Perspectives and Perspectives and Practice:Practice:

Creating One Better High Creating One Better High SchoolSchool

National High School CenterNational High School CenterSummer Institute 2008Summer Institute 2008Dr. Molly P. HowardDr. Molly P. Howard

2008 NASSP/MetLife National High School 2008 NASSP/MetLife National High School Principal of the Year Principal of the Year

Jefferson County High SchoolJefferson County High SchoolLouisville, GeorgiaLouisville, Georgia

Jefferson County High SchoolJefferson County High Schoolrose from the ashes…rose from the ashes…

Jefferson County High Jefferson County High SchoolSchool

Opened in 1995Opened in 1995 Rural, East-Central GeorgiaRural, East-Central Georgia Single High School in the districtSingle High School in the district Approximately 1000 studentsApproximately 1000 students 82% Economically Disadvantaged82% Economically Disadvantaged 78% African-American, 22% 78% African-American, 22%

Caucasian, and <1% LatinoCaucasian, and <1% Latino

““Deeper” Reflection Deeper” Reflection Revealed:Revealed:

A system of “haves” and “have nots”A system of “haves” and “have nots” Complacency and acceptance of failureComplacency and acceptance of failure Educational practices that created low levels of Educational practices that created low levels of

self-efficacy (students and teachers)self-efficacy (students and teachers) Fear of change among stakeholdersFear of change among stakeholders Random acts of quality teaching and learningRandom acts of quality teaching and learning

(curriculum, assessment, and instruction)(curriculum, assessment, and instruction) We “didn’t know what we didn’t know”We “didn’t know what we didn’t know” False assumptions about student successes AND False assumptions about student successes AND

failuresfailures

Leaders are dealers Leaders are dealers in hope.in hope. NapoleonNapoleon

Jefferson County High Jefferson County High SchoolSchool

A school of A school of HOPEHOPE for ALL:for ALL:

HHigher Expectationsigher Expectations

OOpportunities for Successpportunities for Success

PPersonalized Learningersonalized Learning

EExperiences in Real-World Problem xperiences in Real-World Problem SolvingSolving

Insight:Insight:

Successful schools (and their leaders) do Successful schools (and their leaders) do

not simply have a strong mission and not simply have a strong mission and vision;vision;

they have a they have a common set of core beliefs common set of core beliefs thatthat

demonstrate- daily- a PASSIONATE demonstrate- daily- a PASSIONATE commitmentcommitment

that literally ALL students experience that literally ALL students experience success.success.

HighHigh

ExpectationsExpectations

Each student is challenged Each student is challenged academically:academically:Creating a Culture of High Creating a Culture of High ExpectationsExpectations Elimination of lower level courses (less Elimination of lower level courses (less

than CP)than CP) Inclusion of Students With DisabilitiesInclusion of Students With Disabilities Creating Creating Algebra That Works Algebra That Works (mastery (mastery

learning)learning) Expanded AP offeringsExpanded AP offerings Creation of common course syllabi and Creation of common course syllabi and

assessmentsassessments Creation of time and structures for job-Creation of time and structures for job-

embedded professional learningembedded professional learning

Insight:Insight:

Q: Why does one school experience success Q: Why does one school experience success

with an intervention and another does not?with an intervention and another does not?

A: Perhaps, A: Perhaps, the intervention/strategy was notthe intervention/strategy was not

deliberate and focused deliberate and focused OR OR was not congruent was not congruent withwith

the school’s core beliefs the school’s core beliefs OR OR was not was not implementedimplemented

with integrity and fidelitywith integrity and fidelity..

Success is incremental!Success is incremental!

OpportunitiesOpportunities

forfor

SUCCESSSUCCESS

Each student is provided Each student is provided support for learning: Extra support for learning: Extra

Help is the NORMHelp is the NORM Established system of extra help: After-school and Established system of extra help: After-school and

other tutorials that are laser-focused on standards other tutorials that are laser-focused on standards and elementsand elements

Formative assessments to insure mastery of standardsFormative assessments to insure mastery of standards Progress Monitoring (based on student learning)Progress Monitoring (based on student learning) A, B, C, NY (Not Yet) Grading A, B, C, NY (Not Yet) Grading Credit recovery by contract and in summer schoolCredit recovery by contract and in summer school Literacy Support for targeted, incoming 9Literacy Support for targeted, incoming 9thth graders graders

AND on-going, school-wide literacy strategiesAND on-going, school-wide literacy strategies Double-dosing strategies (across the curriculum)Double-dosing strategies (across the curriculum) Year-long Advanced Placement courses Year-long Advanced Placement courses

Insight:Insight:

Success breeds success Success breeds success for students for students and teachers, alike.and teachers, alike.

