr. Michael Silvestri, Chair of this Board. Following are the commendations and recommendations resulting from this conversation and the Boards deliberations. ACADEMICS COMMENDATIONS 1. The Board commends Eric for his excellent classroom management, his meticulous course and lesson preparation, and his timely feedback on student work and assessments. 2. The Board commends Eric for his instructional methodology; in particular, his seamless integration of traditional classroom technologies, his effective use of Catlink, and his clever adoption of modern Web 2.0 collaborative tools and online resources.

EDUCATING THE YOUTH OF THE BAY AREA SINCE 1855

3. The Board commends Eric for his excellent service and leadership as Social Science Department Chair. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Board recommends that Eric continue to work with the World History I level to increase collaboration through the unfolding of the Curriculum Design and Review Process. 2. The Board recommends that Eric continue striving to find balance between his work as a classroom teacher and his role as the schools Educational Technologist, with the goal of improving his availability to students. CO-CURRICULAR COMMENDATIONS 1. The Board commends Eric for his contributions to the Art and Publicity Club, especially for being a positive and consistent presence to these students. 2. The Board commends Eric for his regular support of a variety of CoCurricular activities. 3. The Board commends Eric for modeling a professional decorum when proctoring student events. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Board recommends that Eric work with the Speech and Debate moderator to investigate how he might contribute to the team in a reasonable and appropriate way. 2. The Board recommends that Eric meet with the Assistant Principal for Student Affairs to develop a more formal structure and specific outcomes for the Art and Publicity Club. To this end, Eric should consider: a. arranging for club members to meet regularly with other student organizations to determine publicity or signage needs, and b. incorporating digital graphic design tools as appropriate into the creation of publicity materials. CAMPUS MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS 1. The Board commends Eric for his deep commitment to the Kairos retreat program, evidenced by the valuable student mentoring and the deep level of witness Eric brings to this important work.

2. The Board commends Eric for participating in Adult Spirituality offerings, such as Arrupe Evenings. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Board recommends that Eric follow his plan to participate in the Immersion Program, initially by joining the local San Francisco group for a two-day, drop-in experience. 2. The Board recommends that Eric follow his plan to complete the Spiritual Exercises. OTHER SERVICE COMMENDATIONS 1. The Board commends Eric for his commitment to his role as Educational Technologist, evidenced most concretely by the faculty workshops he frequently hosts and by his development of and regular contributions to Cat Tech, SIs educational technology weblog. 2. The Board commends Eric for his conscientious assistance with the schools ongoing investigation of a one-to-one student laptop program. 3. The Board commends Eric for his work to compile and publish the Parent Newsletter. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Board recommends that Eric strive to collaborate more effectively with colleagues, both in his role as a classroom teacher and as the Educational Technologist. Specifically, the Board recommends that Eric endeavor to build more positive, productive relationships with a broader range of faculty. 2. The Board recommends that Eric work with department chairs to identify needs, establish departmental goals, and find additional ways to educate faculty about incorporating technology more effectively into their curriculum. 3. The Board recommends that Eric work with the Assistant Principal of Academics and the Professional Development Director to develop a plan to provide opportunities for faculty to visit schools that demonstrate excellent use of technology in the classroom. OVERVIEW The Board discussed Erics expertise as an instructor and his generous service to the Social Science Department, as well as his contributions to various co-curricular and

Campus Ministry programs. The Board described Eric as a conscientious and highly competent curriculum designer and a versatile instructor with exceptional command of current instructional methodologies and technologies. Furthermore, the Board acknowledged Erics critical leadership role with regard to technology, both as a classroom teacher and in his role as Educational Technologist. Board members also noted Erics exceptional contributions and commitment to the Kairos retreat program. However, the Board agreed that Eric ought to strive for greater balance between co-curriculars and Campus Ministry, perhaps by formalizing and developing Art and Publicity and/or finding an appropriate way to re-engage with Speech and Debate. Finally, the Board challenged Eric to seek ways to collaborate more effectively with his colleagues by endeavoring to build more positive, productive relationships with a broader range of faculty. In addition to the recommendations noted above, the Board approved Erics future plans in all three areas. TENURE RECOMMENDATION In recognition of Mr. Castros professionalism, generosity, ongoing contributions to the Social Science Department and the spiritual life of the school, the Board voted unanimously to recommend to the Principal that he grant Eric five years of tenure, beginning in August 2010 and concluding in June 2015. Respectfully submitted,

Paul Molinelli, Ph.D. Secretary, Faculty Development Board