1. Soaring HigherSoaring Higher
School Improvement StrategiesSchool Improvement Strategies
andand
Communication for ChangeCommunication for Change
Lindsay Gum, Jason Yungmann, Dustin James, Sarah WillamanLindsay Gum, Jason Yungmann, Dustin James, Sarah Willaman

2. AgendaAgenda
 Purpose of School Advisory CouncilPurpose of School Advisory Council
 Student performanceStudent performance
 Identified strategies to improve motivationIdentified strategies to improve motivation
and increase moraleand increase morale
 New ideas for achieving goals within 3New ideas for achieving goals within 3
subgroups in the SIPsubgroups in the SIP
 SurveySurvey
 Website informationWebsite information

3. School Advisory Council (SAC)School Advisory Council (SAC)
 The School Advisory Council is a school organization thatThe School Advisory Council is a school organization that
consists of school faculty and staff, parents, andconsists of school faculty and staff, parents, and
community leaders.community leaders.
 The SAC team has created opportunities within the schoolThe SAC team has created opportunities within the school
to engage in communication about important schoolto engage in communication about important school
issues. This important strategy is explained in a simpleissues. This important strategy is explained in a simple
illustration of a marriage.illustration of a marriage.
– Within a marriage there must be clear communication and thereWithin a marriage there must be clear communication and there
must be a way for the two parties to communicate problems.must be a way for the two parties to communicate problems.
– If the problems are not communicated then they will fester andIf the problems are not communicated then they will fester and
eventually have an explosive effect and cause problems that couldeventually have an explosive effect and cause problems that could
have been averted by communicating them more clearly.have been averted by communicating them more clearly.

4. School Advisory Council, cont’d.School Advisory Council, cont’d.
 SAC…SAC…
– strives to effectively design the School Improvement Plan, which focusesstrives to effectively design the School Improvement Plan, which focuses
on specific goals for achievement for all subgroups in all content areas foron specific goals for achievement for all subgroups in all content areas for
the year.the year.
– Improvement goals are based on previous student achievement and areImprovement goals are based on previous student achievement and are
connected in some way with the community as support to achieve the newconnected in some way with the community as support to achieve the new
goals.goals.
– The SAC team distributes a climate survey to the students and parentsThe SAC team distributes a climate survey to the students and parents
through the school web site. Information is sent home with the students sothrough the school web site. Information is sent home with the students so
that the parents will be aware of the opportunity that is being provided.that the parents will be aware of the opportunity that is being provided.
Teachers are also provided the opportunity to complete a climate survey.Teachers are also provided the opportunity to complete a climate survey.
This survey can be anonymous or the teacher can decide to discuss theThis survey can be anonymous or the teacher can decide to discuss the
issues on the survey with the principal in an individual meeting.issues on the survey with the principal in an individual meeting.
Administration collects this data as it comes in and it is reviewed at the nextAdministration collects this data as it comes in and it is reviewed at the next
meeting. In an attempt to communicate clearly with the students andmeeting. In an attempt to communicate clearly with the students and
parents the school opens every SAC meeting to parents and students.parents the school opens every SAC meeting to parents and students.
This helps to ensure that parents and students know that the school isThis helps to ensure that parents and students know that the school is
giving all efforts toward providing a better climate and learning communitygiving all efforts toward providing a better climate and learning community
for the students.for the students.

5. School Advisory Council, cont’d.School Advisory Council, cont’d.
 Every school is able to improve in some aspect of theEvery school is able to improve in some aspect of the
school organization!school organization!
 The purpose of the SIP is to “improve the quality ofThe purpose of the SIP is to “improve the quality of
teaching and learning in the school, so that a greaterteaching and learning in the school, so that a greater
number of students achieve proficiency in the corenumber of students achieve proficiency in the core
academic subjects” (Mid-Continent Comprehensive Center,academic subjects” (Mid-Continent Comprehensive Center,
2006).2006).
 The SIP in any given school is important to the school butThe SIP in any given school is important to the school but
is used most efficiently if the information is disseminated,is used most efficiently if the information is disseminated,
changes for good are made, and these changes can bechanges for good are made, and these changes can be
reported to faculty, parents, and the community for thereported to faculty, parents, and the community for the
purposes of building a rapport with these groups.purposes of building a rapport with these groups.

