The “Look Ahead” 2011-12

1. The “Look Ahead” 2011-12 Mexico Academy & Central Schools Mr. Bob Pritchard, Superintendent September 6th, 2011

2. Student learning will be driven by a coherent, rigorous, and mapped curriculum that emphasizes Common Core State Standards and promotes College and Career Readiness. CDEP Goal 1: Curriculum

3. Objective 1.1: All courses preK – 12 will be fully mapped at the Essential, Consensus, and Individual levels. • Objective 1.2: All curriculum will be aligned to the Common Core State Standards (NT Deliverable #1: Training to Implement the Common Core Learning Standards for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics.) CDEP Goal 1: Curriculum

4. Students will be actively engaged by purposeful and rigorous instruction that develops a deep understanding of the curriculum. CDEP Goal 2:Instruction

5. Objective 2.1: Support student learning through the use of data to drive instruction (NT Deliverable #2: Training to Implement the School-Based Inquiry and Data Driven Instruction Teams). • Objective 2.2:  Support a rigorous learning environment that reflects opportunities for students to engage in writing, problem solving and conversation (Shift Happens). • Objective 2.3:  Emphasize literacy instruction in all content areas to allow students to make deep connections to the district curriculum. CDEP Goal 2:  Instruction

6. Students will learn in an environment that is safe and mutually respectful, and promotes a sense of pride, trust and open communication for all stakeholders. CDEP Goal 3:Climate

7. Objective 3.1:  Improve the health, safety and welfare of students. • Objective 3.2:  Improve morale and performance of staff (NT Deliverable #3: Training to Implement New Performance Evaluations for Teachers). • Objective 3.3: Improve the level of satisfaction of external stakeholders concerning service. CDEP Goal 3: Climate

8. Believe it and you will see it. • Recognize abundance • Look for possibilities • Unleash your energy to fix what’s wrong. • Ride the changes • Take yourself to your edge • Be your best for the world Celebrate What’s Right with the World (Dewitt Jones, 2007)

9. By celebrating what’s right, we find the energy to fix what’s wrong. • Celebrating what’s right helps us see the possibilities out there. When we acknowledge the many good things that occur in the world, we realize that solutions are possible; that many challenges can be surmounted. • Shift Happens…if we’re honest with ourselves, we have to admit that a world totally devoid of change would be stultifying. We would have nothing new to look forward to. We would lose opportunities to grow and learn and meet new people. Celebrate What’s Right with the Curriculum…

10. Look for possibilities…The opposite of scarcity isn’t abundance, but possibility. No matter how bleak a classroom situation may seem, if we can see a glimmer of possibility and hope, we know we can keep going and take action to improve things. • In addition, searching for the best solution, rather than being satisfied with the first possible answer that crosses our paths, takes extra energy and time. It is easy to be satisfied with “good enough” instead of striving to do our best. Celebrate What’s Right with Instruction…

11. When we wholeheartedly commit to a goal, we can ultimately find it. We find it not because some higher being has magically reorganized the world to fit our wishes, but because we’re more likely to strive for the results we desire – even in the face of naysayers and obstacles. • Be your best for the World…The key is trusting ourselves enough to allow ourselves to be our best for the world, without worrying about the results. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that we may fall short of some external goal or that our efforts won’t merit external rewards. We forget that taking ourselves to our edge has value in and of itself. Celebrate What’s Right with MACS…Passionate, Excellent Staff!