What It's All About!
By
Elementary Education Director Gloria Noble
The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District has been and continues to be, on a journey
to improve student achievement. Our improvement effort has been guided by the District's
Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan. We have had community, district leadership
and staff involvement throughout this process over the past few years. We began
a more focused and rigorous school improvement effort in the fall of 2000 under
the leadership of our new Superintendent Linda Powell. We are implementing a specific
process for school improvement that has been aligned with effective school research,
and state and national standards.
Effective schools have five basic characteristics:
1)
Strong Instructional Leadership-
The school principal's # 1 priority and responsibility is to set the example and
tone for instructional excellence
2)
There are high expectations of student achievement
for ALL students- The school staff believes and demonstrates that all
students can attain mastery of core curriculum reading, writing, and math. As a
district we are raising the bar on student achievement and need parental support.
3)
Pervasive and broadly understood instructional
focus - Our schools have developed school improvement plans to increase
student achievement. They have specific strategies outlined to accomplish this,
a way to measure student success, different instructional methods to reach all students
and intervention strategies to help students who do not master the core skills.
Over the summer we have had teachers and administrators develop a new K-12 writing
handbook, revise our curriculum maps, and create an assessment and best practice
handbook. We have had very focused staff development opportunities. This year we
added 3 more staff development days to our calendar to focus on instruction and
assessment.
4)
Measures of pupil achievement as a basis
of program evaluation- Measurement is key to school improvement. There
needs to be frequent assessments where data is used to improve individual performance
and the instructional program.
In the school improvement plans this year, principals and teachers are implementing
4 - 6 weeks goal setting. In each class there must be frequent assessments to drive
instruction, interventions for those who do not meet the standard and enrichment
of the curriculum for those who have mastered the skills. Teachers are meeting at
grade level and by departments in all of our schools and following the same process.
5) The last characteristic of an effective school is a
Safe and orderly school climate conducive to teaching and learning to allow all
the rest to happen.- It is important that we have a school environment
that promotes teaching and learning.
The school district believes the Partnership for Learning Agreement is a vital part
of our school improvement process. We believe that learning can take place best
when there is shared effort, interest, and motivation by students, parents, and
staff. The Partnership for Learning Agreement outlines what is expected by each
member of the educational family in order to ensure student success. There is nothing
more powerful than school, parents, students and community members working together.
We all play a vital role in creating an educational environment where there is a
quality commitment to providing an education that will prepare students for the
21
st century.
If you have not received your Partnership for Learning Agreement, Please contact
your students’ principal.
Click here to see the Partnership for Learning Agreement