File includes the following documents:

It Starts With Us Publication

Education Review PowerPoint ACT Aspire: Understanding the ACT Aspire video‐ Screen Shot

Annual Legislative Meeting Agenda

A publication of Mobile County Public Schools January 2016 Two more National Blue Ribbons for MCPSS

On-time grad rate up to 86 percent

Inside: A message from Superintendent Martha Peek; Gov. Bentley makes big pre-K announcement in Mobile; A look at our Signature Academies; Magnet school applications; Bryant High partners with Cambridge; Meet the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners; MCPSS students, employees Stuff the Bus; Construction update How did we increase the which provides online student career guidance and planning. Beginning in sixth grade, students explore career and education options and build graduation rate? career planning portfolios. This technology allows students and schools to select relevant courses based on career choices and it links each stu- Success doesn’t happen overnight. We in Mobile County Public Schools know dent’s career plans to community workforce needs. that for our students to be successful, we must begin preparing them for gradua- 4. We ease the transition from middle to high school. tion as soon as they come to us for pre-kindergarten or kindergarten and contin- Middle and high school counselors work together to conduct high ue until they receive their diploma, meaning they are college and career ready. school planning sessions with all eighth-graders and their parents to de- Here is a list of what we are specifically doing to increase our graduation rate. velop an individual High School Plan of Study. The Plan of Study is based 1. We provide students opportunities to be successful from Day 1. on each student’s academic needs and career goals. Students take the We offer a growing number of pre-kindergarten classes and rigorous as well as ACT Explore Test and Career Inventory to provide career planning data. innovative K-5 programs. Freshmen are enrolled in our Ninth Grade Academies, which establish 2. Students at-risk of dropping out of high school are identified as early as the foundation for secondary learning success. elementary school. 5. School counselors monitor and provide continuous guid- We use our Data Warehouse (which includes up-to- ance as students work through their High School Plan of Study. date information about student grades, attendance, disci- Counselors work with juniors and seniors and closely monitor pline, demographics and other data) to identify elementary student completion of their High School Plan of Study and assist students at-risk of dropping out of high school so we can students in finalizing post-secondary education and career plans. provide early intervention. We require all students to complete a career portfolio to graduate 3. Career guidance and planning starts in middle detailing their accomplishments. school. MCPSS uses the Kuder Career Planning program, Martha L. Peek Superintendent Mobile County Public Schools I am very pleased with 2 2 2 2 the fact that we have been able to increase Mobile Coun- 0 0 0 0 ty Public Schools’ four-year, on-time graduation rate to 82 1 1 1 1 percent. Education Starts With Us. That means making sure 1 2 3 4 that our students exit our schools with a diploma in hand and that all students are college and career ready. 6. Multiple Pathways to Graduation MCPSS has implemented and fully sup- Eighty-two percent is just a milestone. I want to com- keep our students engaged in learning. ports the rigorous Alabama College and Ca- mend the high school principals for their work on this. Counselors, teachers and school ad- reer Ready Standards, which are challenging They took it as a challenge when the goal was set at 80 ministrators guide students in grades 9-12 our students to achieve more and compete percent by 2020. They reached it by 2014. in planning courses of study that meet each nationally and globally. That’s one leg of the journey. Our goal is to be at 90 student’s individual learning needs. 8. We provide outstanding academic percent by 2017. Signature Academies provide hands-on, support in grades 9-12. The graduation rate is a culmination of everything we relevant instruction that prepare students for Academic support programs are pro- do from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Particu- careers available in southwest Alabama. vided for all students to prevent course larly over the last six years, we have had a real focus on Our Signature Academies are: Avia- failure and prepare students for academic graduation. We have been working in our feeder patterns tion and Aerospace at B.C. Rain; Health at assessment. Credit recovery is offered in the and everyone, in elementary, middle and high school, has Blount; Coastal Studies at Bryant; Advanced event of course failure. These programs in- set increasing our graduation rate as a goal. Industry, Manufacturing and Technology clude: RTI (Re-teaching for learning mastery As our graduation rate goes up, we are indeed meet- at Citronelle; Teaching and Learning at and academic success); Grad Point (credit ing our obligation to our students first and foremost. We Mary G. Montgomery; International Stud- recovery program for students to remediate are saying to them, “Come into our schools and we will ies at Murphy; Industry and Engineering at course deficiencies and earn credits through teach you. We will make sure you are successful.” It is also Theodore; and Manufacturing, Engineering computer-assisted instruction); tutoring; a commitment to the community because the quality of and Entrepreneurship at Williamson. We are ACT test prep; WorkKeys test prep; AP life depends on a well-educated citizenry. opening in 2015: Advanced Careers at Baker; Exam prep; Special-Education programs; College and career ready is a fact here in Mobile Engineering/EPIC at Davidson; Arts and Summer School; and Academic Coaching County. It’s not just a saying or buzz word. We are com- Sciences, Medicine and Law at LeFlore; and and Mentoring. mitted to our students graduating and being well-edu- Advanced Technology at Vigor. 9. Struggling students have access to cated so they can move into college or, if they choose, to Opportunities are available to earn a variety of alternative school programs. enter the workforce or the military. college credit while in high school through Those include: Evening Education Options Ultimately, I want our students to be well-educated, Advanced Placement (AP) courses at all 12 Program (EEOP), Pathways Alternative independent, successful, productive citizens who contrib- high schools; International Baccalaureate School, STAR Academy, Continuous Learn- ute to society and support a premium quality of life for (IB) programs at Davidson and Murphy high ing Center, Twilight School at all 12 high themselves and their families. schools and Council Traditional School; and schools, and Envision Virtual Academy. The key to opening any of those doors is that high Dual Enrollment. 10. We provide extended learning op- school diploma. Our students must earn a diploma. That We provide specialized programs includ- portunities for students performing at all is the first step toward their future. Having a diploma ing EPIC Engineering, International Studies, levels. MCPSS offers a variety of additional shows that they have reached their academic goals. It Career-Technical Education, Athletics and learning times and programs available be- also shows that they have learned along the way how to Fine Arts. fore, after and during the school day. These set priorities in life and work toward those priorities. It Our Envision Virtual Academy and Dis- programs enhance learning and provide shows character. tance Learning program offer opportunities remediation. They include: Fifth Block, It is important for our students to know where they to graduate early and/or earn credit online. Extended Day Programs, Saturday School, are going and how they are going to get there. We want 7. Our challenging curriculum holds Summer School and Advanced Placement to provide our young people with every opportunity for students to high academic standards. and ACT exam prep. success in life. Academies SignatureWith a focus on preparing students for in- the end of their freshman year. Beginning in 10th initiative. demand careers and the rigors of college, Mobile grade, students are required to take at least three Students in some pathways, such as welding County Public Schools has expanded its Signature sequential elective courses within an academy at Williamson High School, may also earn college Academy initiative, launching programs at four -- also called a pathway -- prior to graduation credit through a dual enrollment program with more high schools this academic year. to complete the academy. The idea is that many Bishop State Community College. Other students New for 2014-15 is the Coastal Studies Acad- students will gain credentials and employment who score high enough on Advanced Placement emy at Alma Bryant High School, the Academy of opportunities through the Signature Academy exams can qualify to skip or earn partial credit for International Studies at Murphy High School, Industry and Engi- neering at Theodore High School and Maritime, Engineering and Entrepreneurship at Williamson High School. With the career-oriented Signature Academies, ninth- graders learn about the different paths of instruction offered at each school. Some may take an assessment to help determine what profession they may be best suited for. With the help of parents, teachers and counselors, students select an academy by

