Core Beliefs for a
Successful School Year
Jeff Moorhouse, Ed.D.
Principal
Morristown West High School
My Journey
Teaching
 Elementary= 1st, 5th and system wide p.e.
 Secondary= Biology and Physical Science
Administration
• Assistant Principal- h.s and m.s
• Principal- elementary, alternative school, high school
Mediocrity
“To the mediocre, mediocrity appears great”
Indian Proverb
“Only the mediocre have a great day every
day”
Coach K
Mediocrity
“The enemy of GREAT is good”
Jim Collins
The Journey from mediocre
to GREAT
Vision
What is the vision for your
school?
What are the characteristics of
great schools and great
teachers?
Core Beliefs
Core Beliefs
• Core Belief #1
Our School is a
Special Place
Our School Is Special
Our School Is Special
Our School is a Special
Place
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Use your data for Positive P.R.
Family Atmosphere
Graduation
Hedgehog concept
Hall of Fame
What Makes Your School
Special
• Be specific
 List as many things as possible.
 What do you want you school to be noted for
achieving?
Core Belief #2
Student
Achievement is the
Most Important
Thing We Do
Student achievement is the
most important thing
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Why is this method best for student learning?
Students come first
Core Subjects
Ban artificial prerequisites
Expand advanced offerings
Put resources with the students that need them the
most
• Keep students in the classroom
• Keep everyone off the P.A.
• What does an A or F mean in student learning?
Student Achievement is the
most important thing
What actions have you initiated to
prove that student learning is the
top priority in your school?
How do you emphasize effort and
hard work?
(Remember….be specific!)
Core Belief #3
The power of
expectations
Expectations
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Multiple Data Sources
What gets measured, gets done!
20 mile march
“SMaC” recipe
High expectations-for whom?
Mindset by Carol Dweck
 Fixed or Growth
Core Belief #4
Your School is as
Great as your Staff
Great Staff
• People, Not Programs
• Random or Plandom?
• In every situation, ask who is the most
comfortable and who is the least comfortable?
• Teacher is the filter
 “When teacher sneezes, the whole class catches a cold”
Todd Whitaker
Core Belief #5
Each and Every
Student is
Different and
Important
Every Student is Important
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Students come before policies
Know when to “bend” the rules for equity
Make students feel special
Treat students as if they were your own
children
• Are you guilty of making blanket
statements with your students?
Every Student is Important
How does your
school place
importance on the
individual student?
Core Belief #6
You must be the
“Lead Learner”
Lead Learner
• You must be on top of “Best Practices” as it
relates to your area
• You have to take time to “sharpen the saw”
• You have to be the first to try new things
• It takes 10,000 hours of practice to be a
professional
Lead Learner
What are ways that you keep abreast of “Best
Practices” in the field?
How do you model the appropriate use of
technology?
Core Belief #7
Our community
would miss us if
we were gone
impact
• The reason that we educate our students is
to solve probles of today and in the future
• Make it cool to care!
 Food drives
 Blood drives
 Global issues
Thank You/Good Luck
• Working with students
• Professionalism
• Safe and Productive Year