6. Student PerformanceStudent Performance
 FCAT ReadingFCAT Reading
 Target percentage is at or above a levelTarget percentage is at or above a level
threethree
– White- Goal 64%, Result- 51%White- Goal 64%, Result- 51%
– African American- Goal – 60% Result- 53%African American- Goal – 60% Result- 53%
– Economically Disadvantaged- Goal- 57%Economically Disadvantaged- Goal- 57%
Result- 45%Result- 45%

7. Student PerformanceStudent Performance
 FCAT MathFCAT Math
– Goal was performance at or above a level threeGoal was performance at or above a level three
on EOC assessments and at or above a levelon EOC assessments and at or above a level
four on FAAfour on FAA
 White- Goal- 64%, not metWhite- Goal- 64%, not met
 African American- Goal- 50%, not metAfrican American- Goal- 50%, not met
 Economically Disadvantaged- Goal- 58%, not metEconomically Disadvantaged- Goal- 58%, not met

8. Identified Strategies forIdentified Strategies for
ImprovementImprovement
 In analyzing the SIP from Wilkinson Junior High School weIn analyzing the SIP from Wilkinson Junior High School we
have surmised that Reading is an area that has continuedhave surmised that Reading is an area that has continued
to lack consistency.to lack consistency.
– I.E., in 2013 the school set a goal of 64% of the students meetingI.E., in 2013 the school set a goal of 64% of the students meeting
a level 3 or higher on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Testa level 3 or higher on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
(FCAT), yet only 51% met the goal. In 2014 the goal was raised to(FCAT), yet only 51% met the goal. In 2014 the goal was raised to
68%. In order to improve in this area (the reason for setting the68%. In order to improve in this area (the reason for setting the
goal at 68% for 2014) there was a strategy introduced thatgoal at 68% for 2014) there was a strategy introduced that
mandated a reading time for 30 minutes each day for everymandated a reading time for 30 minutes each day for every
student.student.
 There was a 30-minute block of time that in previous years had beenThere was a 30-minute block of time that in previous years had been
used for a study hall each day for the students. In reflection, theused for a study hall each day for the students. In reflection, the
leadership decided to utilize that time to have the students read a bookleadership decided to utilize that time to have the students read a book
in hopes of improving reading scores on the FCAT.in hopes of improving reading scores on the FCAT.

9. Identified Strategies forIdentified Strategies for
ImprovementImprovement
 Another way in which the school isAnother way in which the school is
attempting to improve the Reading FCATattempting to improve the Reading FCAT
scores is teacher training.scores is teacher training.
– The Language Arts department was involved inThe Language Arts department was involved in
a Professional Learning Community throughouta Professional Learning Community throughout
the year to be able to learn strategies from eachthe year to be able to learn strategies from each
other.other.
– Various speakers were brought in forVarious speakers were brought in for
assistance.assistance.

10. Identified Strategies forIdentified Strategies for
ImprovementImprovement
 MathematicsMathematics
– The high level students in Algebra and Geometry, whoThe high level students in Algebra and Geometry, who
were required to take an End of Course exam, havewere required to take an End of Course exam, have
excelled.excelled.
 In 2013, 100% of the students who took mathematics End ofIn 2013, 100% of the students who took mathematics End of
Course exams passed the exam. The school hasCourse exams passed the exam. The school has
acknowledged that the lower level mathematics students areacknowledged that the lower level mathematics students are
not producing as many learning gains throughout the year. Partnot producing as many learning gains throughout the year. Part
of this can be attributed to intellectual drive, but there can alsoof this can be attributed to intellectual drive, but there can also
be improvements made in this department. The schoolbe improvements made in this department. The school
instituted a voluntary math tutoring session two days per weekinstituted a voluntary math tutoring session two days per week
before school for the two months leading up to the FCAT.before school for the two months leading up to the FCAT.