Follow us: Mobile County Public Schools

MobilePublicSch

mcpss.com

It Starts With Us is the Mobile County Public Schools’ effort to spread the word that good things are happening in our schools and to encour- age community members to get more involved. This publication was produced by Rena Philips, Supervisor of Marketing and Education Part- nerships for Mobile County Public Schools. The cover photo and many of the photographs featured were taken by G.M. Andrews. Photographs feature students and teachers from Anna Booth, Calcedeaver, Eichold-Mertz School of Math and Science, Griggs, Hutchens, John Will and St. Elmo elementary schools; Clark-Shaw Magnet School; Bryant, Mary G. Montgomery, Murphy, Theodore, Vigor and Williamson high schools. The school system operates under the leadership of Superintendent Martha L. Peek and the Board of School Commissioners: President Douglas Harwell (District 1), Vice President Don Stringfellow (District 2), Dr. Reginald Crenshaw (District 3), Mr. Robert Battles, Sr. (District 4) and Dr. Bill Foster (District 5). some college courses. In 2013, four high schools introduced Douglas “It’s something I have been praying for the academy concept in Mobile: the Aviation for a long time,” said Monique Ray, a former and Aerospace Academy at B.C. Rain High Harwell middle school teacher who leads the Signa- School, the Health Career Access Program at President ture Academy at Williamson. “When you are Blount High School, the Advanced Manufac- Mobile County teaching, you can already see some of the kids turing, Industry and Technology Academy at who are going to go to college and those who Citronelle High School and the Academy of Board of School won’t. Students need more options. They need Teaching and Learning at Mary G. Montgom- Commissioners direction. This way they have options and they ery High School. Signature Academies will be have an opportunity to see what’s out there. implemented at Baker, Davidson, LeFlore and It’s the best thing they could have done for our Vigor high schools during the 2015-16 school On behalf of the Mobile children.” year. County Board of School To be more competitive in the global Commissioners, I would like to thank all Mobile marketplace, the Signature Academies offer Industry and Engineering at Theodore County Public Schools employees for the hard work students an opportunity to engage in real- you put into 2014. I would also like to wish you a world experiences, complete rigorous academ- On a recent afternoon, a sewing machine safe, blessed and successful 2015 as I look forward to ic content and explore career options through as big as a van hummed and whirred inside a what we will be able to achieve. internships, job shadowing and mentoring classroom at Theodore. Students stood close Through your dedication to our children, much with local business partners. by, watching intently as names and mono- was accomplished in 2014. That included raising the graduation rate, the number of students receiv- ing career credentials and the amount of scholar- ships our seniors received. It also included opening several new schools and continuing our tradition of academic excellence by having the bulk of Alabama’s Torchbearer schools. In addition, we have had great financial au- dits; we have begun serving free lunches to all our students so none of them go hungry; and we have increased technology in the classroom. We established four new Signature Academies in 2014, which are preparing our students for careers readily available in Mobile County. We look forward to opening four more in 2015, which will mean all 12 of our high schools have Signature Academies and other academies that will lead to our students graduating college and career ready. We are also looking forward to continuing our system-wide school construction program in 2015, by breaking ground on $100 million worth of new projects. The result will be state-of-the-art classrooms for students and employees throughout Mobile County. I wanted to take this time to let you know that the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners and I appreciate all 7,500 of our employees: teachers, administrators, support staff, every one of you. Together, we will continue to accomplish great things in 2015. I wish you and your family a Happy New Year. Raymond Horace Junior B.C. Rain High I have been a part of the Aero- space and Aviation Academy at B.C. Rain High School for three years and it has provided me with a strong motivation to pursue my future goal to be an aerospace engineer. Upon my graduation in 2016, I plan on attending Tuskegee University and majoring in aerospace engineering. Our Signature Academy has two pathways. Aerospace Engineering, of which I am a student, gives the students a chance to gain skills to work with others and use advanced design software similar to what we would use in the workplace. Recently, we were given a project from three grams were quickly stitched onto T-shirts and hospitals, or physicians’ offices. At least two of engineers from Airbus to design an airplane fu- sweaters. This is not your grandmother’s home the students already have part-time jobs at a local selage using a designer software called Autodesk economics class. While the students may learn to convalescent home, Parris said. Professional. Students were split into teams and sew, they also are receiving hands-on experience were required to have a 2-D layout, a complete operating a six-headed embroiderer as part of the Welding at Williamson engineering design notebook, and a full 3-D school’s fashion academy. model. “They did all the embroidery for the dental Within the Maritime, Engineering and En- The Aviation Pathway of the academy pro- student’s scrubs,” said Patty Parris, a longtime trepreneurship Signature Academy at Williamson vides the students with the opportunity to work teacher and former assistant principal who now High School is a new welding program. with different types of tools and introduces them oversees the Signature Academy at Theodore. So far, it is the most popular pathway at the to the safety rules and procedures of an aircraft Multiple pathways have been created with the school, said Monique Ray, the academy specialist mechanic. The projects we do in class help me academy, Parris said, to allow students a variety of there. to think outside the box when adding different options for completing the required three-course Students enrolled in the welding program at types of designs. sequences. At Theodore, students can focus on the Williamson will have the opportunity to learn The academy has helped me gain knowledge fashion industry, on careers in health care or even about at least three different types of welding in a on topics that I did not expect to cover in high more traditional college paths including the arts specially-designed space that features room for 14 school. For example the academy has helped me and humanities. students and their tools and equipment. A welding learn to network with other students and profes- “The big thing is, instead of flopping all over trailer was delivered to the school in late Decem- sionals. It has allowed me to meet many types of the place choosing electives at random, they are ber, paid for through a $400,000 state grant aimed engineers that I am still in contact with. more focused,” Parris said. “We talk about the real at making students more college and career ready. B.C. Rain Aerospace Engineering Pathway is world of business. They are really interested in the Mobile County Public Schools created a helping me achieve my goals by giving me expe- fact that someone believes they are going to have a partnership with Bishop State Community Col- rience with working with a team or cooperating future career.” lege, which will provide an instructor and offer with team members with whom I may not agree Led by Registered Nurse Jaimie Hovell, 14 dual-enrollment college credit for students who with. Also, it gives me a head start for my future Theodore students earned a Certified Nursing take the welding classes. By completing the new interviews by teaching me how to carry myself Assistant license this fall, Parris said. The stu- welding program, students will be eligible to earn and respond during an interview to ensure I get dents completed a three-semester Health Science certification. the job. Continuum that made them eligible to take the “A lot of students aren’t going to go to col- This academy has made me the student I am CNA exam. The students are now ready to work lege,” Ray said. “They know when they graduate today. as Certified Nursing Assistants at nursing homes, they will go straight to work, so it’s awesome they will have an opportunity to get their foot in the door through this program. They can continue at Bishop State or another school.” Ray said her students are excited about the prospect of learning more about a skilled trade while still in high school. Of the 85 Williamson 10th graders within the Signature Academy, at least 36 have declared welding as their official field of interest. A recent field trip to Austal sealed the deal for many welding students, Ray said: “It’s amaz- ing to see. It’s one thing to see it from the inter- state, but it’s another thing to actually be there. We took a tour and they saw the whole ship- building process.” Larry Mouton, Executive Director of Career- Technical Education for Mobile County Public Schools added: “Welding is one part of the acad- emy-wide programming that will start students on a path to college and career success.” The Signature Academies initiative aims to ensure that students are exposed to their cho- Alabama Power, along with Bishop State Com- Foley where they made pastas -- including fettuc- sen career path as much as possible, visiting munity College, PNC Bank and the University cine, bow tie and spaghetti. “Then they made the work sites, listening to professionals and get- of South Alabama Small Business Development sauce in a huge kitchen. They really enjoyed it,” ting hands-on experience whenever appropriate Center have all signed on as Signature Academy Ray said. throughout the program. partners with Williamson. “This is a new day for Williamson,” Ray said. Williamson students who selected the engi- Students interested in culinary arts from “It’s something that was truly needed for a long neering academy visited Alabama Power’s Barry Williamson traveled to the Gulf Coast Culinary time. This is something that’s really going to help Steam Plant earlier in the school year. Austal and Institute at Faulkner State Community College in change Williamson.”

