1. The name of the school, and a brief description of the main dysfunctions and failures being experienced.
We are the Sharks, from Intercoastal High School. According to the data from 2009-2011, our results have declined in every area (with the exception of reading proficiency increasing 8% according to state assessments). Math (10%), science (5%), and writing (18%) proficiency percentages decreased. The percentage of students making learning gains in both math and reading decreased according to state assessments. Enrollment increased by almost 1,000 student, yet attendance decreased by 7% and the graduation rate has decreased by 16%. Behavioral referrals increased by nearly 300. Suspensions for drugs almost doubled, while suspensions for fighting more than doubled.
2. List of the three most crucial needs to be addressed.
Intercoastal High School has weathered numerous changes in recent years. Adjustments to administration and teaching staff, as well as a decline in adult expectations of student achievement, have been experienced. Consequently the morale of the Intercoastal High School community has deteriorated, which is supported by the recent staff and parent survey data. IHS leadership team has observed an increase in behavioral referrals and suspensions from drugs and gang violence activity. This data projects the evidence of low school morale among students. Student behavior and safety is a crucial need to be addressed by the leadership team. A safe school environment is physically safe, which includes buildings and grounds that are clean and hazard-free, a campus that is secure and well monitored, and no physical violence or physical bullying; and psychologically safe, without discrimination, emotional bullying or unhealthy social pressures which have a negative psychological impact on students and can inhibit their ability to flourish and learn. IHS leadership team has detected a need to focus on reading and research. 42% of our students are at a level of proficient or higher. A trend of decline of 6-14% has been recognized on both standardized reading assessments. IHS leadership team has noticed a significant drop in the percent of proficient students in writing now at an all-time low of 66%. The leadership team decided to focus on communication skills as a school wide improvement goal. Communication is the cornerstone for all other subjects; however, it is suffering the most. To communicate effectively in our global society one needs to include writing, speech, listening, visual art, media productions, and performance. IHS’s mission statement needs to evolve to be congruent with our savvy school leader’s vision and the goals our leadership team developed. Through the development of our new school mission statement, we will provide IHS with a common purpose and vision to unite the faculty, staff, students, and the entire community.
3. The new Intercoastal High School Mission Statement to re-start the school direction:
Education which inspires all to their highest potential.
Statement of Core Values and Beliefs:
We, the members of the Intercoastal High School community, believe that learning best occurs in an environment that is safe, supportive, respectful and intellectually challenging for all students, one that promotes personal excellence through active, collaborative and creative thinking; individual growth; and development of the skills and integrity necessary to become productive members of society.
4. Three goal statements to effectively address the three high need areas.
The goal statements we believe effectively address our three highest need areas are based on data accumulated over the past three years. Our data was acquired from three different sources. The first source, supplying the support data for our goals, was a climate survey taken by the teachers. The second set of data, which is the foundation for our three goal statements, was the state assessment data. The third set of data, also supporting our goal statements, was a school survey of administration. Below are the three goals developed from these sources of information: ñIHS will improve student behavior. ñIHS will improve student writing. ñIHS will improve student reading. These goals will be further expanded as we clearly depict the performance target, objectives, activities, and indicators of success in our school improvement plan.
5. Statements as to how participation in this assignment has contributed to the principal and teacher team members perceptions, skill and has enhanced their capacity as savvy school leaders.
This assignment has provided our leadership team with an opportunity to understand the steps needed in collaboratively developing a school improvement plan. It is necessary for savvy leadership to evaluate the diverse factors that affect a school’s success. A savvy leader will create a leadership team to assist in evaluating current data and developing goals and strategies to influence student achievement. This savvy leadership team will then incorporate the entire Professional Learning Community to aid in the implementation of the school improvement plan.
1. The name of the school, and a brief description of the main dysfunctions and failures being experienced.
We are the Sharks, from Intercoastal High School. According to the data from 2009-2011, our results have declined in every area (with the exception of reading proficiency increasing 8% according to state assessments). Math (10%), science (5%), and writing (18%) proficiency percentages decreased. The percentage of students making learning gains in both math and reading decreased according to state assessments. Enrollment increased by almost 1,000 student, yet attendance decreased by 7% and the graduation rate has decreased by 16%. Behavioral referrals increased by nearly 300. Suspensions for drugs almost doubled, while suspensions for fighting more than doubled.2. List of the three most crucial needs to be addressed.
Intercoastal High School has weathered numerous changes in recent years. Adjustments to administration and teaching staff, as well as a decline in adult expectations of student achievement, have been experienced. Consequently the morale of the Intercoastal High School community has deteriorated, which is supported by the recent staff and parent survey data. IHS leadership team has observed an increase in behavioral referrals and suspensions from drugs and gang violence activity. This data projects the evidence of low school morale among students. Student behavior and safety is a crucial need to be addressed by the leadership team. A safe school environment is physically safe, which includes buildings and grounds that are clean and hazard-free, a campus that is secure and well monitored, and no physical violence or physical bullying; and psychologically safe, without discrimination, emotional bullying or unhealthy social pressures which have a negative psychological impact on students and can inhibit their ability to flourish and learn. IHS leadership team has detected a need to focus on reading and research. 42% of our students are at a level of proficient or higher. A trend of decline of 6-14% has been recognized on both standardized reading assessments. IHS leadership team has noticed a significant drop in the percent of proficient students in writing now at an all-time low of 66%. The leadership team decided to focus on communication skills as a school wide improvement goal. Communication is the cornerstone for all other subjects; however, it is suffering the most. To communicate effectively in our global society one needs to include writing, speech, listening, visual art, media productions, and performance. IHS’s mission statement needs to evolve to be congruent with our savvy school leader’s vision and the goals our leadership team developed. Through the development of our new school mission statement, we will provide IHS with a common purpose and vision to unite the faculty, staff, students, and the entire community.3. The new Intercoastal High School Mission Statement to re-start the school direction:
Education which inspires all to their highest potential.Statement of Core Values and Beliefs:
We, the members of the Intercoastal High School community, believe that learning best occurs in an environment that is safe, supportive, respectful and intellectually challenging for all students, one that promotes personal excellence through active, collaborative and creative thinking; individual growth; and development of the skills and integrity necessary to become productive members of society.4. Three goal statements to effectively address the three high need areas.
The goal statements we believe effectively address our three highest need areas are based on data accumulated over the past three years. Our data was acquired from three different sources. The first source, supplying the support data for our goals, was a climate survey taken by the teachers. The second set of data, which is the foundation for our three goal statements, was the state assessment data. The third set of data, also supporting our goal statements, was a school survey of administration. Below are the three goals developed from these sources of information:ñIHS will improve student behavior.
ñIHS will improve student writing.
ñIHS will improve student reading.
These goals will be further expanded as we clearly depict the performance target, objectives, activities, and indicators of success in our school improvement plan.
5. Statements as to how participation in this assignment has contributed to the principal and teacher team members perceptions, skill and has enhanced their capacity as savvy school leaders.
This assignment has provided our leadership team with an opportunity to understand the steps needed in collaboratively developing a school improvement plan. It is necessary for savvy leadership to evaluate the diverse factors that affect a school’s success. A savvy leader will create a leadership team to assist in evaluating current data and developing goals and strategies to influence student achievement. This savvy leadership team will then incorporate the entire Professional Learning Community to aid in the implementation of the school improvement plan.