State of the Cluster Presentation - South Region

Our Commitment to EXCELLENCE

SOUTH ATLANTA ClusterSOUTH Region

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CLUSTER LEADERSHIP

SOUTH ATLANTA CLUSTER PRINCIPALS

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S NAME

Cleveland Avenue Elementary School Dr. Rhonda Ware-Brazier

Dobbs Elementary School Dr. Charnita West

Heritage Academy Mr. Trennis Harvey

Humphries Elementary School Ms. Melanie Mitchell

Hutchinson Elementary School Dr. Shaunta Broadway

Long Middle School Ms. Lisa Hill

South Atlanta Computer Animation and Design Mr. Jarod Scott

South Atlanta Health and Medical Sciences Dr. Patricia Ford

South Atlanta Law and Social Justices Ms. Charlotte Davis

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CLUSTER DEMOGRAPHICS

SCHOOLSCHOOL

TYPEENROLLMENT GIFTED SWD HISPANIC BLACK OTHERS

CLEVELAND E 362 68 42 23 336 3

DOBBS E 553 15 34 14 527 12

HERITAGE E 537 69 18 7 526 4

HUMPHRIES E 356 8 35 57 297 2

HUTCHINSON E 396 68 26 85 302 9

LONG M 698 107 124 39 638 21

SOUTH ATLANTA CAD H 300 63 44 19 268 13

SOUTH ATLANTA HMS H 310 57 48 14 292 4

SOUTH ATLANTA LAW H 303 63 45 12 287 4

TOTAL NA 3815 518 416 270 3473 72

GOAL #1 Focus Area: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum - Reading

Systematically and deliberately assess, plan, and implement instructional strategies that will allow students multiple opportunities to engage, interact, and connect with informational and literary texts:

SMART GOALS:• Increase the percentage of 9th and 11th grade students scoring

proficient or higher in Literature by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured by the EOCT.

• Increase the percentage of 3rd-8th grade students scoring proficient or higher in Reading (comprehension) and Reading (informational and media literacy) by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured by the CRCT.

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CLUSTER GOALS

GOAL #2 Focus Area: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum – MathematicsSystematically and deliberately implement the teach, assess, re-engage, re-assess cycle that will allow students multiple opportunities to engage, interact with and master mathematics standards:

SMART GOALS:• Increase the percentage of 9th grade students scoring proficient or

higher in Coordinate Algebra by 4%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured by the EOCT.

• Increase the percentage of 3rd – 8th grade students scoring proficient or higher in mathematics by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured by the CRCT.

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CLUSTER GOALS

GOAL #3 Focus Area: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum – ScienceThe common core literacy standards for science and technical subjects are to be implemented for all grades. Students will be encouraged to read, think, talk, and write more within the sciences. SMART GOALS:• Increase the percentage of students scoring proficient or higher in

Biology by 4%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured by the EOCT.

• Increase the percentage of students scoring proficient or higher in Physical Science by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured by the EOCT.

• Increase the percentage of 3rd – 8th grade students scoring proficient or higher in science by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured by the CRCT.

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CLUSTER GOALS

GOAL #4 Focus Area: Student, Parent and Community Engagement – Attendance

Measurable Goal(s):

Implement a strategic attendance plan that increases students’ attendance rates in the South Atlanta Cluster, while decreasing the percent of students absent more than 10 days by 5% (beginning in September 2013 based on analysis of Infinite Campus daily attendance data trends).

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CLUSTER GOALS

GOAL #5 Focus Area: Student, Parent and Community Engagement - Communication

Measurable Goal(s):

Implement a communication plan that increases student, parent and community engagement and involvement by at least 10% (beginning in September 2013 based on an analysis of Infinite Campus Messaging System data and other data from various school events).

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CLUSTER GOALS

GOAL #6 Focus Area: Safe and Supportive Learning Environment - Behavior Intervention

Measurable Goal(s):

Implement a school-wide behavior plan so that student suspensions and referrals are reduced by at least 5%, based on previous analysis of suspensions and other office referral/discipline data.

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CLUSTER GOALS

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ATTENDANCE DATA

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ENROLLMENT TRENDS

• Across the district, we are building a much more inclusive environment

• Many more students with disabilities are spending more instructional time in general education settings

• Many more co-teaching classes– General education and special education teacher

provides instruction to a class of students with and without disabilities

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Students with disabilities in APS

2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Oct. 2012 Mar. 201345

50

55

60

65

70

62.1 62.9 64.0 64.8

Georgia

45.8

48.3

55.0

58.0

Atlanta Public Schools

48.2

Percentage of students with disabilities who spendat least 80% of their school day in general education settings

Oct. 2013

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CRCT DATA ANALYSIS

Reading ELA Math Sci Soc. Studies0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

82 83

56 57

51

8379

65

53 53

93 93

8278 77

South Region CRCT Trend Data

2011 - 20122012 - 2013State Avg.

Subjects

Perc

enta

ge o

f Stu

dent

s Mee

ting

& E

xcee

ding

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DATA ANALYSIS-ASSESSMENTS(exit data from high schools)

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COHORT GRADUATION RATE

The Opportunity: What Family Engagement/Parental Involvement Looks Like for the South Region/South Atlanta Cluster

Family Engagement/Parental Involvement for the South Region is a collaborative on-going partnership between South Region, families, parents and schools. We recognize that family engagement/parental involvement is vital to student success. Therefore, we strive to work together build strong partnerships with parents to bridge the gap between the home and the school.

