The Concord school districts’ leadership team shared highlights of the school improvement plans for each school site during the June 6 meeting of the Joint School Committees. The plans are based on the recently adopted Five-Year Strategic Plan for the districts. The plans for each school site also include input from the parents, students, faculty and staff from the individual schools.
There are common themes and priorities for each school site plan that reflect the values of belonging, excellence, engagement, inclusion and innovation. The plans contain initiatives to provide engaging and innovative learning experiences that support multiple paths to success. They also build off the districts’ work to create sound infrastructure to support the well-being and mental health of the entire school community including students, teachers, staff, administrators, and families.
The plans also prioritize efforts at each school site to foster a genuine connection and a sense of belonging, as well as creating a collaborative and inclusive culture that values diversity and the uniqueness of each learner. In terms of the physical environment, school leaders will seek to create safe, healthy, innovative indoor and outdoor spaces that catalyze student learning.
As part of the dialogue with the school committees, district leaders outlined several strategies to enhance student performance, use innovative practices, and develop the necessary professional development for teachers and staff to meet the goals of the plans. The innovative practices include pilot programs at some school sites such as creating Responsive Classrooms. The Responsive Classroom program is defined as “an evidence-based approach to teaching and discipline that focuses on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. It helps elementary and middle school educators to create safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms and school communities where students develop strong social and academic skills, and every student can thrive.” Teachers who received professional development on how to lead a responsive classroom will be training other teachers over the summer to expand the pilot program.Interested individuals can find the school improvement plans on the districts’ website, www.concordps.org, and each school site link located on the web page.
