This document describes three school models - Fairfax Elementary School, Communion of Saints Catholic School, and YWCA Early Learning Center. It provides details on the student demographics, innovative learning approaches, 21st century skills, culturally relevant pedagogy, and creativity promoted at each school. Fairfax Elementary is in Cleveland Heights and focuses on international learning and technology. Communion of Saints is a Catholic school emphasizing faith, family, and their new science center. The YWCA Early Learning Center in Cleveland serves homeless and local children with a trauma-informed and individualized curriculum.

1. Culturally Relevant Inspiration
Tracy M. Mosley
Ashford University: EDU 692
Dr. Maureen Lienau
December 14, 2015

2. Overview
 3 School Models
 Population Demographics of Students
 Innovations of School Climate
 21st Century Skills
 Learning Experiences reflect culturally relevant pedagogy
 Creativity in the Classroom

3. Fairfax Elementary School
 Is a public school located in the suburban of Cleveland Heights, OH.
 Serving Kindergarten to Fifth Grade Students
 Enrollment of 340 students
 With about 70% African American, 20% Caucasian, 10% Puerto
Rican and Asian
 Cleveland Heights School District Website: http://www.chuh.org

4. Fairfax Elementary School
 Why School is Innovative and Unique:
 Fairfax Elementary is providing their students the opportunity to use the skills of IB learner
profile and attitudes to become internationally-minded through learning experiences. Students
also have the opportunity to engage in inquiry learning as well as learning a second language
of Spanish or Mandarin. All of these learning opportunities are integrated within the
curriculum. Also mainstreaming some of their special needs students into regular class. The
students have learning experiences using I-pads, computers, and a smartboard in each
classroom for exploring lessons, watching videos and interacting doing lecture time. (CHUH,
2015)
 21st Century Skills:
 Use a wide range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)
 Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information
 Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.),
communication/networking tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage,
integrate, evaluate and create information to successfully function in a knowledge economy
(Framework, n.d.)

5. Fairfax Elementary School
 Culturally Relevant Pedagogy:
 Fairfax gives their students learning experiences that are challenging
and engaging while gaining new knowledge that they can use
throughout their academic lives, real world experiences and careers.
 Promotes Creativity in the Classroom:
 The students have opportunity to use their creativity in not only the
art class but in classroom doing different subject lessons. For some
work the students have the ability to work at their pace individually or
in small groups.

6. Communion of Saints Catholic School
 Is a Catholic private school located in the suburban of Cleveland Heights,
OH.
 Serving Kindergarten to Eighth Grade Students
 Enrollment of about 800 students
 Students come from different communities: Cleveland-University
Hts., East Cleveland, South Euclid, Cleveland and Shaker Hts.
 Communion of Saint Catholic School Website:
http://www.communionofsaintsschool.org/

7. Communion of Saints Catholic School
 Why School is Innovative and Unique:
 Communion of Saints provide their students with a faith-filled, family-like environment of
learning. Prayer is part of the students daily activities. Communion has a state of art Science and
Technology Center that provides the students with the explore and discover wonders about science
and technology that can be applied to everyday activities. The students has access to laptops,
computers, and smartboards in each classroom to enhance the learning experiences. (Communion
of Saint, 2015)
 21st Century Skills:
 Use a wide range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)
 Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information
 Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.), communication/networking
tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create
information to successfully function in a knowledge economy (Framework, n.d.)

8. Communion of Saints Catholic School
 Culturally Relevant Pedagogy:
 Communion of Saints gives opportunities for their students to have Gospel
values, nurture spirituality, academic success, and social responsibility. Also
Communion focuses on the individual student and individualize lessons
based upon the students’ strength and weakness. (Communion of Saints,
2015)
 Promotes Creativity in the Classroom:
 The students have opportunity to use their creativity throughout their learning
experiences in different subject matters. For some work the students have the
opportunity to work at their pace individually or in small groups.

9. YWCA Early Learning Center
Is a private early learning center school located in Cleveland, OH.
Serving Three Years Old to Pre-K students
Enrollment of 48 students
With about 63% African American, 18% Caucasian, 8% Middle
Eastern, 8% Multiracial, 2% Asian, and 1% Hispanic (YWCA,
2015)
YWCA Early Learning Center Website:
http://www.ywcaofcleveland.org/site/c.9hKQL9NNLmJ2G/b.7964155/k.
59F2/Early_Learning_Center.htm

10. YWCA Early Learning Center
Why School is Innovative and Unique:
The YWCA is a trauma based center that provides services to homeless children as well as to
children in the community. The teaching staff all have some form a degree either a Associates or
Bachelors Degree. The program uses a child-centered curriculum which is build upon the
students interest. Also each classroom has an I-pad for educational games and videos.
21st Century Skills:
Respect cultural differences and work effectively with people from a range of social and cultural
backgrounds
Respond open-mindedly to different ideas and values
Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand
Use various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to the situation
(Framework, n.d.)

11. YWCA Early Learning Center
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy:
The YWCA early learning staff provide the students with learning experiences, activities and
topics based upon the students interest. Also ensuring that the religion believes of the students
are being concerned in cooking and other experiences. The programs philosophy encourages
teachers to look at each child's individuality and backgrounds because, “responding to the total
child requires teachers to be sensitive to the influence of diversity on a child’s academic,
social, emotional, and psychological development,”(Wardle, 2013). All the students are treated
equity based upon their individual needs as well as the family unit.
Promotes Creativity in the Classroom:
The YWCA early learning staff teaching the students through a variety of creativity activities
from free play to group activities. Art is a big part of teaching the students along with singing
songs about letter songs to following directions.

12. References
Cleveland Heights School District Website: http://www.chuh.org
Communion of Saint Catholic School Website: http://www.communionofsaintsschool.org/
Framework for 21st century learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/our-work/p21-framework
Wardle, F. (2013). Human relationships and learning in the multicultural environment.
San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
YWCA Early Learning Center Website:
http://www.ywcaofcleveland.org/site/c.9hKQL9NNLmJ2G/b.7964155/k.59F2/Early_Learning_Center.htm