Focus on International Studies

Among the largest public high schools in Alabama, Murphy was officially recognized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in 1992, said Gene Montgomery, the school’s new Signature Academy specialist. Now the IB program, a rigorous college-prep curriculum and assessment program, is recognized as a pathway within the International Studies Signature Acad- emy at Murphy. “It’s not uncommon for students to leave Murphy and go into their sophomore year of col- lege,” Montgomery said. “For a student like that, the IB program gives them the opportunity to double major. We see quite often our graduates majoring in a science field and getting a business degree as well. That really helps their chances of whatever they want to do next.” For Murphy, with an enrollment of more than 2,200, the pathways encompassed in the Signature Academy may serve to better com- partmentalize the sprawling 40-acre Midtown Mobile campus. Montgomery said the pathways within the Signa- ture Academy do have the potential to divide the school into smaller learning groups, “which is something we’ve been working on for 20 years, having schools within the school.” Murphy’s Signature Academy offers students a choice between International Baccalaureate and the Center for International Studies. “Our hope is when they walk across the stage and get a diploma,” Mont- gomery said, “the school has given them something else to go on to the next step.” For example, when the newly enrolled 10th grade students within the hospitality and tourism pathway completed their first elective course, the teacher took them to the Mobile County Health Department to get a food handler’s permit. “Now they have something that puts them ahead of the game for employment,” he said. The bottom line, Montgomery said, is the Signature Academies “play off the interests and motivation factors of the students to keep them interested in school, so you’ll not only increase graduation rates but you’ll also increase motivation rates.”

Coastal Studies focus at Bryant

Bryant High School in Bayou La Batre now offers the Signature Academy of Coastal Stud- ies with a focus on conservation and education in the marine and coastal environments. Led by Genevieve Rigby, a goal of the program is to pro- vide a foundation for those who want to protect and enhance the natural resources and wildlife native to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The four pathways at Bryant are Coastal Environmental Sciences, Fisheries Management and Aquaculture, Environmental Management (with a plant focus) and Maritime and Industrial Technologies. Among the programs planned for students include participation in a long-term oyster resto- ration project in lower Mobile Bay and the Ala-

