1

Robert Manzo

09/19/2013

LIS 692

Dr. Anne Akers

Bluford Elementary STEM Academy, Greensboro, NC

Informational report on the school’s structure, purpose, and goals

2013-2014

Contents:

I. School address and contact info …p.2

II. a. School vision …p.2

b. School mission statement …p.2

III. Hours …p.2

IV. LEA (Local Educational Authority) Name and Number …p.2

V. ADM (Average Daily Membership) 2013-2014 …p.2

VI. Demographics …p.2

VII. Teachers and Instructional Staff roster …p.3-4

VIII. Administrative, Custodial, and Cafeteria Staff roster …p.4

IX. Regional School Board Representatives for Southeastern Guilford County …p.4

X. a. School Improvement Plan (SIP) definition and goals …p.4-5

b. SIP team membership …p.5

c. SIP data and goals details …p.5

XI. Other School Committees and Programs …p.5-7

XII. Attached documents …p.7-14

2

I. Bluford STEM Academy 1901 Tuscaloosa Street

Greensboro, NC 27401

Phone: (336) 370-8120

Fax: (336) 370-8124

Grades K through fifth with 284 students enrolled.

II. School vision and mission statement: (from “Bluford STEM Academy,” Guilford County Schools, 2013, GCS website)

a. Vision: The vision of Bluford Elementary STEM Academy is to prepare students

to compete in our global economy by equipping them with skills that are not

confined and isolated within one discipline, but are found between and across the

disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math. Students will participate

in STEM projects as scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in designing,

conducting, and communicating their results.

b. Mission statement: The mission of Bluford Elementary STEM Academy is to

prepare our students to communicate and compete as global thinkers within the

community through science, technology, engineering, and mathematic disciplines.

III. Daily instructional hours: 7:55am – 2:35pm

Tardy bell at 7:50am

IV. LEA Name/Number: Guilford County Schools - 410

V. ADM (2013-14): 284

VI. Demographics: (Courtesy of Principal Lockhart)

African-American – 81.6%

American Indian/Alaskan Native – 0.3%

Asian – 1%

Caucasian – 4%

Hispanic – 9%

Multiracial – 2.8%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander – 0.7%

3

Unclassified – 0.4%

VII. Teachers and Instructional Staff Name Primary Role(s) Secondary Role(s)

Mrs. Markisha Cobb Kindergarten teacher

Mrs. Susan Coleman Kindergarten teacher

Mrs. Cindy Donnell Kindergarten teacher SIP

Ms. Kristin Gallagher First Grade teacher SIP

Ms. Letitia Lennon First Grade teacher

Ms. Kelsey Littlejohn First Grade teacher

Mrs. Gail Donaldson Second Grade teacher

Mrs. Kristie Dixon Second Grade teacher

Mr. Payton Price Second Grade teacher

Ms. Jocelyn Bass Third Grade teacher

Ms. Beth Simoncini Third Grade teacher SIP

Ms. Courtney Ferguson Fourth Grade teacher

Mrs. Alicia Stevens Fourth Grade teacher

Ms. Shaunta Walker Fifth Grade teacher SIP

Mr. Lorenzo Wyatt Fifth Grade teacher

Mr. Joshua Bowden Physical Education

Mrs. Dawn Humphrey Music

Mrs. Lori Rickard Art

Mr. Harold Chairs Technology

Ms. Shayla Thompson Science Lab SIP

Mrs. Michelle Chandler Life Skills instructor

Ms. Juanita Strickland Life Skills Teacher Assistant

Mrs. Lisa Swafford Teacher Assistant SIP

Mrs. Michelle Overton Teacher Assistant

Mrs. Cynthia Stanley Teacher Assistant

Mrs. Naomi Donnell Teacher Assistant

Mrs. Jan Stanley Teacher Assistant

Ms. Demetris Lawson Teacher Assistant

Mr. Clarence Easter Teacher Assistant

Mr. David Cabiness Social Worker

Mrs. Stacey Caudle Media Center Specialist SIP

Ms. Kelsie Flowers Exceptional Children

Ms. Christina Loecher Exceptional Children

Ms. Kathy Ganim School Nurse

Mrs. Peggy German Reading Impact SIP

Mrs. Emily Hamuka Speech

Ms. Diane Hollingsworth AG (Academically Gifted)

