SonyaRamirez HTH355:SchoolDesign AcademicCouncilforProfessionalLeadership ACPL TheNarrative Forsomestudents,thewaymosthighschoolsaredesignedjustdontworkwellwhetheritbebecause oftheirbackground,lifecircumstancesand/orpersonality.TheACPLisacontinuationschoolthatisspecifically designedforstudentslookingtogainapplicableskillsfortheirfuturecareeraswellasdevelopingtraditional academicskillsthatarerelevanttotheirplan.Whatsetsthisschoolapartfromothercontinuationand vocationalschoolsistheindividualattentioneachstudentwillbeprovidedwith.Withsmallerclasssizes (1015),enthusiasticandwellequippedteachers,shorterlecturesandlongerindividualconferences,each studentwillnotonlyreceiveenoughcreditstograduateandreceiveaGEDbuteachstudentwillalsoleavewith ahandfulofrelevantskillsets,connectionsforafulltimejobandtheresourcestoattendacollegeifthatisthe desiredpath.Theconstantoneononeattentioneachstudentwillreceivefromhis/herteacherwillallowfor flexibility,engagementandsuccesssincenostudentwillbemarginalized.

Inorderforustoachieveourultimategoal,thereareseveralstructuresinplacethatwillsupportthe studentssuccess.BelowaretheCoreValuesoftheACPLthatwouldbeexhibitedinalltheworkthatthe studentsdo.Thesearethemainideasthatshouldbedisplayedwhendiscussingtheschoolandstaffs purposeaswellastheHabitsoftheACPLStudent. CoreValues SelfAdvocacy:Allowingourstudentstobuildtheskillofadvocatingfortheirowneducationandsuccess andgivingthemopportunitiestoadvocateforothersthatlackavoice. Professionalism&Networking:Everystudentwillhaveaparttime/fulltimejob,internshipand/or volunteerplacement.Throughthisrequirement,studentswillnotonlybeexposedtoprofessionalism thatisrequiredintheworkplacebuttheywillslowlybuildaresumeofprofessionalcontactsthatwillbe incrediblyusefulaftergraduation. CommunityOutreach:Thisrelatestotheinternships/volunteerworkrequirementmentionedabove. Regardlessofastudentscurrentemploymentstatus,everystudentwillparticipateinsomesortof internship/volunteerworkthroughouttheyearwiththecommunity.Theseinternshipswillbelinkedtothe projects/assignmentsstudentswillbedoingduringclassandwillalsoprovidestudentswiththe opportunitytoadvocateforothers. Collaboration:Inadditiontoadvocatingforthemselves,studentswillalsolearntoadvocateforeach otherandworktogthertoachieveacommongoal.Effectivecommunication,flexibility, accommodations,listening,etc.arejustsomeoftheskillsthatstudentswillgainthroughcollaborative work. Tomodelthecharacteristicsofgreatpedagogy,muchofthepurposeoftheprofessionaldevelopmentplanwill alsoreiteratethesefourpillarsofACPLsphilosophy.TheprotocolsandotherteacherledPDswillallowfor teacherstoadvocateforthemselveswhiletheprocessofnetworking,communityoutreachandcollaboration willbeginwellbeforetheschoolyearstarts.BelowaredesignstructuresthatareinplacetoallowtheCore Valuestoflourish. DesignStructures IndividualizationACPLstudentswillhavespenttheirentirelivestryingtoaccommodatethemajority tryingtokeepupwiththeirpeers,tryingtobalanceschoolwithlife,tryingtogetaheadwhiletryingtostay afloatatthesametime.Forthefirsttime,aschoolwilltrytoaccommodatethem.Structuredclasswill takeplace23daysoutoftheweek.Atypicaldaymaybethatstudentsreceivedirect instruction/structuredworktimeforthefirst23hoursofthedaywhiletheother56hourswillbespent completingassignmentsandgroupprojects,givingandwatchingpresentations,puttingtogetheror