Follow us: Mobile County Public Schools

MobilePublicSch mcpss.com Top 14 of 2014 1. We increased our four-year, on-time graduation rate to 82 percent. 2. We opened four new Signature Academies: Coastal Studies at Bryant; International Studies at Murphy, Indus- try and Engineering at Theodore; and Maritime, Engi- neering and Entrepreneurship at Williamson. 3. The Class of 2014 earned $72 million in college schol- arships, an increase from $68 million in 2013. 4. Our students earned 7,307 career credentials, meaning they are prepared for the workforce. 5. The Alabama Department of Education announced that we have four of the state’s six high-performing Torchbearer schools. They are: Anna Booth, George Hall, St. Elmo and Wilmer elementary schools. 6. Through a major ongoing construction campaign, we opened a new Augusta Evans Special School in west Mobile and a new Calcedeaver Elementary in northwest bama portion of the Mississippi Sound the number of students pursuing post- Mobile County. using the latest techniques in off-bottom secondary activities and educating the oyster culture. This project has the po- general public about coastal resource 7. This spring, 144 of our students were named AP tential to become an integral component management. Scholars for scoring high enough to earn college credit on of the aquaculture science and marine Future plans call for adding a fifth at least three Advanced Placement exams. biology programs at Bryant, as well as the pathway of Recreation, Travel and Tour- 8. We opened our new Envision Virtual School, Ala- newly formed Coastal Studies Signature ism to the signature academy at Bryant bama’s first online school for students in grades 6-12. Academy. High School. Community business part- 9. About 100,000 free meals were served to children The academy is partnered with Dau- ners for the signature academy include this summer with our new traveling SuperFood Express. phin Island Sea Lab with the overall goal Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Dauphin And we began offering all of our students free lunches at of increasing the graduation rate, increas- Island Sea Lab, Auburn University and school as a way to fight childhood hunger. (We also con- ing the number of students entering the Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. tinued to serve breakfast free of charge). coastal resources workforce, increasing 10. About 1,000 people gathered at the Saenger Theatre in downtown Mobile for our first-ever It Starts With Us Awards program, recognizing top teachers, students, businesses and community organizations. 11. We gave all of students access at home to Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and we gave each student one terabyte of storage in the cloud to complete projects and classroom assignments. 12. About two dozen community leaders participated in “Get on the Bus,” touring Griggs Elementary and Burns Middle to learn about how students are innundated with technology in the classroom daily. 13. We launched our 24-hour mcpssTV. You can watch it on Comcast (channel 15), AT&T (On Demand, channel 99) and Roku boxes. (It’s coming soon to Mediacom.) 14. Theodore High Principal Ronnie Rowell was named Alabama’s Principal of the Year. ‘This is the best school ever’ New Calcedeaver Elementary opens as MCPSS is breaking ground on $100 million in construction Seven-year-old Carley Hill woke up Workers in the MCPSS Facilities Department on January 6, ready to return to class worked closely with members of the MOWA from winter break, thinking it was go- Choctaw tribe to incorporate colors and designs ing to be the best day ever. that reflect the Native American culture that the It was to be her first day in the brand community prides itself upon. Executive Manager new, $10 million Calcedeaver El- of Facilities Tommy Sheffield said it’s one of the ementary School in northwest Mobile prettiest schools Mobile County has built. County. The school sits on land donated by Riley Boykin The school is one of several new Smith. schools that have opened over the last “Calcedeaver has always been unique,” said Ni- couple of years. And more new schools cole Williams, who attended Calcedeaver Elemen- are coming soon as Mobile County tary as a child and has taught at the school for 14 Public Schools is set to break ground years. She is the Indian Education teacher there, on another $100 million in construc- and she has two of her own children enrolled now. tion projects. Eighty-seven percent of Calcedeaver’s students Carley’s first day at Calcedeaver lived are Native American. up to her expectations as she toured The school is one of the top-performing in the her campus with her first-grade class state and nation. It has received the Blue Ribbon and adjusted to her new, spacious designation from the U.S. Department of Educa- classroom. tion and has been named a Torchbearer School “I think this is the best school ever,” multiple times. she said. “We wanted the culture reflected here so that When you walk the halls of the new whoever walks in will be able to see that this Calcedeaver Elementary, you realize school was built for Native Americans,” Williams you’ve never seen a school quite like this one. The 58,000-square-foot school on Patillo Road mirrors the design of several other new schools built by Mobile County Public Schools over the last several years. But it’s the little touches – Native American inspired tilework, an eagle proudly decorating the front of the school – and remote, peaceful surroundings that set it apart. “It’s unbelievable,” said interim principal Laura Hittson. “This couldn’t have happened to a better community. I am so priviledged to have been selected to serve these students and this fabulous state-of-the-art school. “We are on Cloud Nine, and the pride the chil- dren have in their new school is evident.” Follow us: Mobile County Public Schools

MobilePublicSch mcpss.com #mcpss A Citizens Guide Nick Meinhardt Senior Citronelle High

As a child, I remember at- tending events at my beloved Citronelle High School. I will be the fourth generation Mein- hardt to graduate from Citro- nelle. My school is a school of yore, surrounded and sup- ported by a nurturing community. My classmates and I are excited about our new school building. As I pass the said. Chastang K-8 school in Mobile. current construction site, I envision my own baby brother “Our children are going to be so excited • The tornado-damaged Murphy High and niece attending high school in the new building as to go to school here,” she added. “They School is receiving $15 million worth they embark on their journey to success. The new Citro- are going to know that the school system of renovations. nelle High School building represents the forthcoming loved us enough to incorporate our MOWA • Phillips Preparatory is receiving $10 economic and commerce growth that is manifesting in Choctaw culture into the design.” million worth of renovations, includ- our county. Teachers spent part of their winter break ing a new addition and band room. The opportunities I have had over the past four years getting classrooms ready and cafeteria • Tanner Williams Elementary is get- at Citronelle High School have helped me become a mo- workers were on campus early getting a new ting a new building and renovations state-of-the-art kitchen up and running. worth $7 million. tivated ambitious leader and ready to take on the world The new cafeteria, one of them said, is twice • About $7.6 million worth of renova- after high school. My peers and I have taken advantage the size of the one at the former school. tions at Mae Eanes Middle should of the career-technical academies where we have become “This school is amazing,” said kindergar- begin soon. certified nursing assistants, welders, auto mechanics, in- ten teacher Rachael Wells as she unpacked • Dauphin Island Elementary is getting terior designers, and many other things. The construction Dr. Seuss books during the break and put a $1.2 million upgrade. of this new building will not only provide sufficient space them on a brand new built-in shelf. • Renovation work to the exterior for us to become even better at the skills we are learning Other recenly opened schools include the of the historic Barton Academy in but also allow us to reach our full potential. Augusta Evans Special School in West Mo- downtown Mobile has begun. The My school system has embarked upon the largest con- bile; Whitley Elementary in Prichard; and work will cost about $3.5 million. struction and renovation campaign in its history, which Taylor-White Elementary in West Mobile. A foundation is raising money for includes the building of four new schools that are opened Sixth-grader Blake Presley said he was interior renovations as the plan is to nervous about moving to the new, bigger establish and International Studies and operating, three schools that are under construction, Calcedeaver. But he said his teachers eased Academy there. including the new Citronelle High School, and several the transition. • These schools are getting $2 million renovations made to current structures. This $800 mil- “I love the SMARTboards and all the multi-purpose buildings, scheduled lion capital improvement has touched all 90 of the Mobile technology,” he said. “It’s a big school. I like for completion this summer: Bur- County Public Schools campuses over the past 10 years. how we’re not all bunched up anymore.” roughs, Ella Grant, George Hall, Most notably, perhaps, renovations have begun at Here’s a look at current and upcoming Indian Springs, Orchard, Robbins and Barton Academy, the birthplace of modern education in construction projects: St. Elmo elementary schools. the State of Alabama. Barton will become an academy for • Officials are breaking ground this • LeFlore High School is getting a new International Studies. month on a new $25 million Citro- $3.4 million auditorium. Although I will not be able to attend school in our nelle High School fronting U.S. 45. • A bid for construction of a new sci- new building, I know that the legacy and traditions of • Lott Middle nearby is getting a $10 ence and technology wing at Burns million renovation. Middle has been accepted. the Citronelle of Ode will be reflected in all aspects of • Officials are breaking ground in Feb- construction. With the completion of the new campus, all ruary on a new $14 million Fournier- roads will lead to the northern tip of the county. AP Capstone Program

