How to Create the ABSOLUTE Best School In Your District!

1. How to Create the ABSOLUTE Best School In Your District! Grand Bay Middle School Wade Whitney, Jr.—Principal Beth Ching—Assistant Principal John Jacob Poiroux—Assistant Principal Grand Bay, Alabama

2. How to Create the Absolute Best School in Your District • Grand Bay Middle School Data • Using Data to Implement Change • Raising Expectations of Students and Staff • Advisory

3. 1. Grand Bay Middle School Data

4. Grand Bay Middle School Facts • Obstacles -Hurricane Katrina -School Perception • 2006-2007 AYP not met (Attendance) • 2007-2008 Met AYP • 2008-2009 Met AYP • 2009-2010 AYP not met (SPED Reading)

5. Grand Bay Middle School Facts • 6-8th grades • 800 students • 41 H.Q. teachers/5 paraprofessionals • 1 Principal • 2 Assistant Principals • 1 Title I Facilitator

6. Race Asian Hispanic Black White

7. Lunch Demographics

8. Special Education

9. Attendance 95% attendance is required for the specified attendance period in order to meet AYP

10. EQT Scores(End of Quarter Test) * 16 subject area tests given each quarter

11. Summer School Eligibility

12. 2. Using Data to Implement Change

13. Change Master Schedule • Seven (7) Period Day • Master Schedule Includes: -1 Grade Level Data Meeting Period (Appendix A) -1 Instructional Planning Period

14. Two Types of Data Meetings • Monthly Data Meetings • Weekly Problem Solving Team (PST) Meetings

15. Monthly Data Meetings • By Subject Area (vertical alignment) • Meet Once a Month • Facilitated by an Administrator • Teacher Brings Completed Data Analysis Form (Appendices A,B and C) • -Teacher analyzes most recent test results or quarterly EQT results • - Common Lesson Plans and Assessments • - Re-testing and Re-teaching

16. By Grade-Level (horizontal alignment) Meet Weekly During Common Data Time Tuesdays-- Complete Forms (Appendix D) Wednesdays-- PST Meet Members-- Administrator, Counselor, Special Education Teacher, Grade Level General Education Teachers (6th, 7th, and 8th) PST Meetings

17. Driving Force for Problem Solving Teams • PST’s are a result of Response to Instruction (RtI) • RtI was developed by the Alabama State Department of Education • Developed to reduce failures and drop out rate

18. Tiered Instructional Delivery • RtI integrates core instruction, assessment, and intervention within a multi-tiered system. (Appendix E) Tier I- First delivery provided by general education teacher. Teachers must follow Cycle of Instruction (Appendix F) Tier II-Teachers utilize more intense interventions that are research based. Tier III-Interventions should be provided by a specialized teacher/counselor or special education teacher.

19. PST Meeting Process • Referral – 59% or below (Failing) • Implement informal/formal support *Tier I— Informal *Tier II – Formal/Vision and Hearing Screening *Tier III – Formal/BASC SOS --Tier II & III must be research based

20. 3. Raising Expectations of Students and Staff

21. Raising Expectations of Students • Remind them daily of school expectations • “Mean What You Say and Say What You Mean” • Provide incentives for success • Administrators in classrooms EVERYDAY

22. Raising Expectations of Staff • Support teachers in all aspects (especially disciplining students) • Two planning periods – data/planning • 2nd delivery of core subjects • Data meeting accountability • Develop an environment conducive to teaching and learning

23. 4. Advisory

24. Advisory: What Can it Do? • Builds Relationships Between Students and Staff • Holds Students Accountable • Improves Grades, Behavior, Decision-Making, and Attendance • Encourages Success by Raising Expectations • Promotes Character Development

25. Advisory: How Do You Start? • Choose a Small Advisory Committee • Set Goals for the Advisory Program • Set your Meeting Frequency & Time • Create Your Calendar • Plan Logistics (who goes where) • Develop Lessons/Binder • Train Your Faculty

26. The Role of the Advisor • Advisors form Relationships with their Advisees • Check Grades, Discipline, and Attendance • Show the Advisee that Someone on Campus is Looking Out for Them • Provide Character Building Activities • Arrange Tutoring/Student Referrals

27. Why Is Advisory A Must In Middle School • As Students Transition from Elementary to Middle School, Parental Involvement Decreases • Advisory Offers the Student, Teacher, and Parent Another Means of Communication • Advisory Provides Students with Another Avenue of Adult Accountability

28. Learning Environments • Discipline Ladders • Students Never return to Class After they are Sent to the Office • Set Tone Early • Firm, Fair, Friendly • Be Consistent • Take each Case Individually

29. Learning Environments • Be Visible on Campus and in the Halls • Open Door Policy • “P” on Your Chest • Grade Level Administrators are on each Grade Level Hall • Outwork Everybody

30. Grand Bay Middle School 12800 Cunningham Road Grand Bay, AL 36541 251.865.6511 Wade Whitney, Jr. wwhitney@mcpss.com John J. Poiroux jpoiroux@mcpss.com Beth Ching hching@mcpss.com