HEROES K-8 ACADEMY MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP PLAN CHARLOTTE MACALUSO, SUPERINTENDENT 315 W. 11TH STREET, PUEBLO, CO 81003 719-549-7148 CONTACT: SUZANNE MOREY, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING SERVICES 720-334-5862 [email protected] JUNE 2017 Pueblo City Schools ♦ Heroes K-8 Academy Management Plan ♦ June 2017 Page 1 ​ ​ ​ ​ |​ TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 ……………………………………………… MANAGEMENT PLAN OVERVIEW 4 ……………………………………………… NEED FOR MANAGEMENT PARTNER 4 ……………………………………………… MISSION AND VISION 12 ……………………………………………… DISTRICT SYSTEMS 14 ……………………………………………… SCHOOL DESIGN PLAN 15 ……………………………………………… ACADEMIC SYSTEMS 15 ……………………………………………… TIME 15 ……………………………………………… CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION .. 18 … ………………………………………… ASSESSMENT AND DATA 27 ……………………………………………… SPECIAL POPULATIONS 29 ……………………………………………… CULTURE OF PERFORMANCE 31 ……………………………………………… SYSTEMS TO PROMOTE HIGH EXPECTATIONS .. 31 ………………………………… CODE OF CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE . 33 …………………………………… STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT . 34 ……………………………………………… TALENT MANAGEMENT 36 ……………………………………………… RECRUITMENT AND HIRING 36 ……………………………………………… PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT .. .. 38 …………… ……………………………… EVALUATION 48 ……………………………………………… RETENTION 48 ……………………………………………… MANAGEMENT PARTNER 48 ……………………………………………… SELECTION OF PARTNER 48 ……………………………………………… SCOPE OF WORK 52 ……………………………………………… PERFORMANCE CONTRACT/MOU 62 ……………………………………………… COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES 62 ……………………………………………… RESPONSIBILITIES/RIGHTS 62 ……………………………………………… ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT . 63 ……………… ……………… SUMMARY 67 ……………………………………………… ATTACHMENTS 1. ANET LETTER OF SUPPORT . .. 68 …… ……… …………………… … 2. ANET SYSTEM PARTNER FRAMEWORK . .. 69 …… ……………………… …… … 2. PRINCIPAL MANAGER ACTIVITIES/CALENDAR . .. .. 71 … ………… …… ………… …… 3. DRAFT CONTRACT . 77 ………… ………… ……… ……… Pueblo City Schools ♦ Heroes K-8 Academy Management Plan ♦ June 2017 Page 2 ​ ​ ​ ​ |​ Executive Summary Heroes K-8 Academy intends to initiate an Innovation Plan during the 2017-2018 school year, joining other elementary and middle schools as part of Pueblo City Schools’ Innovation Zone. The plan is founded on 15 months of preliminary improvements to align school culture, academic expectations, and instructional talent. Innovation strategies incorporate research- and evidence-based programs focused on rigorous instructional strategies, proven assessment cycles, student leadership opportunities, schoolwide AVID implementation, and restorative justice practices. Located in an older neighborhood in the heart of Pueblo, Heroes K-8 Academy is home to 566 students and 45 certified staff. Six years ago, Somerlid Elementary School and Freed Middle School were combined to create Heroes K-8 Academy in an attempt to stem their downward spiral in academics and climate. Efforts were ineffective, leadership transient, and change stagnant. Ratings place the elementary grades on Year 2 and middle school grades on Year 6 of the Accountability Clock (for Priority Improvement or Turnaround). New leadership in October 2015 combined with 50% staff turnover and significant community engagement has put the school on the path to improvement. Heroes Academy 6-8 increased its rating to Priority Improvement – the first upward movement in over six years. School wide, referrals are down 43.9% since 2013 and out of school suspensions have decreased 46.2%. Heroes K-8 Academy has developed an outcome-specific vision and mission: Vision Students will leave Heroes K-8 Academy prepared for high school, college, and beyond without remediation. Mission At Heroes Academy, we are committed to providing a positive and safe environment where the focus is on student achievement and everyone is held accountable for their actions. Three strategic goals focus our efforts: 1) improving student academic achievement and growth, specifically in language arts and math; 2) developing a culture of performance and achievement for students and adults alike; and 3) fostering a positive, safe student culture. The community surrounding Heroes Academy experiences significant violence and gang activity which influences the poor school climate, spotlighting the need to provide students with tangible character-building skills. Our plan, therefore, reconfigures professional learning and instructional scheduling to incorporate AVID strategy development at all grade levels. Title I funds will be used to hire an Innovation Programs/AVID Coordinator to oversee program implementation, including enrichment and leadership academies. Our AVID coordinator will coach teachers in school-wide AVID implementation practices to support our underachieving Pueblo City Schools ♦ Heroes K-8 Academy