Baker High in west Mobile will be theat third PlacementBaker classes that cannot be offeredHigh else- The program challenges students to: Alabama school – and the only school in South where, AP Seminar and AP Research. By partici- • Think critically and creatively. Alabama - to offer the prestigious Advanced pating in the program, Baker will be able to offer • Plan and conduct a study or investigation. Placement Capstone Program. students a special AP diploma upon graduation. • Propose solutions to real-world problems. AP officials invited Baker to participate due According to AP’s website, 113 high schools • Plan and produce communication in vari- to the school’s success with students taking and across the U.S. currently participate in the pro- ous forms. excelling on Advanced Placement exams, which gram, as do about two dozen schools in foreign • Collaborate to solve a problem. can result in college credit. countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, • Integrate, synthesize and make cross- Baker High offers two dozen Advanced Place- Hong Kong, China and Japan. curricular connections. ment courses and had 49 of Mobile County Public Tennessee and Georgia have three AP Cap- The program helps colleges identify students Schools’ 144 AP Scholars this past spring. To be stone schools; Florida has 26; North Carolina and who are prepared with the research, writing and an AP Scholar, students must score at least a 3 out South Carolina have one AP Capstone school collaboration skills necessary for success. of 5 on at least 3 AP exams. apiece; New York state has four AP Capstone Teachers in the program will participate in “We are in an elite group of academic excel- schools. intensive professional development. lence,” Principal Clem Richardson said. The AP Capstone program is “an innovative “This is quite an honor to be invited,” Super- “We are excited about this opportunity,” he program from the College Board that equips stu- intendent Martha Peek said. “We’re very proud of added. “We want to make Baker High School not dents with the independent research, collabora- B a ke r.” only the best high school in Alabama, but also in tive teamwork, and communication skills that are In recent years, Mobile County Public Schools the nation.” increasingly valued by colleges.” has increased the number of AP courses offered in Schools can’t apply for the AP Capstone Pro- AP Capstone is designed to complement and all 12 high schools. Students who do well on the gram. They must be invited. enhance the in-depth study of AP courses. “It AP exams earn college credit. The two other AP Capstone schools in Ala- cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative The exams cost $91, but to encourage more bama are Grissom High School in Huntsville and scholars and prepares them to make logical and students to take the tests, the school system covers Hoover High School outside of Birmingham. evidence-based decisions.” the cost. The district also offers study sessions and These schools offer two specialized Advanced provides students with test preparation booklets. Bradi Glover Senior Baker High

During my four years at Baker, I have had the opportunity to take 13 Advanced Placement courses. Out of those 13, I have taken and passed 8 of the AP exams and I plan to take the remaining 5 this spring. I was awarded the “AP Scholar with Distinction” title this past summer for passing at least 5 ex- ams with a 3 or higher, averaging a 3.5 on all exams taken. I plan to go to Auburn next year, where I have already earned 24 credit hours. My freshman year, I was placed in an AP Preparatory Hornet Block—which is a short, 45-minute block. We practiced AP-style writing, learned how to take brief, but effective, notes, and ac- quired other tools and tips to help us succeed in real AP classes. Apply now for magnet school My teacher for this class was also the AP World History Students interested in applying for their arts education and develop their teacher. She encouraged me to take it, but honestly, I was terrified. Mobile County Public Schools’ Magnet performance skills, Dunbar School of Despite the new things I had learned, I was still scared to death to Program for the 2015-16 school year are Creative and Performing Arts for stu- take a real AP course. My teacher understood and so I was placed urged to apply now at: https://mcpssmag- dents in grades 6-8 is located at 500 Saint in her Honors World History class. The first time we wrote an es- net.schoolinsites.com/ Anthony Street in downtown Mobile. say, she called me up to her desk and said, “Bradi, you are definite- Magnet schools are open to residents Kindergarten through fifth-grade ly taking my AP Euro class next year. You have no choice.” of the Mobile County Public Schools students interested in traditional academ- So the fall semester of my sophomore year, I was enrolled in district. They offer unique, accelerated, ics in a quality learning environment as my first AP class: European History. Despite my fears, I did really academic programs. well as honing their communication skills well in the class and it remains one of my favorite AP classes. Here is a look at our magnet schools: should apply to Council Traditional I came a long way the next year, enrolling in 6 AP classes. Eichold-Mertz Magnet School of School. This Early Years International I am really glad that I took several Advanced Placement Mathematics and Science is an elemen- Baccalaureate School is located at 751 courses during high school. They have not only allowed me to tary magnet school located at 2815 Gov- Wilkinson Street. Council Traditional earn college credit by taking the exams, but they have also pro- ernment Boulevard in Mobile. Students School is a National Blue Ribbon School vided practice in classes with a faster pace and a higher degree of here get a hands-on math and science of Excellence. rigor, which is something that I will definitely see in college. curriculum complimented by technology, Phillips Preparatory School, a 2014 I am very thankful that Baker offers numerous AP classes. vegetable gardening and farm animals. National Blue Ribbon School of Excel- Over the past 10 years, Baker has added 14 courses, bringing the Students in grades 6-8 will find a lence located at 3255 Old Shell Road, total number of AP classes offered now to 24. challenging, fun and innovative program is also a National Blue Ribbon School I am pleased to tell you today that Baker has received the at Clark-Shaw Magnet School of Mathe- of Excellence. The school emphasizes a huge honor of becoming an AP Capstone school. We are the matics, Science, and Technology. Clark- rigorous college preparatory curriculum third school in the whole state of Alabama to be given this honor. Shaw is a National Blue Ribbon School of for students in grades 6-8. Beginning next year, our students will be able to participate in the Excellence located at 5960 Arlberg Street LeFlore Magnet High School offers AP Capstone program—which includes one year of Seminar and in Mobile. students in grades 9-12 an excellent pro- one of Research—which will allow them to receive the AP Cap- Children in grades kindergarten gram in pre-law or pre-medical studies. stone diploma. This diploma will set them apart for college admis- through five that have a strong love of LeFlore Magnet High School is located at sion and allow them to acquire stronger critical thinking, research academics and the arts should visit Old 700 Donald Street in Mobile. and communication skills that will aid them in their future. Shell Road School of Creative and For additional information, please I am excited to see how this program unfolds and adapts at Performing Arts located at 3160 Heather contact or visit the magnet schools or Baker High School. And I am thankful to Mobile County Public Street. contact The Magnet Schools Program of- Schools for emphasizing Advanced Placement classes and for en- For students wishing to continue fice at: 221-4039. couraging more students to take the exams by paying for them. Community leaders ‘Get on the Bus’ This fall, we invited business and community with their teach- leaders to “Get on the Bus” and to come see what is ers and projects happening in Mobile County Public Schools. with their class- About two dozen people - including CEO’s, mates. They’ve legislators and a judge - boarded one of our new seen classroom propane buses and visited Griggs Elementary and blogs. They’ve Burns Middle School to see how our students are seen QR codes.” using technology in the classroom daily. At Burns, “Looking at the students and their excitement visitors saw and their intelligence and what they are learning middle school- and how excited they are about learning,” Mobile ers expand County Juvenile Court Judge Edmond Naman told upon what they Fox 10 TV. “It really does bode well for the future.” learned in ele- Griggs Prinicpal Stephanie Benson said the mentary school. visitors were impressed with what they saw the Students were students doing. “They’ve seen students complete learning how projects using technology. They’ve seen students to write code. bringing their own devices, which is a big part of Students were creating video games that would be what we do. They’ve seen children upload their used by special-education students. Students were writing using OneDrive and share assignments accessing 3-D printers, where they design and print out projects. For a recent project, students were asked to solve a problem with something that could be printed in 3-D. One student said she did not have enough room on her bathroom sink at home to hold a bar of soap, so she printed a plastic soap holder that could be screwed into the wall. State Rep. Margie Wilcox spoke to mcpssTV as both a lawmaker and business owner. She said she was thrilled to see students mastering Micro- soft Office and other software programs. “That’s what I want to see because that’s what they’re going to use in the real world,” Wilcox said.

