1

Training and maintaining excellent teachers, administration, support staff.

2

• Retention of good teachers
• Opportunities for growth
• New ideas to the classroom
• So teachers can stay current
• Reducing staff turnover
• New developments, better able to respond to different learning styles, unifies staff, improves climate of building
• Teachers are the most important aspect.  Need them to lead the students in a positive direction – it starts with them.  Want to raise teacher quality to best of best

2

Creating and maintaining an appropriate and engaging curriculum which teaches students to solve problems and transfer learning.

3

• Important to engage students, especially “at risk” students
• Need solid foundations, higher order
• Curriculum is not stagnant.  It needs to have a good foundation at the entry level course and transfer well to next experience
• (3A)  This initiative is rather wordy & should be split into two
• (3A)  Using a variety of strategies for group management (small, large group, presentation, etc.)
• Find curriculum that engage interests of all students – teach them skills they will need to know outside of classroom.  If there is an engaging curriculum, students will be more interested and motivated to learn

3

Reducing class sizes that are appropriate for instructional needs.

1

• One-on-one attention
• Student diversity
• Growth of district
• Student involvement
• Help struggling students make connections
• Individual attention
• Earlier intervention
• Use of better strategies in smaller groups
• More opportunities for small group work, individual attention
• Need to do this for the good of all
• This won’t help a poor teacher, but it will for a good teacher
• Teachers can engage students more
• Good student/teacher ratio for a better learning environment so teachers can know students on a more personal level and help those who struggle

4

Increasing interventions which support learning (i.e. tutoring, Guided Study, Response to Intervention).

• NCLB needs to be revised
• Engage the students
• *  Don’t let this one go!!!

5

Offering more course options at all levels (AP/Honors, College Prep, Special Services) of interest for students.

 6

Increasing reading, writing, speaking, and thinking strategies across all subject areas.

3

• Employers want this
• Transfers to other disciplines
• Need to improve writing skills
• Supports the greater educational philosophy  “provides a structure for long range plans”
• Prepare for life
• (3B)  The result of #2
• (3B)  Could be accomplished with staff development and in-service training
• (3B) Hiring consultants to help others/all

7

Preparing students to live in a multicultural society.