Management Plan ♦ June 2017 Page 3 ​ ​ ​ ​ |​ students. In addition, a Restorative Justice Coordinator will be hired to oversee the integration of restorative practices throughout the building, including conflict resolution and alternatives to suspension. Innovation denotes change for improvement, taking a leap forward using non-traditional methods for academic reform. Our goal is to significantly strengthen teacher confidence and competence in the implementation of differentiated, data-driven instruction. We will focus on establishing teaching and learning cycles that include unpacking standards, writing intentional lesson plans, administering rigorous assessments, and understanding data. General funds will be used to hire an additional Assistant Principal to help build instructional capacity and academic systems through the use of the observation/feedback model and weekly data meetings. A middle school math instructional coach will be hired to work directly with teachers in classrooms to strengthen instructional practices aligned to standards. A Title I-funded K-5 Reading Interventionist will provide support for students with Significant Reading Deficiencies. To accomplish our ambitious academic goals of accelerating student achievement, Heroes will need and is committed to a robust management partnership with the Achievement Network (ANet). The Achievement Network (ANet) in collaboration with school and district administration will provide the structure, coaching, and accountability for these reforms. Actions will include job-embedded instructional ​ coaching and implementation of data-driven professional learning communities, school-wide professional development to broaden teachers’ “toolbox” of standards-aligned teaching strategies, interim student assessments to drive instructional planning and delivery, and leadership development for both school and district administration to ensure school systems are fully developed to support innovation initiatives. Both the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Services and the Executive Director of Continuous Learning and Innovation have extensive background in turnaround and will work hand-in-hand with ANet coaches to provide accountability and weekly coaching support to the Heroes principal and the Heroes leadership team throughout the year. To enact innovation, Heroes K-8 Academy requests waivers for: teacher and administrator work schedules; extended school year/school day; employee recruitment, hiring, compensation, stipends, evaluation; Professional Learning Communities and professional development scheduling; non-traditional staffing for non-core subject areas include the utilization of community experts and volunteers; assessment scheduling; and the use of assessment tools and methods beyond those required by CDE or Pueblo City School District 60. Rationale for waivers reflect the need for autonomy and flexibility to meet the school’s unique needs and our willingness to actively partner with and learn from fellow Innovation Zone schools. Management Plan Overview Need for Management Partner Background Located in an older neighborhood in the heart of Pueblo, Heroes K-8 Academy is home to 566 students and 45 Pueblo City Schools ♦ Heroes K-8 Academy Management Plan ♦ June 2017 Page 4 ​ ​ ​ ​ |​ instructional staff. In August 2012, Pueblo School District 60 (PSD 60) students from Somerlid Elementary School and Freed Middle School were combined, and Heroes Academy was born. Combining the two schools did not immediately establish a cohesive K-8 environment and success-oriented educational philosophy. Between 2012 and 2014, Heroes had three different principals; both school climate and academic outcomes declined. Heroes has experienced positive change, with added stability during the 2016-17 school year. Half of the staff has been replaced with highly qualified, enthusiastic teachers. Less effective practices are being eliminated to be replaced with evidence-based strategies. The 2016-2017 school year has focused on laying the foundation for innovation, readying staff, students, parents and the community to envision education as key to individual and community success. Foundational elements include improving student academic achievement and growth, specifically in language arts and math, developing a culture of performance and achievement for students and adults alike, and fostering a positive, safe student culture. Demographics Currently there are 283 students in K-5 and 283 students in grades 6-8. The following tables outline the school’s demographics: Somerlid Yearly Free or Students Gifted & ELL Minority School Mobility Elementary Attendance Reduced with Special Talented Students Students Rate (District K-5 Lunch Eligible Needs Students Mobility Rate) Students 2011-2012 95.6% 77.4% 13.6% 1.7% 6.6% 66% 42.3% (20.1%) Heroes Academy Grades K-5 formed 2012-2013 93.0%