attendingexhibitions,goingonfieldtrips,etc.Fortherestoftheweek,astudentsschedulewillvary dependingontheirhomelife,jobsituation,internshipplacement,etc. IndividualConferencesAtleastwiceaweek(butpreferablyonadailybasis),eachstudentwillhavean individualconferenceorcheckinwiththeirteacher/mentor.Duringthesecheckins,avarietyoftopics maybediscusseddependingonthestudent.Forexample,theirpathtograduation,employment concerns,progressintheirinternships,concernsregardingassignments,concernsregarding home/personallife,etc.Atmyschool,ateacherwouldbemoreofamentororcounselorratherthana teacherespeciallysincetheywillbeteachingonly23daysoutoftheweek.Thesecheckinsmayalso takeplaceatthestudentsworksiteorhome.Noteswillbetakenduringeverymeetingwhichboth teacherandstudentisresponsiblefor. TechnologySincecomputersandtheinternetiscriticalinthemodernworld(aswellastheskillof usingit)allstudentswillbeprovidedwithanetbookatthebeginningoftheyear.Studentswillpayoffthis resourcethemselvesbutwillbeassistedwithfundraisingprojectsandfinanceprojectsbytheirteacher throughouttheyear. ProjectBasedLearningPedagogyThecurriculumofACPLwillemphasizetheimportanceofstudents doingandreflecting.Becauseourschoolsprimarygoalistoprepareourstudentsfortherealworld afterhighschool,studentswillavoidtraditionalapproachestolearningsuchasmemorizationandan overemphasisontesttaking.Studentswilldisplaytheirknowledgeofcontentandskillbyapplicable skillssuchascreating,speakingandreflectingonhowtheycouldbeanddoevenbetter. CollaborativeProjectsAtleasttwiceayear,eachteacherwillberequiredtoexecuteagroupproject withtheirstudents.Althoughitseemscontradictorytotheindividualizationtheme,ACPLismoreabout preparingstudentsfortherealworldandtherealityisthatmorethanlikelytheywillhavetoworkwith otherpeopleeffectively.Thenatureoftheprojectaswellasthefinalproduct,learninggoals,etc.willbe leftuptothediscretionoftheteacherandstudents,althoughafinance/fundraisingprojectishighly encouragedtogivestudentsajumpstartinpayingofftheirnetbooks. ProfessionalDevelopment InthePDPlantherearetheessentialquestionsandtopicoutlinesthatwillbeaddressedanddiscussed withthestaffpriortotheschoolyearstarting.OneofthecharacteristicsoftheschoolIwanttomakevery apparenttothestaffistheimportanceofteachervoiceandhavingateacherledschool.Toexhibitthe importanceofthiscollaboration,priortotheallstaffPDs,asmallergroupofamoreprogressivepedagogy experiencedteachersandteachersthathavepreviouslytaughtatothercontinuationschoolswillactmuchlike aStudyGrouptoclarifythedetailsoftheessentialquestions.Inaddition,thesummerPDswillendwitha questionofWherewouldyouliketoseeusgofromhere?Byusingthequestionsandconcernsthatarise throughtheuseoftheParkingLot,theexitcardsandChalkTalks,theStudyGroup(s)willcreateanoutlinefor whatPDsmaylooklikethroughouttheschoolyear. ThethreemainideasthatmyPDPlancurrentlyaddressesiswhoweareasaschool,howwecan executePBLinawaythatworksforourstudentbodyandhowwecansupporteachotherintheworkthatwe do.Thetopicswillalsonotnecessarilybeaddressedintheorderthatitispresented,althoughthatiswhat madethemostsensetome.Iforeseeatleast34oftheessentialquestionsbeingaddressedinonedayto avoidthestaffdiscussingonetopicforanentireday.AnotherlensIwouldliketolookatourPDsisthroughthe eyesofother,maybefailedorfailingcontinuationschools.Mostcontinuationschoolsfailforthesamereasons itisseenasadumpinggroundbystudents,thecommunityandtheschoolsthestudentscomefromand mostofthestudentsthataredumpedintotheseschoolsaresofarbehindanddisengagedthattheshort schooldaysareadisadvantageforthesestudents.

AcadenucCouncilforCareerLeadership(ACPL) ProfessionalDevelopmentPlan JuneAugust EssentialQuestions Whoareweandwhatisourpurpose? Howcanteachersdesignprojectsthatwillallowstudentstobuildconnectionsandrelationshipswiththe communityandlocalbusinesses,collaboratewiththeirpeersandadultprofessionals,utilizerealworld applicableskillsthatwillhelpthemforlifeafterhighschoolandbuildselfadvocacyfortheirlearningand success? Howdowesupportstudentsandfellowcolleaguesincreatingandimplementingprojectsthat encompassallofthecharacteristicsmentionedabove? EssentialQuestions Whoareweandwhatisourpurpose? WhatisaDigitalPortfolio?Whyisitspurpose? Whyisitimportanttohaveoneandkeepitupto date? Whoareyouandwhatareyourstrengthsand passions? Whatisourschoolspurpose? Howdoweconveywhowearetostudents, parentsandcommunity? LaunchTeachersDigitalPortfolios CreateBioonDP GalleryWalk/KSHDPs Journal/Reflection ChalkTalk StaffsFirstProjectafinalproductthatis beautifulandclearlyarticulatesourmission statementtoanyonethatwalksintothe building(i.e.mural,etc.) TheDoing

Whatshould/dowevalueasaschool community? Whatdowewantourstudentstoleavewith? Whatdoteachersneedsupportin?What shouldourstaffmeetingslooklike? Howwillwemakedecisions? Whatwilltherestoftheyearlooklikeforstaff meeting?

BegindevelopmentofHabitsofACPL Student(HAS) ArtoftheIdeaexcerpts,journal ContinuationSchoolAlumniInterviews Meetingnorms,introduceParkingLot, recognitions,exitcards,protocolsand facilitation(PowerofProtocols) Discussdecisionmakingprotocols Discuss/createstudy/actiongroups SonyasLeadershipStatement/Stateofthe SchoolAddress EmpathyRoleplayWhatdoIdowhen... StudentTestimoniesIfeltthemost safe/unsafewhen... SchoolNormsandconsequences BeingaUnitedFront Examplesofprogressiveschoolsoffsite observations presentations&reflection Displayingstudentworkandhonoringour students

Whatwillourschoolculturefeellike?Whatdo wewantittofeellike? Whatshouldourschoollooklike?Howshouldit feel?Whyisitimportanttodisplaystudent work?

