small learning communities

Small Learning Communities

Larry TibbsBrennon Sapp

”The Vision” Video

The Vision

Welcome to Dixie

Our Journey to SOS• District Leadership Initiated Discussions

– Bill Daggett (Successful Practices Network)

– The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman • Freshman Academy• Establish a Vision Team (School Level)• School/Site Visits• Conferences• Building Ownership within the School• Preparing for Implementation• Spreading the Word (Public Relations)• Curriculum Development• Establishing Business Partnership• What’s next?

District Leadership Initiated Discussions

• Rigor, Relevance, & Relationships

• Many students– Unmotivated– Unprepared for the next level of life,

college, work force or vocational

• 15% of students successful in college

• How can we reinvent high school to– Motivate all students– Make high school more relevant– Make high school more rigorous– Involve the community/business

Our Schools of Study

The School of

Visual/Performing Arts and Media (VPAM)

The School of

Visual/Performing Arts and Media (VPAM)

Jobs:– composer– musician– stage director– writer– interior decorator– actor/actress– event coordinator– reporter– artist– photographer– advertisement

executive

Jobs:– composer– musician– stage director– writer– interior decorator– actor/actress– event coordinator– reporter– artist– photographer– advertisement

executive

Characteristics:– complicated– emotional– expressive– idealistic– imaginative– impulsive– independent – introspective – intuitive – nonconforming

Abilities writingmusicalartistic

Science, Technology, Engineering

& Math (STEM) Characteristics:

– analytical– cautious– complex– critical– curious– Intellectual– introverted, – methodical– precise– rational

Jobs:– mechanic– aircraft controller– surveyor– farmer– electrician– biologist– chemist– physicist– anthropologist– geologist – med tech

Abilities mechanicalmathematic

scientific

The School of

Law, Education, Health & Human Law, Education, Health & Human Services Services (LEHH)(LEHH)

The School The School of of

Characteristics:Characteristics: cooperativecooperative generousgenerous helpfulhelpful idealisticidealistic patientpatient responsibleresponsible socialsocial sympatheticsympathetic understanding understanding warmwarm

AbilitiesAbilities socialsocialverbalverbal

emotionalemotional

Jobs:Jobs: teacherteacher religious workerreligious worker counselorcounselor psychologistpsychologist social workersocial worker speech therapistspeech therapist police officerpolice officer lawyerlawyer nursenurse nutritionistnutritionist physical therapistphysical therapist sociologistsociologist

(BIT) Business & Information Technology

The School of

Characteristics: acquisitive adventurous agreeable ambitious extroverted energetic attention-getting impulsive optimistic popular self-confident

Abilities leadershipspeakingclerical

Jobs: salesperson manager business executive television producer sports promoter buyer bookkeeper stenographer financial analyst banker cost estimator tax expert

Freshman Academy

• Team approach

• Most critical year

• Various support programs

• Used as a vehicle to introduce students to the Schools of Study (Decision point)

• Freshman Coordinator and a Freshman Administrator

• Pathways (Advisory)

Establish a Vision Team

• A group to trail blaze the path to the New Dixie Heights High School– Professional development– Time line/steps– Advocates for change

• Hand Picked Committee (12)– Teacher leaders– Representative group– Visionaries

School/Site Visits• South Grand Prairie (TX) sgphs.gpisd.org

• Kennesaw Mountain (GA) www.cobb.k12.ga.us/~kennesawmountain

• Pulaski County (KY) www.pcva.us/schools/pchs/index.html

• Model Schools Conference– Nashville– Washington DC

• National Career Academy Coalition

Conferences

Building Ownership

• Sharing of “The Why”

• Sharing of “The How”

• Site Visits (yes we took teachers)

• Job imbedded Professional Development

Preparing for Implementation• Professional Development

– Two day/district wide – Team of 18 teacher from South Grand

Prairie– KDE Support Staff – Business Partners

• Arrangement of the Building

• Teacher Driven Change– Surveys– School of Study Assignments– School of Study Development

Spreading the Word• “The Vision” – Promotional Video

• School of Study – Websites– Brochures– Videos– Parent Information Nights

• To Students– Surveys– Videos– Freshman Academy (lessons, advisory,

and posters)

• SOS Sample Videos

Curriculum/SOS/Moral Development

• Model Lessons (Group Activity)

• Flavoring of Core Content Classes (Relevancy)

• Collaborative Lessons

• Business/Community Involvement

• Development of New Electives

• Summer Retreat (away from school)

• Use of SOS Lead Teachers

Science Then• Three Required Classes

– Biology (1 credit-freshman)– Earth/Space Science (1 credit)– Integrated Science (1 credit)

• Electives– Chemistry (1 credit)– Anatomy & Physiology (1 credit)– Physics (1 credit)– Environmental Science (1 credit)– AP Chemistry (2 credits)– AP Biology (2 credits)

Science NowThree and a Half Required Classes• Scientific Investigations (1/2 credit-freshman)• Life Science (1/2 credit)• Earth/Space Science (1/2 credit)• Physical Science (1/2 credit)• 1½ credits to be spread out in electives

Electives (all ½ credit, save AP Classes)– Chemistry A & B– Anatomy A & B– Physics A & B– Environmental Science – Forensics– Zoology– Astronomy– Chemistry & Community– Oceanography/Marin Biology

– Medical Science– Radio Technology– Horticulture– Geology– Meteorology– Anatomy for Artist– AP Chemistry– AP Biology

Establishing Business Partnership• Business Partnership Receptions

• Business Partner Liaison

• Externships

• Business Panels

• Marketing and Business Liaison– Aggressive Marketing– Aggressive Publicity– Yes! We are “open” for business– Lesson Connections

A Business Partner

What Else?• Trimesters

• Continued Professional Development

• Continued Curriculum Development

• Continued Morale Building/Support

• Data, Data, Data & Surveys– hard/soft– young/old– interior/exterior

• ??????????????

Questions?

www.dixie.kenton.kyschools.us

bsapp.com/dixie_schools_of_study