MCPSS is hosting a second Get on the Bus tour on Jan. 28. Participants will visit our Torchbearer Schools, which are the highest-performing, high- poverty schools in Alabama. (Learn about them on the next page.) If you would like to attend, please call Rena Philips at 221-6288 or email [email protected]. MCPSS has 4 of Alabama’s 6 TorchbearersCitizens Guide Mobile County Public Schools is pleased to an- excellence into the classroom.” the least,” to win this award. nounce that we have four of Alabama’s six Torch- Anna Booth Elementary in Irvington has been “Our teachers have buckled down. Every time bearer schools for 2014. named a Torchbearer nine consecutive years. a child has an issue, we remediate that need,” he These schools are recognized by the Alabama Principal Lisa Williams said the award is a result said. “We just try to make sure we don’t leave Department of Education as being the top high- of collaboration and shows that her students have anybody out.” performing, high-poverty schools. “the ability, self-efficacy, and work ethic required Mobile County’s Torchbearers are: Anna Booth, to perform at high levels and compete on a na- Lion’s Share of Torchbearers George Hall, St. Elmo tional level.” and Wilmer elementary “Our students are well-be- Here’s a look at how Mobile County Public schools. haved, motivated, and capa- Schools have performed in years passed: The other schools are: ble,” she added. “They consis- • In 2013, four of Alabama’s 20 Torchbearers Monroe Intermediate in tently and joyfully put forth were Mobile County Public Schools. Monroe County and Syca- their best effort and believe in • In 2012, nine of Alabama’s 13 Torchbearers more School in Talladega their ability to reach any goal were from Mobile County. County. set before them. Our parents • In 2011, six of the 11 were in Mobile Mobile County has are phenomenal. Our knowl- County. had the lion’s share of edgeable teachers work at full • In 2010, five of the eight were in Mobile Alabama’s Torchbearer capacity every moment of each County. schools since the state instructional day. They believe • In 2009, six of the seven were in Mobile began recognizing them in in our children and have abso- County. 2005. This year is particu- lute confidence in their ability • In 2008, four of the nine were in Mobile larly outstanding as the to learn at high levels.” County. state has beefed up the George Hall’s principal • In 2007, six of the 26 were in Mobile requirements. Melissa Mitchell said her County. “As superintendent, I am school is a collaborative place • In 2006, six of the 22 were in Mobile very proud of the fact that with an “amazing” learning County. four of our schools have culture. The school in Mobile’s • In 2005, four of the 13 were in Mobile been named Torchbearer schools,” said Superin- Maysville community has been named a Torch- County. tendent Martha Peek. “This award highlights the bearer most years. outstanding work that has been done in each of “We don’t use a child’s these schools to ensure that students meet rigor- background or economic ous academic goals. Administrators, teachers, staff, status as an excuse for students and parents in each school have worked not being able to per- together to make learning the top priority and are form,” she said. “We’ve to be congratulated for achieving the distinguished always held them to high title of 2014 Torchbearer schools.” standards and they’ve To be named a Torchbearer, these schools had reached those standards. to have as many students scoring in the highest We’ve increased our categories – Level 3 and Level 4 – on standardized standards, and they’ve tests as the top 20 percent of schools in Alabama. continued to grow with The schools had to outperform schools in parts of them.” the state that don’t see many students coming from This is the first year poverty. for Wilmer to be named “We were thrilled to meet the tougher stan- a Torchbearer. Principal dards,” said St. Elmo Principal Deborah Fletcher. Timothy Dollar said his “This is a testimony of all of the hard work of our teachers have worked faculty, staff, parents and students. Our teachers diligently to address the work together in professional learning teams to needs of all of their stu- find out what is best for all of our students. We dents and that he and his use a lot of research to determine what will bring staff are “excited, to say MCPSS students, employees ‘Stuff the Bus’ Mobile County Public Schools students The Mobile County Board of School Com- once again were able to Stuff the Bus – actual- missioners and Central Office employees kicked ly two buses - with Christmas toys for needy off Stuff the Bus on Dec. 10. Over the next week, children. Santa and Mrs. Claus helped with collections at Students and MCPSS employees from all 12 of our high schools, with elementary and across the county donated a total of 3,646 middle schools that feed into those high schools toys for the second-annual Stuff the Bus. participating. “My hope is that we will put smiles on Students from Collins-Rhodes Elementary, kids’ faces on Christmas morning,” said Mary E.R. Dickson Elementary and Mobile County’s G. Montgomery High junior Austin Shep- Career-Technical Education Program went to herd. WKRG to promote Stuff the Bus. This was in conjunction with WKRG- Allen Merryman, Supervisor of Career-Tech- TV5’s Great Toy Drive. nical Education, said this was a good way to teach News reporters and other sta- students that “everything is not about you as an tion employees helped students and individual. You are part of a bigger picture.” system employees unload the toys, It was rewarding time and time again to hear which went to the Salvation Army students talk about the importance of helping and other local groups that identi- others who are less fortunate. fied children in need of Christmas “I’m very proud of our students for stepping presents. up,” Merryman said. “This is just one of the really “Stuff the Bus gives our students easy ways to give back.” an opportunity to pull together and Stuff the Bus is the school system’s major, do something big that benefits our countywide project over the holidays. Individual own community,” said Rena Phil- schools participated in a number of other charity ips, Supervisor of Marketing and drives as well. At Just 4 Developmental Labora- Education Partnerships for Mobile tory, students collected 363 blankets for home- County Public Schools. “We do this less people. At Bryant High, students brought in knowing that most of the students about 2,000 toys for the Salvation Army’s Angel who will receive these toys are our Tree. And students at other schools collected toys students.” for their own classmates in need, holiday meals Social workers employed by and donations for veterans, among other projects. Mobile County Public Schools set aside 285 toys from Stuff the Bus for about 80 students who are either homeless or who were not eligible for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree because they are older than 12. “I have talked to so many parents who have said this means the world to them,” said Denise Riemer, homeless education social worker for MCPSS. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to provide a Christmas for their families. They just feel blessed beyond belief to know that the school system is supporting them in every way that we can as they struggle through homelessness and other obstacles.” We are teaching our students that Commu- nity Service Starts With Us. Middle school advice from a mom who has been there: listen, embrace change & negotiate This column was written by Assistant Communication Supervisor Marcie I love order. Order makes me so happy. I had to give this one up immedi- McNeal. Her daughter Lexi is an eighth-grader and her son Jordan is a sixth- ately. grader, both at Clark-Shaw Magnet School. Every generation brings their mark to world. Middle school is the time This year, I started middle school for the fourth time. when children begin to stamp their contribution. I have gone through bald This is not all bad heads, braids, giant afros, low cuts, red since I don’t recall all hair, blue hair and mohawks and this the memories from the was with the first child. first time, when I was I’ve yelled numerous times for a the actual student. By child to turn down alternative rock, now I’ve figured a few rap, seventies funk, broadway musi- things out. cals, R&B, soul and country music. Even though I’m I bookmarked a website called Ur- not physically in the ban Dictionary in order to find out the classroom, as a mom true meaning of common words not of a past middle-school found in the English dictionary but student and two current used every day by middle schoolers. middle-school children And bruh or