As success increases, As success increases, innovation and innovation and risk-taking grow exponentiallyrisk-taking grow exponentially..

Structured Extra Help builds student Structured Extra Help builds student efficacy- assigning zeros or failing efficacy- assigning zeros or failing grades does not.grades does not.

PersonalizedPersonalized

LearningLearning

Each student is valued and Each student is valued and educated in a personalized educated in a personalized learning environmentlearning environment Utilization of a 4 x 4 block schedule Utilization of a 4 x 4 block schedule

(teacher benefits and student benefits)(teacher benefits and student benefits) Teachers-As-Advisors serve as Teachers-As-Advisors serve as

advocates and coaches to ensure that advocates and coaches to ensure that all students are postsecondary and all students are postsecondary and workforce readyworkforce ready

Each student has a trained, caring Each student has a trained, caring adult in the building in his/her teacher-adult in the building in his/her teacher-advisoradvisor

Jefferson County School SystemJefferson County School SystemTeachers-As-Advisors Statement of Teachers-As-Advisors Statement of

PurposePurposeThe mission of the Jefferson County School System Advisor-AdviseeThe mission of the Jefferson County School System Advisor-AdviseeProgram is to ensure high levels of student achievement through theProgram is to ensure high levels of student achievement through thefollowing:following: providing a caring, trained adult advocate ;providing a caring, trained adult advocate ; establishing regular communication and an effective link between home establishing regular communication and an effective link between home

and school;and school; advising students about academic decisions and monitoring academic advising students about academic decisions and monitoring academic

achievementachievement creating, facilitating, and guiding movement toward a career concentration creating, facilitating, and guiding movement toward a career concentration

so that each child will be postsecondary ready;so that each child will be postsecondary ready; facilitating seamless academic and social transitions across grades and facilitating seamless academic and social transitions across grades and

schools for students and their families.schools for students and their families.

Insight:Insight:

ExperiencesExperiences

in Real Worldin Real World

ProblemProblem

SolvingSolving

Making the Work Relevant

Work-based apprenticeships Dual-enrollment in technical colleges

and state colleges Articulated courses Help Students access post-secondary

institutions prior to high school graduation

JCHS-Post-Secondary Ready

48% of the Class of 2008 48% of the Class of 2008 will graduate with both a high school diploma AND a certificate of program completion at a local technical college and/or college credit that can be transferred to a four- year, University System of Georgia institution.

Insight:Insight:

JCHS SAT ScoresJCHS SAT Scores For 2005-06, SAT scores at JCHS increased:For 2005-06, SAT scores at JCHS increased:

25 points (Total) 25 points (Total) 15 points (Verbal) 15 points (Verbal) 10 points (Mathematics) 10 points (Mathematics)

while the nation showed the biggest decline in 31 while the nation showed the biggest decline in 31 years. years.

In looking at five-year trends, JCHS increased:In looking at five-year trends, JCHS increased: 46 points (Total)46 points (Total) 24 points (Verbal)24 points (Verbal) 22 points (Mathematics) scores22 points (Mathematics) scores

while the state had a 10 point gain over the past five while the state had a 10 point gain over the past five years.years.

End-of-Course Test Pass Rates and End-of-Course Test Pass Rates and Course GradesCourse Grades

Students Receiving College Prep Students Receiving College Prep Algebra IAlgebra I

0

20

40

60

80

100

% Passing EOCT % making A or B

2003/2004

2004/2005

2005/2006

2006/2007

Jefferson County HS Graduation Rate

ALLAfrican

American

Students with

DisabilitiesEconomically

Disadvantaged

2008 78.8% 77.6% 38.7% 78.4%

2007 77.6% 74.4% 44.8% 75.4%

2006 74.5% 75.8% 36.8% 75.0%

2005 66.0% 64.1% 43.5% 66.5%

2004 63.2% 58.1% 16.7% 57.8%

Insights gleaned from Selena’s story:Insights gleaned from Selena’s story: Education breaks generational cycles!Education breaks generational cycles! Success breeds HOPE!Success breeds HOPE! Hope EMPOWERS!Hope EMPOWERS!

Visions can be realized through Visions can be realized through sustained, focused, and collaborative sustained, focused, and collaborative work!work!

Contact AddressContact Address

Dr. Molly P. HowardDr. Molly P. HowardJefferson County High Jefferson County High

School School 1157 Warrior Trail1157 Warrior Trail

Louisville, Georgia 30434Louisville, Georgia 30434howardmp@jefferson.k12.ga.us