Indiana

Student
Achievement RESOURCES FOR
Institute
REDESIGNING
HIGH SCHOOL
InSAI
Resource #1
Visioning the
Reformed High School
 FOUNDATION
As we redesign
our school, what will
guide our work?
 OPTIONS
 Model used by another school
(e.g. New Tech High)
 HSTW Key Practices
 Daggett’s “Successful Schools, What
Makes Them Work”
 Indiana PL221 components
 LOCAL CORE CONVICTIONS
CORE CONVICTION
What we believe in our
hearts that ALL students
deserve in order to
become successful 
learners, responsible
citizens, and productive
members of a global
economy.
MAKING IT PERFECTLY CLEAR:
 InSAI School Example

All students deserve

to learn in a safe and
disciplined
environment.
 InSAI School Example

All students deserve

to be surrounded by
adults who have high
expectations.
 InSAI School Example

All students deserve

to master rigorous
content that will
prepare them for a
global economy.
InSAI School Example

All students
deserve to be
engaged in their
learning.
 InSAI School Example

All students
deserve extra help
when they need it.
 InSAI School Example

All students deserve

a guidance
relationship with a
caring and informed
adult.
 QUESTION

Can we tell from

teachers’ behaviors
what they believe
about kids, learning,
and school?
 Frederick Douglass Academic

Task:
What do the teachers at
Frederick Douglass
Academic believe about
kids, learning, and school?
FREDERICK DOUGLAS ACADEMY
 OUR CORE CONVICTIONS

What does our

community believe
about kids, learning,
and education?
 Individual Brainstorm
IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS

All kids
deserve . . .
 Consider these areas . . .
ENVIRONMENT
GUIDANCE School Policy
Behavior Management
GUIDANCE CURRICULUM Student Assistance
Parent Involvement
GUIDANCE RELATIONSHIP Community Involvement
Resources
Leadership

TEACHING EXPECTATIONS
Curriculum Content Faculty Expectations
Instruction Parent Expectations
Community Expectations
Assessment
Student Expectations
Extra Time / Help
OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY
 VISION
With our core
convictions as a guide,
what do we want our
school and community
to be like?
 VISION

A lofty, bold
statement of the way
our school will be if
all of our dreams for

© American Student Achievement Institute

kids come true.
 VISION vs MISSION

VISION is a complete description of an

ideal world. It’s a lofty and bold dream. It
is not based in reality.

© American Student Achievement Institute

MISSION is a brief statement that says
that it’s the purpose of the school to
move toward the vision.
 VISION vs GOAL

VISION is a complete description of an

ideal world. It’s a lofty and bold dream. It
is not based in reality.

© American Student Achievement Institute

GOAL is a realistic step between the
current situation and the vision. It’s
reachable within a certain time frame.
VISION DECRIBES

Ideal Adults
Ideal Students

© American Student Achievement Institute

Ideal Results
 PRACTICAL REASONS FOR
VISIONING
1. Raises expectations
2. Common purpose / direction
3. Creates energy for change
4. Focuses on the future

© American Student Achievement Institute

5. Eliminates blaming for the past
6. Focuses on students
7. Foundation for decision making
 Jerry Bamberg

Without a common vision,

the school becomes a
“collection of cottage industries
operating in isolation
under the same roof.”

© American Student Achievement Institute

Source: Jerry Bamburg, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
 Joel Barker

THE POWER OF VISION

“Vision without action is but a
dream. Action without vision just
passes the time. Vision with

© American Student Achievement Institute

action can change the world.”

Source: The Power of Vision Video, Charthouse, Inc.

 The Vision Statement
CORE CONVICTIONS If the adults were living
by these core convic-
What do we believe
tions, what would be
in our hearts  that
their behaviors &
all kids deserve?
attitudes??

If the adults are living If the students were

by their core convic- doing these things,

© American Student Achievement Institute

tions, what would be what would be our
the student behaviors school’s statistics?
& attitudes?
 Consider these areas . . .

Expectations Assessment

Curriculum Extra Help / Time

Instruction Guidance

© American Student Achievement Institute

Environment
Next Steps:
1. SET TARGETS: Set realistic data targets
that fall between your current & vision
achievement data.
2. ANALYZE: Determine where your adult
and student behaviors are not aligned
with your vision.
3. SELECT STRATEGIES: Develop

© American Student Achievement Institute

strategies for moving adult & student
behavior closer to the vision.
4. IMPLEMENT: Work your plan!
 Indiana
Student
Achievement RESOURCES FOR
Institute
REDESIGNING
HIGH SCHOOL
InSAI
Resource #1
Visioning the
Reformed High School