Howcanteachersdesignprojectsthatwillallowstudentstobuild connectionsandrelationshipswiththecommunityandlocalbusinesses, collaboratewiththeirpeersandadultprofessionals,utilizerealworld applicableskillsthatwillhelpthemforlifeafterhighschoolandbuild selfadvocacyfortheirlearningandsuccess?

Whatisprojectbasedlearning? Whatdoesagreatprojectlooklike? Whatdoesitencompass? Whatisthedifferencebetweenskillsand content? How/WheredoIstart?

Read&ReflectiononRonBergersEthicof Excellence PairShareonGalleryWalkofHTH studentsworks UtilizeProjectTemplatestobegindesigning thefirstproject ProjectTuningProtocol StanfordD.SchoolsDesignThinking

Whoisinourcommunity? Whattypesofbusinessescouldweworkwith? HowdoIbuildrelationshipswiththecommunity andlocalbusinesses? Ivebuilttherelationshipnowwhat?

CreateNetworkTreedisplaysstaffs currentconnectionswith community/businesses StaffProjectstaffwillgooutintothe community,exchangebusinesscards, handoutschoolsflyer,buildrelationships, makeourschoolknown.Everystaff membermustreturnwithatleast3solid connections,whatthecompanies/orgs needsmaybeandwhatourstudentscould provideforthisgroup. presentation&reflection ProjectDesignauthenticaudience, solutionbasedproject,exhibition Designing,implementingandgradinggroup projectsSocraticSeminar? TheMonarchSchool schooltour designthinkingworkshopwith MonarchSchoolstaff DiscussandcreateHabitsofACPL Student Designposters/flyerstobeineach classroom Bannersforschoollobby

Whycollaborate?

Whatdoesprofessionalismamongststudents looklike?

Howdowesupportstudents/fellowcolleaguesincreating/implementing projectsthatencompassallofthecharacteristicsmentionedabove?

Whoareourstudents?Howcanwesupport theminawaythatensurestheirsuccess?

Norms/expectationsforIndividual Conferences(roleplay?) PedagogyofPoverty DesignThinkingcreatingasolutionbased onausersspecficneed BestPracticesShareOutmodels,skits, videos TeamBuilding modelactivitieswecandow/ students researchotheractivities(i.e.

camping,amusementpark,etc.) Whatisahomevisit?Whatisitspurpose? HowdoIexecuteit? Whereareourstudentsgoing?Howwillwe helpthemgetthere? Discuss/journalpurposeofhomevisits Script/roleplayhomevisit Begincallingandschedulinghomevisits

ProjectTuningProtocolthroughlenseofa collegeadmissionsofficerorhiringoffice ReviewHabitsofACPLStudentdoesit connectwithwherewewantthemtogo? HopesandfearswithCriticalFriend BTSArequirements

WhatisaCriticalFriend?Purpose?What doesourrelationshiplooklikethroughoutthe year? Whatskillscanteachersincorporateintotheir projects?Whatskillsdoteacherswantto gain/hone?

StaffWorkshop/FieldTripartstudio, woodshop,exceltutoring,Photoshop lesson,etc. Brainstorm/plan/schedulefutureworkshops andfieldtrips(Whatdowewanttodo?) ContenGroupMeetings PlanPDwithincontentgroupsfor 1stsemester OrientationforIncomingParents/Students Presentation:Whoarewe?Whatis ourmission?Whatarewenot? LearningCommunityNorms StudentGroups:Ledbycurrent studentsstudentworkgallerywalk andQ&A ParentGroups:IntroduceParent WorkshopsandQ&A ParentWorkshops TechnologyTutorials ParentAssociation BusinessConnections

Whatcommonlanguagedowewantthe studentstodevelopandunderstand? Howdowegettheparentsinvolvedand investedintheirchildseducation?

Whatdoourparentsneedsupportwith?

ASampleWeekofSchool Monday 8:0010:00 Individual/group worktimeteacher maybedoing checkinswith students simultaneously 10:1512:15 Humanities 12:151:00Lunch Tuesday Studentsare offsiteworking, interningor volunteering. Teachersmaybe onoroffsite checkinginwith students Wednesday 8:0010:00 Individual/group worktimeteacher maybedoing checkinswith students simultaneously 10:1512:15 Science 12:151:00Lunch Thursday Studentsare offsiteworking, interningor volunteering. Teachersmaybe onoroffsite checkinginwith students Friday 8:0012:00 Individual/group worktimeteacher maybedoing checkinswith students simultaneouslyto discusstodosfor theweekend,plans fornextweek 12:001:00Lunch

1:003:00 Math Totalhours:6hrs Totalhoursof instruction:18hrs Totalhours required:15hrs/wk

1:003:00 Elective 6hours

1:003:00 Humanities 6hours