School Improvement

Process
Mt. Pleasant School
Nashua School District
Bruce Geer, Principal

Itinerary

Stakeholders
Broad-based Improvement
Communication
Coordination with Building
Initiatives
Lessons Learned Along the Journey

Itinerary

Leadership Role of The Principal

School Choice
Key Components of our SI Plan
Mt. Pleasant SI Strategies
Mt. Pleasant SI Accomplishments
03-04

Involve Stakeholders

Representatives from grade level

teams, special services, Title I,
ESL, Guidance, paraprofessionals
Parents School Improvement
Team and Focus Group
Central Office- Curriculum
Specialists

Broad-based Improvement

Curriculum and Instruction

Data Based Accountability
Culture and Climate
Structural Reform
Extended Learning Activities
Delivery of Support Services
Parent and Community Involvement
Literacy Team

Communication is Critical

Informal
Meeting minutes and Agendas to staf
SI updates at all faculty meetings
SI Team asked to share with grade
level teams
Parent Focus Group, PTO
Central Office

Coordinate Building
Initiatives

Implementation of new SBRR

language arts program
Building Action Plan
Building Council
Reading First Initiative

Lessons Learned

Staf needs consistent

encouragement and positive
feedback Recognize hard work
and accomplishments
Some committees need more
guidance than others
There is a need for modeling and
explicit directions

Lessons Learned

Gathering research to support

strategies was a challenge for
some, our facilitator was especially
helpful in this area
We discussed many strategies and
actions but tried to narrow the
scope-Many actions could
categorized under a few strategies

Lessons Learned

Waiting can be a source of

frustration Waiting for forms and
approvals
In the first year it felt like we were
always talking and planning with
implementation of some things
limited by late approval and
scheduling snags with consultants

Lessons Learned

The staf becomes fatigued meeting

after meeting, pressure to perform
from newspaper, perceived, self
imposed
It is no surprise that teachers are the
key to successful school improvement
The NH Department of Education is
very helpful and attendance at the
H.O.P.E. Conference beneficial

Lessons Learned

Do your best to lighten the load and

limit extra meetings
SI Team replaced our Building
Council
Utilize available faculty meeting and
early release time
Take a leadership role in writing and
finalizing the written plan

Leadership Role

Faculty looks to principal as the leader

and a trusting relationship was critical
Facilitator very helpful early on but I
had a need to set the direction and
plan and coordinate SI meetings and
process
Communication and collaboration with
the facilitator was essential

School Choice

2003-04- We had eleven inquiries- Most

unrelated to NCLB- hidden agendas
Three parents exercised option for school
choice in 2003.
2004-05- Two inquiries- One wondering if
the school is closing, one parent wanted
full day K not ofered at MP
No parents exercised school choice
option.

Key Components of SI Plan

Needs Assessment
Implementation of SBRR Reading Program
Comprehensive Assessment Plan
designed to inform instruction
Professional Development initially
focused on improving services for special
education
Enhanced teacher collaboration

Key Components

Support through extended day

programs
Reading First Initiative
Protect and maximize instructional
time
Shift to a classroom based
intervention model

Mt. Pleasant SI Strategies

Curriculum and Instruction

Strategies:
Utilize Scott Foresman supplemental
materials and annual consumables to
ensure complete implementation to
enhance the efectiveness of the program.
Follow the prescribed Language Arts
procedures and materials published by
Scott Foresman, which has been
developed in accordance with
scientifically based reading research.

Mt. Pleasant SI Strategies

Culture and Climate:
Continue guiding the effective implementation of
the Scott Foresman Language Arts program and
our broad based school improvement process by
providing compensation for staff serving on the
Mt. Pleasant Literacy Team and School
Improvement Team.
Foster collaboration and professional collegiality
by funding meetings scheduled beyond the
contractual school day with agendas centering on
the sharing of instructional strategies supported
by SBRR, addressing common instructional
problems and solutions, assessment, the writing
process, planning models, differentiated
instruction etc.

Mt. Pleasant SI Strategies

Professional Development:

Provide professional development for all

professional and support staff targeted at
improving instruction to meet the needs of special
education students. Professional development will
focus on strategies supported by scientifically
based reading research. Tentative topics include
differentiated instruction, intervention methods,
phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,
and comprehension.

Contract consultants with expertise in

implementing the Scott Foresman language arts
program with the goal of achieving high quality,
consistent implementation to meet the needs of all
students.

MT. Pleasant SI Strategies

Extended Learning Activities:
Mt. Pleasant will continue to offer extended day
activities and Summer school through a 21st
Century Grant to promote literacy and increase
achievement.
Delivery of Support Services:
Follow the prescribed Scott Foresman intervention
components for instruction in special education,
English as a second language, and Title 1 reading
using materials that are directly connected to the
classroom curriculum.
Investigate and implement programs, materials, and
approaches to supplement the core Language Arts
program to meet the needs of special education
students functioning significantly below grade level.

Mt. Pleasant SI Strategies

Parent and Community Involvement:
Organize a parent focus group
representative of our diverse population to
provide a vehicle for enhancing home/school
communication, support and feedback for
continuous school improvement.
Plan fun and educational activities that
encourage parental involvement and
enhance literacy.

Mt. Pleasant SI Strategies

Data Based Accountability and Evaluation:
Implement a systematic, building wide
assessment program to include screening,
diagnostics, progress monitoring, outcome post
testing and formative school based assessments.
Scott Foresman assessments will include DIBELS,
unit Tests, Selection Tests, End of Year Testing,
writing prompts, and placement testing. NHEIAP
testing will be administered in grades three and
six.
Provide professional development and training
for teachers and paraprofessionals in the
implementation of prescribed assessments and to
help them become more proficient at linking
assessment to instruction.

SI Accomplishments 200304

Established an effective School

Improvement Team and
subcommittee structure
Conducted a thorough needs
assessment
Developed a comprehensive School
Improvement Plan approved and
commended by the NH Department
of Education

SI Accomplishments 200304

Implemented a new SBRR Language

Arts program guided by a newly
formed Literacy Team
Established and effectively utilized
team collaboration time
Participated in a variety of
professional development sessions
targeting the topics of special
education, assessment, intervention,
language arts, and Reading First

SI Accomplishments 200304

Conducted a highly successful Camp

Out 2004 Literacy Celebration
Welcomed a district visiting team to
observe and review systems and
procedures
Awarded Reading First Grant
Installed a 25 station computer lab
with projection, sound, and DVD
capabilities

SI Accomplishments 200304

Implemented a classroom based

intervention model replacing a pull-out
model
Developed a comprehensive assessment
plan designed to inform instruction
Achieved Annual Yearly Progress as
determined by 2004 NHEIAP results

SURVIVED!