Small Learning Communities
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Presentation Transcript
The Vision Small Learning Communities Larry Tibbs Brennon Sapp Thad Dusing • ”The Vision” Video
Why Change? (We are a Good School) • 15% College Graduation Rate • Increasing Gaps • Changing World • Changing Job Market • We still have Dropouts • Seniors losing interests • Most Discipline problems stem from low interest levels • All students ask “Why do we have to know this?”
82.7 78.4 74.8
Our Journey to SOS • District Leadership Initiated Discussions • Bill Daggett (Successful Practices Network) • The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman • Freshman Academy • Establish a Vision Team (School Level) • School/Site Visits • Conferences • Building Ownership within the School • Preparing for Implementation • Spreading the Word (Public Relations) • Curriculum Development • Establishing Business Partnership • What’s next?
District Leadership Initiated Discussions • Rigor, Relevance, & Relationships • Many students • Unmotivated • Unprepared for the next level of life, college, work force or vocational • 15% of students successful in college • How can we reinvent high school to • Motivate all students • Make high school more relevant • Make high school more rigorous • Involve the community/business
Characteristics: • complicated • emotional • expressive • idealistic • imaginative • impulsive • independent • introspective • intuitive • nonconforming The School of Visual/Performing Arts and Media (VPAM) Abilities writing musical artistic Jobs: • composer • musician • stage director • writer • interior decorator • actor/actress • event coordinator • reporter • artist • photographer • advertisement executive
The School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Characteristics: • analytical • cautious • complex • critical • curious • Intellectual • introverted, • methodical • precise • rational Jobs: • mechanic • aircraft controller • surveyor • farmer • electrician • biologist • chemist • physicist • anthropologist • geologist • med tech Abilities mechanical mathematic scientific
The School of Law, Education, Health & Human Services (LEHH) Jobs: • teacher • religious worker • counselor • psychologist • social worker • speech therapist • police officer • lawyer • nurse • nutritionist • physical therapist • sociologist Characteristics: • cooperative • generous • helpful • idealistic • patient • responsible • social • sympathetic • understanding • warm Abilities social verbal emotional
(BIT)Business & Information Technology The School of Characteristics: • acquisitive • adventurous • agreeable • ambitious • extroverted • energetic • attention-getting • impulsive • optimistic • popular • self-confident Jobs: • salesperson • manager • business executive • television producer • sports promoter • buyer • bookkeeper • stenographer • financial analyst • banker • cost estimator • tax expert Abilities leadership speaking clerical
Freshman Academy • Team approach • Most critical year • Various support programs • Used as a vehicle to introduce students to the Schools of Study (Decision point) • Freshman Coordinator and a Freshman Administrator • Pathways (Advisory)
Establish a Vision Team • A group to trail blaze the path to the New Dixie Heights High School • Professional development • Time line/steps • Advocates for change • Hand Picked Committee (12) • Teacher leaders • Representative group • Visionaries
School/Site Visits • South Grand Prairie (TX)sgphs.gpisd.org • Kennesaw Mountain (GA)www.cobb.k12.ga.us/~kennesawmountain • Pulaski County (KY)www.pcva.us/schools/pchs/index.html • Model Schools Conference • Nashville • Washington DC • National Career Academy Coalition Conferences
Building Ownership • Sharing of “The Why” • Sharing of “The How” • Site Visits (yes we took teachers) • Job imbedded Professional Development
Preparing for Implementation • Professional Development • Two day/district wide • Team of 18 teacher from South Grand Prairie • KDE Support Staff • Business Partners • Arrangement of the Building • Teacher Driven Change • Surveys • School of Study Assignments • School of Study Development
Spreading the Word • “The Vision” – Promotional Video • School of Study • Websites • Brochures • Videos • Parent Information Nights • To Students • Surveys • Videos • Freshman Academy (lessons, advisory, and posters) • SOS Sample Videos
Curriculum Development • Model Lessons • Flavoring of Core Content Classes (Relevancy) • Collaborative Lessons • Business/Community Involvement • Development of New Electives
Science Then • Three Required Classes • Biology (1 credit-freshman) • Earth/Space Science (1 credit) • Integrated Science (1 credit) • Electives • Chemistry (1 credit) • Anatomy & Physiology (1 credit) • Physics (1 credit) • Environmental Science (1 credit) • AP Chemistry (2 credits) • AP Biology (2 credits)
Science Now Three and a Half Required Classes • Scientific Investigations (1/2 credit-freshman) • Life Science (1/2 credit) • Earth/Space Science (1/2 credit) • Physical Science (1/2 credit) • 1½ credits to be spread out in electives Electives (all ½ credit, save AP Classes) • Chemistry A & B • Anatomy A & B • Physics A & B • Environmental Science • Forensics • Zoology • Astronomy • Chemistry & Community • Oceanography/Marine Biology • Medical Science • Radio Technology • Horticulture • Geology • Meteorology • Anatomy for Artist • AP Chemistry • AP Biology
Science Now Three and a Half Required Classes • Scientific Investigations (1/2 credit-freshman) • Life Science (1/2 credit) • Earth/Space Science (1/2 credit) • Physical Science (1/2 credit) • 1½ credits to be spread out in electives Electives (all ½ credit, save AP Classes) • Chemistry A & B (2) • Anatomy A & B (2) • Physics A & B (1) • Environmental Science (0) • Forensics (13) • Zoology (5) • Astronomy (2) • Chemistry & Community (2) • Oceanography (7) • Medical Science (5) • Radio Technology (2) • Horticulture (2) • Geology (2) • Meteorology (2) • Anatomy for Artist (0) • AP Chemistry (0) • AP Biology (1)
Establishing Business Partnership • Business Partnership Receptions • Business Partner Liaison • Externships • Business Panels
What’s Next? • Trimesters • Scheduling • Continued Professional Development • Continued Curriculum Development • ??????????????
Questions? www.dixie.kenton.kyschools.us www.bsapp.com/Schools_of_Study.htm