Mrs. Cynthia Latham Guidance Counselor SIP

4

VIII. Administrative, Custodial, and Cafeteria Staff Name Role Secondary Roles

Ms. Gradesa Lockhart Principal SIP

Ms. Sohanna Lloyd Curriculum Facilitator

Mrs. Fran Fretwell Treasurer

Ms. Sonya Maynard-Long Data Manager

Ms. Tracey Hunter Cafeteria Manager

Ms. Shannon Hendricks Cafeteria Staff

Ms. Chilaquita Thomas Cafeteria Staff

Ms. Dianne Ellis Cafeteria Staff

Mr. Matt Jankovic Custodial Staff

Mr. Ronny Penn Custodial Staff

Mr. Martin Lewis Custodial Staff

Mr. Al Volunteer

IX. Regional School Board Representatives for Southeastern Guilford County: (Note: Guilford County has 3 superintendents for each of 3 regions recognized by the

GC School Board, as well as a separate, fourth county-wide superintendent.)

Regional superintendent: Dr. Phyllis Martin, martinp@gcsnc.com

School Board Member: Mr. Amos Quick III, quicka@gcsnc.com

X. School Improvement Plan (SIP): (from “School Improvement Planning,” Guilford County Schools, 2013, GCS

website.)

a. “In accordance with North Carolina G.S. 115C-105.27 – Development and

Approval of School Improvement Plans, schools must develop plans for

improvement every two years. Principals and school improvement teams work

collaboratively and diligently to develop school improvement plans that are data

driven to the greatest extent possible. Collaboration with school and parent

representatives is imperative in the development of an effective school

improvement plan – plans must not be developed in isolation. Thus, school

improvement teams are vital to the continuous school improvement planning

process. In accordance with North Carolina General Statute and Guilford County

Board of Education policy and administrative procedure (IN/IN-P School

Improvement Planning), school improvement teams are comprised of

representatives of the assistant principals, instructional personnel, instructional

support personnel, and teacher assistants assigned to the school building, and

parents of children enrolled in the school.

The current school improvement planning cycle spans the 2012-13 and 2013-14

school years. School improvement planning is a continuous process. While North

5

Carolina General Statute requires schools to develop plans every two years,

Guilford County Schools also requires schools to revisit their plans during the

[year] each school year to monitor progress and modify strategies and action steps,

as needed, to attain the goals set forth in the plan. In 2013-14, reviews will occur

based on availability of state and interim assessment data.”

b. School Improvement Team membership:

Committee Position Name

Principal Gradesa Lockhart

Curriculum Facilitator Dionne Davis

Title I Coordinator Peggy German

K Teacher Representative Cindy Donnell

1st Teacher Representative Jaime Gauldin

2nd Teacher Representative Kristin Gallagher

3rd Teacher Representative Shaunta Walker

4th Teacher Representative Jason Beldek

5th Teacher Representative Beth Simoncini

EC Teacher Representative Lisa Cortezan

Specials Representative Shayla Thompson

Media Services Representative Stacey Caudle

Instructional Support Representative Cynthia Latham

Classified Staff Representative Lisa Swofford

Parent Representative Ron Cooper

Parent Representative Travon Waddell

c. SIP Data and Goal Details:

(See attached pages under section XII)

XI. Other school committees and programs at Bluford: a. After-School Care Enrichment Services (ACES)

“ACES provides a structured balance of academic, enrichment and recreational after-

school activities with a child-to-staff ratio of 20:1. …

ACES is offered every day that school is in session for students. The program begins as

soon as the school day ends and operates until 6:00 p.m. On some teacher workdays,

designated as ACES All-Days, the program operates from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. On

All-Days students enjoy field trips to local places or participate in special on-site activities.