bae, I won’t even start on I have learned three im- emoticons. Awkward. portant things: to listen, However, I’m flexible and I under- to embrace change and stand that tweens need an outlet to ex- to negotiate. press themselves. The best part about These may not be this is you can use this as leverage for found in books on my favorite part of being a parent: child raising, but just as negotiating. college graduates soon Change is inevitable but there are learn: real-life can trump textbooks. certain things where I won’t budge. Texting is the new email and I’m okay My precious babies did not want to be ‘babied’ entering middle school. with its use. However misspelled words are simply not tolerated especially They each told me this over and over. I finally listened with the third child on social networks that can mysteriously pop up to haunt you later in life. and lo and behold, on his own he learned his locker combination, he figured So, I promised not to embarrass them with any Beyonce’ dance moves as out his classes, and he successfully survived the consequences of forgetting long as they correctly spell out words like ‘whatever’ and ‘thank you’. I will his homework. also refrain from throwing up the peace sign at their friends and my daugh- If I had listened years before, I probably would have slept better the first ter will stop making duck lips in selfies and my son will not try ANY stunts quarter of each school year. By the way, I should have listened to the teach- from Vine app. ers and principals who with years of wisdom also assured parents on the first I’m just saying. day that the children would be fine. mcpssTV available at home, 24-hours a day Marcie McNeal, pictured above, hosts the show Community Connec- television journalist and Mobile County Public Schools Public Relations tion, which is one of several informative shows produced by the mcpssTV Supervisor Nancy Pierce. Studio. Other shows include Cooking With Class, MCPSS Athletics, MCPSS This mcpssTV is available 24 hours a day now on Comcast (channel 15) and Week, a school safety show and other special programming. The school AT&T U-verse (On Demand channel 99), as well as via Roku boxes and system has partnered with the University of South Alabama for additional also on mcpss.com. shows. mcpssTV also produces Homeroom, a talk show featuring long-time The channel is coming soon to Mediacom. A Citizens Guide Vigor JROTC instructor honored for heroism The Mobile County Board of School Com- tragedy. missioners recognized Lt. Col. Walter Henry, A combat veteran, Lt. Col. Henry’s actions a JROTC instructor at Vigor High School, for serve as an outstanding example of personal his bravery. courage, one of our Army’s most cherished “Thank you, Lt. Col. Henry,” board Presi- values. dent Dr. Reginald Crenshaw said as he pre- The Mobile County Board of School Com- sented Henry with a certificate and resolution missioners is proud of Henry and his dedica- from the board. tion to the students at Vigor and the com- Henry’s quick thinking and intervention munity. prevented one student from being injured “You are to be commended for a job well and another from making a life-altering done and thanked for your quick response mistake. to a situation that could have quickly turned Although Henry does not consider himself tragic,” Crenshaw said. a hero, his quick actions prevented a potential Hutchens science teacher receives Presidential Award Congratulations to Julie Neidhardt, ship and innovative practices. ementary and taught at Dawes Interme- selected as one of three Alabama elemen- Innovation is one reason Neidhardt has diate before Hutchens. She holds various tary school science teachers to receive the a passion for teaching. “I absolutely love certifications and training certificates in 2014 Presidential Awards for Excellence teaching science because it is so engaging the field of math and science as well as in Mathematics and Science Teaching. for all learners no matter their level of memberships in different education as- She teaches second grade at Hutchens ability,” Neidhardt said. “Seeing the light sociations. Elementary. of discovery in their eyes is very reward- “I am so honored to have been selected The award is recognized as one of the i n g .” as a state finalist, especially among a field highest honors that can be bestowed Neidhardt has been teaching in the of such wonderful educators,” Neidhardt upon a teacher. Recipients are selected Mobile County Public School System said. based on dedication to students, leader- since 1998. She began at Semmes El- B.C. Rain teacher’s travels featured in National Geographic B.C. Rain High School Advanced In a video on National Geographic’s Placement English teacher Angela website, Crawford is seen putting on a Crawford traveled to Iceland this sum- snowsuit and riding a snowmobile on mer as a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. a glacier. She wrote about her adventures and “Everything has been an incredibly how she shared her experiences with exhilerating, wow experience. Every her students for National Geographic. day I think yesterday can’t be topped The magazine sponsors the fellowships and it gets topped every single time,” along with Lindblad Expeditions. she said in the video. “Most of my You can read her story at: http:// students definitely don’t get opportuni- blog.education.nationalgeographic. ties like this. I’m very fortunate to be com/2014/10/07/oh-the-places-youll- a Grosvenor Fellow, to be able to have go/ this once-in-a-lifetime experience.” ‘Attend Today. Achieve Tomorrow’ Mobile County Public Schools are stressing demographic and the importance of students coming to school socioeconomic every day as part of the “Attend Today. Achieve group. Tomorrow.” campaign. “Everyone The overall goal is to decrease the number can remind our of absences throughout the 2014-15 school year children to go and beyond. to school every Last year, our 59,000 students missed a total day,” Carroll said. of 596,052 days. State schools Superintendent “Only if they are Tommy Bice has said Alabama students missed in school can they more than 7 million days of school last year. learn the critical “Attendance is such a serious problem in our skills necessary district that we must overcome,” said Assistant to be successful. Superintendent Dr. Lynda Carroll. “All of us can This is not only an do something to help encourage student atten- education issue; dance.” it is an economic Studies show that students who miss just issue.” two or three days per month lose 10 percent of Through the class time. Half of students who miss two to four “Attend Today. days of school in September go on to be chroni- Achieve Tomor- cally absent for the year, missing an average of 25 row” campaign, days. MCPSS is em- nouncements for mcpssTV and offered incen- Students with more absences have skill levels phasizing facts about student attendance via tives, including tickets to the Greater Gulf State that are one to two years below their peers, ac- social media, our website (www.mcpss.com), our Fair, Bayfest, Mobile Baybears baseball games cording to a study by Attendance Works. Also, automated telephone messaging service, and our and University of South Alabama Jaguars foot- students living in poverty and minority students 24-hour mcpssTV channel (Comcast channel 15 ball games. are more likely to miss too much school. That and AT&T U-verse On-Demand channel 99). Students who achieved perfect attendance said, poor attendance is associated with weaker The school system held a contest among are also receiving congratulatory letters from test scores and academic achievement in every high school students to create public service an- Superintendent Martha Peek. Dunbar students paint Mayor Stimpson’s door Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson wanted to do something special with the door he ceremoniously removed when he took office in 2013 as part of his open-door policy. He asked students at Dunbar School of Creative and Performing Arts to decorate it with his “One Mobile” theme. “I think this is incredible,” Stimpson said when the students presented the door to him. Removing the door was a promise Stimpson made when he campaigned in 2013. The students who painted the door are in Art II and Art III. Un- der the direction of teacher Linda Duffis and principal Debra Smith, the students took about a week to paint the door. The door highlights Mobile’s rich history, including Mardi Gras, Bayfest, seafood, the U.S.S. Alabama and Azalea Trail Maids. It is on display in Government Plaza. Dunbar is a magnet school for students in grades 6-8. It is lo- cated in downtown Mobile. 144 AP Scholars in 2014 $72 million in scholarships It Starts With Us EDUCATION REVIEW

