The Vision
Small Learning Communities
Larry Tibbs
Brennon Sapp
Thad Dusing
”The Vision” Video
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Why Change?
(We are a Good School)
15% College Graduation Rate
Increasing Gaps
Changing World
Changing Job Market
We still have Dropouts
Seniors losing interests
Most Discipline problems stem from
low interest levels
All students ask “Why do we have to
know this?”
74.8
82.7
78.4
2003
2004
2005
2006
Reading
75.1426 79.9460 86.7956 85.9667
Math
79.5679 80.9792 80.0623 86.3243
Science
70.7808 71.5436 74.5514 73.2131
Social Studies
70.6905 82.3678 82.3600 83.8541
Arts & Humanities
74.8644 83.1203 79.0167 84.8504
Pract. Living/Voc Stud
86.2501 89.1234 89.2119 87.8471
Writing
67.5604 62.0861 70.7782 71.8933
Total
74
77.2
79.8
81.3
Dixie KPR-Total
100.0
95.0
90.0
85.0
80.0
75.0
70.0
65.0
60.0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dixie Gender Gap
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
Female
60.0
Male
50.0
Dixie Social-economical Gap
40.0
30.0
2000
100.0
2001
90.0
2002
2003
80.0
2004
2005
2006
2007
70.0
Free & Reduced (Approved)
60.0
Free & Reduced (Not approved)
50.0
40.0
30.0
Dixie Disability Gap
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
No Disability
60.0
Disability
50.0
40.0
30.0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dixie Gender Gap-Reading
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
Female
60.0
Male
50.0
Dixie Social-economical Gap-Reading
40.0
30.0
2000
2001
100.0
2002
90.0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
80.0
Free & Reduced (Approved)
70.0
60.0
Free & Reduced (Not
approved)
50.0
40.0
30.0
Dixie Disablity Gap-Reading
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
No Disability
60.0
Disability
50.0
40.0
30.0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dixie Gender Gap-Writing
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
Female
60.0
Male
50.0
Dixie Social-economical Gap-Writing
40.0
30.0
2000
2001
100.0
2002
90.0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
80.0
Free & Reduced (Approved)
70.0
60.0
Free & Reduced (Not
approved)
50.0
40.0
Dixie Disability Gap-Writing
30.0
2000
100.0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
90.0
80.0
70.0
No Disability
60.0
Disability
50.0
40.0
30.0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dixie KPR-Science
100.0
95.0
90.0
85.0
80.0
75.0
70.0
65.0
60.0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Our Journey to SOS
• District Leadership Initiated Discussions
– Bill Daggett (Successful Practices Network)
– The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman
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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:
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complicated
emotional
Abilities
expressive
writing
idealistic
musical
imaginative
artistic
impulsive
independent
introspective
intuitive
nonconforming
Jobs:
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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
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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
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Jobs:
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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
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Jobs:
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salesperson
manager
business executive
television producer
sports promoter
buyer
bookkeeper
stenographer
financial analyst
banker
cost estimator
tax expert
Freshman Academy
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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
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SOS Sample Videos
• To Students
– Surveys
– Videos
– Freshman Academy (lessons, advisory,
and posters)
Curriculum Development
• Model Lessons
• Flavoring of Core Content Classes
(Relevancy)
• Collaborative Lessons
• Business/Community Involvement
• Development of New Electives
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
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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)
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– Medical Science
Chemistry A & B
– Radio Technology
Anatomy A & B
– Horticulture
Physics A & B
– Geology
Environmental Science
– Meteorology
Forensics
– Anatomy for Artist
Zoology
– AP Chemistry
Astronomy
Chemistry & Community
– AP Biology
Oceanography/Marine Biology
Science Now
Three and a Half Required Classes
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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)
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Chemistry A & B (2)
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Anatomy A & B (2)
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Physics A & B (1)
Environmental Science (0) –
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Forensics (13)
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Zoology (5)
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Astronomy (2)
Chemistry & Community (2) –
Oceanography (7)
Medical Science (5)
Radio Technology (2)
Horticulture (2)
Geology (2)
Meteorology (2)
Anatomy for Artist (0)
AP Chemistry (0)
AP Biology (1)
Establishing Business Partnership
• Business Partnership Receptions
• Business Partner Liaison
• Externships
• Business Panels
What’s Next?
• Trimesters
• Scheduling
• Continued Professional Development
• Continued Curriculum Development
• ??????????????
Questions?
www.dixie.kenton.kyschools.us
www.bsapp.com/Schools_of_Study.htm