On the district's Early Dismissal Days, ACES begins at the early dismissal time and

operates until 6:00 p.m. …

ACES programs are licensed by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and

Early Education (NC-DCDEE) and can accept subsidy payments from agencies such as

the Department of Social Services (DSS) and adoption services.”

(from “ACES,” Guilford County Schools, 2013, GCS website)

b. First Lego League team “The best way to summarize FIRST LEGO League is to say that it is a robotics program

for 9 to 16 year olds (9 to 14 in US/CAN/MEX), which is designed to get children excited

6

about science and technology -- and teach them valuable employment and life skills. FLL

can be used in a classroom setting but is not solely designed for this purpose. Teams,

composed of up to ten children with at least one adult coach, can also be associated with a

pre-existing club or organization, homeschooled, or just be a group of friends who wish to

do something awesome.”

(from “About Us,” First Lego League, 2013, First Lego League website)

c. Intervention Support Team (IST) “In Guilford County Schools (GCS), the Intervention Support Team (IST) is a regular

education process to address and resolve student problems in learning and/or behavior. …

The mission statement of IST in GCS is as follows: The Intervention Support Team of

Guilford County Schools will facilitate student achievement of academic, behavioral, and

social competence. … Each school in GCS should have an IST. IST membership is a

school-based decision. … Training for new IST teams is offered each year as well as

trainings in how to administer and score the screening tests used by IST.”

(from “Intervention Support Team,” Guilford County Schools, 2013, GCS website)

d. Literacy committee

(in progress)

e. Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) “Our purpose is to make the student experience the best it can be. For only $5.00 anyone

can become a PTA member: parents, grandparents, guardians, aunts, uncles, community

members, business owners, neighbors, etc and the list goes on. Anyone involved in your

child's life can join the PTA. …

As a non-profit organization, the Bluford PTA relies on donations and fundraising to pay

for the programs and services it provides to students. We also sponsor spirit nights at area

restaurants such as Chuck E Cheese, Skate Night, and Bowling Night. A percentage of the

sales on these nights go to Bluford and help with funding such activities as the annual

Christmas dinner, talent show, 3-D science presentation, author visits, and the teacher wish

list, just to name a few. …

The PTA is made up of a PTA Board of Directors which now includes each committee

chairperson and general memberships. On the Bluford website and in our first newsletter

of the school year you can find a list of PTA committees and subcommittees. The Board of

Directors meets monthly to report on planned activities, make suggestions for future

activities, set priorities for activities, and form a budget that is presented to the PTA

general membership for approval. Everyone is encouraged to come to our monthly

meetings which are generally held on a Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the

Cafeteria.”

(from “P.T.A.,” Bluford STEM Academy, 2013, GCS website)

f. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) “PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. Through PBIS, schools

teach and support positive behavior for all students and all staff everywhere in the schools.

….

PBIS is for all students and staff. When schools implement PBIS, there are three systems

in place. These systems are in effect at the same time:

Universal (Primary) Systems: Staff develops, teaches, and reinforces rules,

routines, and physical arrangements to prevent problem behavior throughout the

7

school. All students learn, practice, and are supported for displaying desired

behavior.

Targeted Group (Secondary) Systems: Students having difficulty learning rules

and routines and who are at risk for more serious problem behavior need a little

more attention. These students may participate in special activities such as Check

In/Check Out.

Intense Individual (Tertiary) Systems: Students at this level typically exhibit

behavior that impedes learning and can get them suspended from the school. At

this point, the focus is on the needs and characteristics of the student. Individual

behavior plans based on the reason for the behavior are developed by a team of

people who know the student best.”

(from “PBIS FAQs,” Guilford County Schools, 2013, GCS website)

g. Service Learning committee

(no notes)

h. STEM committee

(no notes)

XII. Attached Documents [SIP Plan Details, starts on following page]:

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15