October 20, 2015

GRADUATION RATE

Four-Year, On-Time Graduation Rate

75 82 64 70

2011 2012 2013 2014 COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS INDICATORS

Students must meet 1 of the 6 to be Dual considered “College ACT AP Enrollment and Career Ready” IB

 Source: Alabama ACT Military Industry WorkKeys Enlistment Credentials Department of Education ACT COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM

ACT and ACT Aspire % Proficient

48 48 44 46 40 38 37 34 30 30 28 25 21 14

3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH 7TH 8TH 11TH Math Reading ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Increase in AP 2,641 2,706 2,715 2,292 1,974 1,468 1,525 1,453 1,286 1,110 783 558 565 404

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 AP Students AP Exams Taken DUAL ENROLLMENT

Number of Bishop State courses taken in 2014-15 172 32 69 In addition, Students also Bryant Blount LeFlore students in the take classes UA Early through other College at colleges. Baker, Murphy High for example, 13 135 27 have earned has 48 students 249 semester MGM Murphy Theodore at USA. hours. WorkKeys MILITARY ENLISTMENT CAREER CREDENTIALS

# of credentials earned 11062

7307

1438

2013 2014 2015 # of credentials earned SCHOOL CHOICE

 Special Schools  Pre-Kindergarten  Dual Enrollment  Early College  Magnet Schools  13 Blue Ribbon Schools SCHOOL CHOICE

 International Baccalaureate  Envision Virtual Academy  STAR Academy  EEOP  Twilight Schools  Career and Technical Education Centers (Bryant and Faulkner)  40 Schools of Innovation  12 Signature Academies SIGNATURE ACADEMIES

 Aerospace and Aviation at B.C. Rain  Coastal Studies at Bryant  Advanced Industry, Manufacturing and Technology at Citronelle  Health Careers at Blount  Teaching and Learning at Mary G. Montgomery  Engineering and Entrepreneurship at Williamson SIGNATURE ACADEMIES

 Advanced Studies at Baker  Engineering at Davidson  Law, Art and Health at LeFlore  International Studies at Murphy  Engineering and Industry at Theodore  Information Technology at Vigor

STRATEGIC PLAN ACT Aspire: Understanding the ACT Aspire is a parent video created by MCPSS to help parents: • Understand the ACT Aspire • Read and interpret score reports • Help prepare child for standardized testing Annual Legislative Meeting Agenda Welcome Superintendent Martha L. Peek

It Starts With Us Supervisor of Marketing and Education Partnerships Rena Philips

Overview Supervisor of Public Relations Nancy Pierce

Education-Business Partnerships Start With Us Executive Director of Workforce Development Larry Mouton

Graduating College and Career Ready Starts With Us Acting Chief Academic Officer Karen Mohr

Multiple Pathways to Graduation Start With Us Executive Director of Student Support Services Terrence Mixon

Bring Your Own Device Starts With Us Executive Manager of Information Technology Services David K. Akridge

Fiscal Responsibility Starts With Us Chief Financial Officer Dinish Simpson

State-of-the-Art Classrooms Start With Us Executive Manager of Facilities Tommy Sheffield

Questions and Answers