The Vision
Small Learning Communities
Larry Tibbs
Brennon Sapp
Welcome to Dixie
”The Vision” Video
Our Journey to SOS
• District Leadership Initiated Discussions
– Bill Daggett (Successful Practices Network)
– The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Freshman Academy
Establish a Vision Team (School Level)
School/Site Visits
Conferences
Building Ownership within the School
Preparing for Implementation
Spreading the Word (Public Relations)
Curriculum Development
Establishing Business Partnership
What’s next?
District Leadership Initiated Discussions
• Rigor, Relevance, & Relationships
• Many students
– Unmotivated
– Unprepared for the next level of life,
college, work force or vocational
• 15% of students successful in college
• How can we reinvent high school to
– Motivate all students
– Make high school more relevant
– Make high school more rigorous
– Involve the community/business
Our Schools
of Study
The School of
Visual/Performing Arts and
Media (VPAM)
Characteristics:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
complicated
emotional
Abilities
expressive
writing
idealistic
musical
imaginative
artistic
impulsive
independent
introspective
intuitive
nonconforming
Jobs:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
composer
musician
stage director
writer
interior decorator
actor/actress
event coordinator
reporter
artist
photographer
advertisement
executive
The School of
Science, Technology, Engineering
& Math (STEM)
Characteristics:
Jobs:
– analytical
– cautious Abilities
– complex mechanical
mathematic
– critical
scientific
– curious
– Intellectual
– introverted,
– methodical
– precise
– rational
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
mechanic
aircraft controller
surveyor
farmer
electrician
biologist
chemist
physicist
anthropologist
geologist
med tech
The School of
Law, Education, Health & Human
Services (LEHH)
Characteristics:
cooperative
 generous
Abilities
 helpful
social
 idealistic
verbal
emotional
 patient
 responsible
 social
 sympathetic
 understanding
 warm

Jobs:












teacher
religious worker
counselor
psychologist
social worker
speech therapist
police officer
lawyer
nurse
nutritionist
physical therapist
sociologist
(BIT)
Business & Information Technology
The School of
Characteristics:
acquisitive
 adventurous
 agreeable
Abilities
 ambitious
leadership
speaking
 extroverted
clerical
 energetic
 attention-getting
 impulsive
 optimistic
 popular
 self-confident

Jobs:












salesperson
manager
business executive
television producer
sports promoter
buyer
bookkeeper
stenographer
financial analyst
banker
cost estimator
tax expert
Freshman Academy
•
•
•
•
Team approach
Most critical year
Various support programs
Used as a vehicle to introduce
students to the Schools of Study
(Decision point)
• Freshman Coordinator and a
Freshman Administrator
• Pathways (Advisory)
Establish a Vision Team
• A group to trail blaze the path to the
New Dixie Heights High School
– Professional development
– Time line/steps
– Advocates for change
• Hand Picked Committee (12)
– Teacher leaders
– Representative group
– Visionaries
School/Site Visits
• South Grand Prairie (TX) sgphs.gpisd.org
• Kennesaw Mountain (GA)
www.cobb.k12.ga.us/~kennesawmountain
• Pulaski County (KY)
www.pcva.us/schools/pchs/index.html
Conferences
• Model Schools Conference
– Nashville
– Washington DC
• National Career Academy Coalition
Building Ownership
• Sharing of “The Why”
• Sharing of “The How”
• Site Visits (yes we took teachers)
• Job imbedded Professional
Development
Preparing for Implementation
• Professional Development
– Two day/district wide
– Team of 18 teacher from South Grand
Prairie
– KDE Support Staff
– Business Partners
• Arrangement of the Building
• Teacher Driven Change
– Surveys
– School of Study Assignments
– School of Study Development
Spreading the Word
• “The Vision” – Promotional Video
• School of Study
– Websites
– Brochures
– Videos
– Parent Information Nights
•
SOS Sample Videos
• To Students
– Surveys
– Videos
– Freshman Academy (lessons, advisory,
and posters)
Curriculum/SOS/Moral Development
• Model Lessons (Group Activity)
• Flavoring of Core Content Classes
(Relevancy)
• Collaborative Lessons
• Business/Community Involvement
• Development of New Electives
• Summer Retreat (away from school)
• Use of SOS Lead Teachers
Science Then
• Three Required Classes
– Biology (1 credit-freshman)
– Earth/Space Science (1 credit)
– Integrated Science (1 credit)
• Electives
– Chemistry (1 credit)
– Anatomy & Physiology (1 credit)
– Physics (1 credit)
– Environmental Science (1 credit)
– AP Chemistry (2 credits)
– AP Biology (2 credits)
Science Now
Three and a Half Required Classes
•
•
•
•
•
Scientific Investigations (1/2 credit-freshman)
Life Science (1/2 credit)
Earth/Space Science (1/2 credit)
Physical Science (1/2 credit)
1½ credits to be spread out in electives
Electives (all ½ credit, save AP Classes)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Chemistry A & B
–
Anatomy A & B
–
Physics A & B
–
Environmental Science
–
Forensics
–
Zoology
–
Astronomy
Chemistry & Community
–
Oceanography/Marin Biology
Medical Science
Radio Technology
Horticulture
Geology
Meteorology
Anatomy for Artist
AP Chemistry
AP Biology
Establishing Business Partnership
•
•
•
•
•
Business Partnership Receptions
Business Partner Liaison
Externships
Business Panels
Marketing and Business Liaison
– Aggressive Marketing
– Aggressive Publicity
– Yes! We are “open” for business
– Lesson Connections
A Business Partner
What Else?
• Trimesters
• Continued Professional Development
• Continued Curriculum Development
• Continued Morale Building/Support
• Data, Data, Data & Surveys
– hard/soft
– young/old
– interior/exterior
• ??????????????
Questions?
www.dixie.kenton.kyschools.us
bsapp.com/dixie_schools_of_study