Presentation Transcript

1. Great Schools In Charles Village

   Goldseker School Neighborhood Partnership Grant
2. Greater Homewood Community Corporation Mission: Strengthen neighborhoods. We serve 40 neighborhoods Strong neighborhood public schools critical to strong neighborhoods Greater Homewood currently partners with 9 schools 5 staff members 6 Americorps VISTAs
3. GHCC and City Schools GHCC’s partner schools have a large majority of students living in poverty. We have focused on meeting the huge needs of kids in our neighborhood schools, working to provide basic needs such as: Winter clothes School supplies Uniforms Dental and vision care
4. Supporting School Quality Resources, including enrichment, afterschool programs, tutors, mentors, health and mental health resources, support for attendance Parent organizing and leadership development Advocacy for school funding, facilities
5. Signs of Progress Gains in achievement and facilities Increased parental involvement through Parent-Teacher Organizations and School Family Councils Likewise, urneighborhoods are becoming more stable, healthy, vibrant places to live.
6. Goldseker Grant Grant offered to encourage schools and neighborhoods to work together to improve schools to attract families not using or considering using the schools
7. Goldseker Grant The grant: $50,000 for school improvements $30,000 for neighborhood organization to do community organizing and marketing $5,000 for marketing materials
8. Eligible Schools Schools must be located in “Healthy Neighborhood” “Healthy Neighborhoods” is a GHCC-administered program to promote homeownership in strong but undervalued neighborhoods. Schools must have met or exceeded citywide average in math, reading, attendance, and parent satisfaction.
9. Barclay and Margaret Brent Neighborhoods zoned for Barclay and Margaret Brent are very diverse. However, the school population at both schools is overwhelmingly low income. Obviously, middle-class families with options for their children were not choosing their neighborhood public schools.
10. Questions Raised By This Opportunity Could having good public school options attract and keep more families in Baltimore City, especially in these targeted Healthy Neighborhoods? Could we build schools that more reflect the diversity of the schools? The majority of middle class families do not use Baltimore City schools. If these families invested into City Schools with their own children, how would that change the schools?
11. Applying for the Grant To apply for the grant, GHCC brought together a group of principals, and community members, Loyola University partners on what made these schools strong and how to make them stronger. The group was clear – apply for this grant for BOTH schools.
12. Focus Group of Prospective Parents What factors do you consider when choosing a school? What are your perceptions of Barclay and Margaret Brent?
13. Focus Group Feedback Parents looking for high achieving schools, focus on the “whole child” and outstanding teachers. Parents want special curriculum like those offered at popular charter schools like City Neighbors or Montessori Perceptions of Barclay and Margaret Brent Schools – negative and mostly second hand
14. Other factors in deciding focus of application We examined “competitor” schools with special curriculum focus like Montessori, City Neighbors, GreenMount Brent Principal Dr. Waters-Scofield has experience in project based learning Loyola University could provide expertise and PD Barclay School has an art integration focus
15. Project-Based Learning We decided to enhance the curriculum at these two schools with project-based learning. Project-based learning is child-centered, creative, good for all kinds of kids
16. Grant Application We applied to Goldseker Foundation for grant funding: $35,000 at each school to support: Development of project based curriculum to enhance the current curriculum Additional support and training for teachers in positive discipline
17. Project and PLACE based learning We plan to tie project-based learning to the NEIGHBORHOODS surrounding the school. We envision teachers and students using the whole neighborhood as a living classroom. Charles Village architecture Waverly Farmers Market BMA, JHU, Wyman Park Dell Local historians, civic activists, other experts
18. Role of Teachers Teacher Leaders will be: Writing anchor units that are tied to the state curriculum and school wide themes Developing an implementation plan for PD, peer coaching Assembling a resource bank of neighborhood speakers, walking field trips, community members with expertise in subject areas
19. Challenges Complex project that involves getting teachers to change how they teach This is also about changing the culture of the schools – in the areas of teaching and learning, positive discipline and “selling the schools”
20. Challenges Making this a collaborative effort – administrators, teachers, neighborhood organization and residents Addressing and being honest about the race/class issues We are working to change the narrative about Baltimore City Schools
21. Opportunities “This is giving us permission to teach in ways that we know are right.” –quote from a Margaret Brent teacher
22. Opportunities Attracting parents of all races/classes creates a more diverse school, schools that serve the whole community, not just those families who have no option Strong schools contribute to stable, healthy neighborhoods and can be real estate selling points