11. New Ideas based on 2014 GoalsNew Ideas based on 2014 Goals
 Wilkinson Junior High is making exceptional strides in an attempt toWilkinson Junior High is making exceptional strides in an attempt to
raise their FCAT scores for the upcoming year, but improvementsraise their FCAT scores for the upcoming year, but improvements
can be made. As previously mentioned, the school hascan be made. As previously mentioned, the school has
implemented a mandatory 30-minute reading period for the students.implemented a mandatory 30-minute reading period for the students.
1.1. . The new strategy is to make the 30-minute reading block more. The new strategy is to make the 30-minute reading block more
interactive or provide accountability for the reading.interactive or provide accountability for the reading.
 Achievement Goals in reading: White- 68%, African American- 64%,Achievement Goals in reading: White- 68%, African American- 64%,
Economically Disadvantaged- 61%Economically Disadvantaged- 61%
 Provide general questions connected to a reading benchmark orProvide general questions connected to a reading benchmark or
comprehension strategy.comprehension strategy.
 Provide 15 minutes or independent reading and then provide aProvide 15 minutes or independent reading and then provide a
task or questionnaire.task or questionnaire.
 Tasks can be collected and provided to language arts teacher toTasks can be collected and provided to language arts teacher to
use to provide feedback to students, as rewards, or extra credit.use to provide feedback to students, as rewards, or extra credit.

12. New Ideas, cont’d.New Ideas, cont’d.
 The school created a voluntary Math tutoring, beforeThe school created a voluntary Math tutoring, before
school, for students two months leading up to the FCATschool, for students two months leading up to the FCAT
in hopes to bring up the scores of the lower levelin hopes to bring up the scores of the lower level
students. A concern is that the students that will show upstudents. A concern is that the students that will show up
before school will only be the students that are alreadybefore school will only be the students that are already
high level learners in mathematics.high level learners in mathematics.
 Achievement Goals in reading: White- 68%, AfricanAchievement Goals in reading: White- 68%, African
American- 55%, Economically Disadvantaged- 62%American- 55%, Economically Disadvantaged- 62%
2.2. A suggestion would be to incorporate math into the 30-minuteA suggestion would be to incorporate math into the 30-minute
reading block that the school has established. Instead of readingreading block that the school has established. Instead of reading
every day, incorporate math tutoring in this 30-minute block.every day, incorporate math tutoring in this 30-minute block.
With this new strategy there will not be a primary focus onWith this new strategy there will not be a primary focus on
Reading but will also bring the scores of the lower levelReading but will also bring the scores of the lower level
mathematics students to higher levels.mathematics students to higher levels.

13. Survey for FeedbackSurvey for Feedback
 On a scale of 1-10 how well wasOn a scale of 1-10 how well was
school improvement informationschool improvement information
communicated to you last year?communicated to you last year?
 On scale of 1-10, how well do youOn scale of 1-10, how well do you
feel school improvementfeel school improvement
information was communicated toinformation was communicated to
you this year?you this year?
 How would you prefer to receiveHow would you prefer to receive
information about schoolinformation about school
improvement?improvement?
1.1. WebsiteWebsite
2.2. EmailEmail
3.3. Paper copyPaper copy
 On a scale of 1-10 (10 being mostOn a scale of 1-10 (10 being most
effective), assess the projectedeffective), assess the projected
effectiveness of identified readingeffectiveness of identified reading
strategies and new ideas forstrategies and new ideas for
improvement.improvement.
 On a scale of 1-10 (10 being mostOn a scale of 1-10 (10 being most
effective), assess the projectedeffective), assess the projected
effectiveness of identified matheffectiveness of identified math
strategies and new ideas forstrategies and new ideas for
improvement.improvement.
 On a scale of 1-10, how timely wasOn a scale of 1-10, how timely was
the information presented to youthe information presented to you
today?today?
 Please provide any additionalPlease provide any additional
suggestions for improvement for thesuggestions for improvement for the
information provided to you today.information provided to you today.

14. InformationInformation
 The information and PowerPointThe information and PowerPoint
presentation from today has been madepresentation from today has been made
available on our school website or byavailable on our school website or by
physical copy for your review in the mainphysical copy for your review in the main
office of the school.office of the school.
 Thank you!Thank you!

15. ReferencesReferences
 Mid-Continent Comprehensive CenterMid-Continent Comprehensive Center
(2006). “Knowledge Bases: School(2006). “Knowledge Bases: School
Improvement Plans.” Retrieved fromImprovement Plans.” Retrieved from
http://www.mc3edsupport.org/community/knowhttp://www.mc3edsupport.org/community/know
 Florida Department of Education (2013)Florida Department of Education (2013)
School Improvement Plan: Wilkinson JuniorSchool Improvement Plan: Wilkinson Junior
High School.High School.