What the South Region/South Atlanta Cluster will specifically do:1. Listen to the felt needs of parents in order to build academically and socially sound

family engagement programming.2. Consistently conduct needs assessments to determine the needs of families at the

district and school levels.3. Be intentional about educating ALL staff through faculty and staff meetings about the

importance of family engagement and parental involvement at the school-level.4. Create a warm and welcoming space and environment as parents enter the building.5. Provide incentives for parents that regularly attend district and school level family

engagement/parental involvement activities and workshops.

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PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

What South Region South Atlanta Cluster parents can specifically do:1. Share needs/barriers with school staff. (Principals, Parent Liaisons, Teachers and other

Support Staff)2. Make certain to take family engagement/parental involvement surveys offered at the

district and school levels.3. Check with the school’s parent liaison to receive information pertaining to family

engagement/parental involvement activities and events.

Barriers Preventing Parents from Experiencing Family Engagement/ Parental InvolvementCurrently we are experiencing some barriers as it relates to family engagement/ parental involvement in the South Region/ Caver Cluster. It is our goal to decrease the barriers in order to increase involvement and participation. Some barriers include:4. Parents are dealing with personal issues that hinder their involvement/participation.5. Lack of zeal and time.6. Educational Barriers that prevent parents from effectively communicating with school staff

and teachers regarding their child’s education.7. Inclusion of the entire school staff (Principal, Asst. Principals, Parent Liaisons, Teachers,

and other support staff) supporting the family engagement/parental involvement program and its initiatives.

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PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

1. Monthly Cluster Meeting – All schools participates in monthly South Atlanta cluster meetings to address academic needs (teachers and instructional coaches)

2. Monthly Principal’s meeting – All cluster principals meet with the Regional Executive Director to discuss and address students’ needs related to academic and school safety issues

3. Utilizing ThinkGate Student Management System to create common assessments

4. Quarterly Professional Development with Common Core and Dan Mulligan’s Instructional Strategies for instructional coaches

5. Schools have employed behavioral specialists to assist with severe issues

6. All middle & high school have employed graduation coaches to intervene with students who are not “on-track”

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CLUSTER INITIATIVES AND HIGHLIGHTS

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School HighlightsElementary Schools:

Cleveland Rita Simmons has been recognized as Cleveland Avenue’s Teacher of

the Year, the Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and the District’s Teacher of the Year

Dobbs Built a playground and planted an intergenerational community garden

with the assistance of 312 faculty, staff, and community members Had the highest Computer Adaptive Assessment Scores in the cluster

for the fall 2013 administration Promoting family and community engagement through an onsite GED

program, “Real Men Read” community project, donating 70 Thanksgiving baskets to families, and donating 615 pounds of canned goods during the Fal-Can food drive

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School Highlights

Heritage Ranked 10th out of 52 elementary schools in Atlanta Public Schools in

terms of student academic growth for the 2012 – 2013 school year. Heritage Academy students have read over 11,000,000 words between

the months of August and November, 2013 based on Accelerated Reader results.

With the help of Derrick Boazman of WAOK radio, the Heritage Academy “Real Men Read” initiative has brought over 200 male community members into the school to mentor and read with the students of Heritage Academy over the last 3 school years.

Humphries Largest amount of academic growth in the S. Region for two years Recipient of $1,000 from Walmart Community Giving Grant Monthly parental involvement has doubled and continues to grow

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School Highlights

Hutchinson Recipient of the Laura Bush Foundation for American Libraries Grant Toni Griffin, teacher, is the recipient of the Explore Learning Reflex

Educator Grant Angelle Sullivan, teacher, earned funding from Donor’s Choose for a

classroom project

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School Highlights

Middle School – Long Middle School :

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation donation of musical instruments with a total retail value of $31,033

Atlanta Falcons and NFL Youth Football Fund Grant awarded in the amount of $1,000

Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant in the amount of $2,000

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School Highlights

High School-South Atlanta High School:

South Atlanta School of Computer Animation and Design 2012 & 2013 - Produced two Gates Millennium Scholars 2013 – First student enrolled full time at Atlanta Area Tech in the Dual

Enrolment Program Increase in 7 of 8 academic areas as measured by Georgia’s End-of-

Course Test (EOCT) Has a State and Industry Certified Engineering Program and one of a

few high schools in the state with an Animation Program

South Atlanta School of Health and Medical Science Class of 2013 amassed over 3.5 million in scholarships Has the highest number of Career & Technical Education completers in

the district

South Atlanta School of Law and Social Justice Recognized as a Title I Reward School for High Progress for the 2013-

2014 school year

GOAL #1 Monitoring of ReadingCluster School Leadership will:

Ensure students are administered computer adaptive assessments with teachers using data to modify their instructional practices

Monitor the use of advanced organizers, such as Thinking Maps, as a method of organizing students thoughts and making text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections when interacting with text.

Participate in PLCs discussions with instructional staff to focus on vocabulary acquisition that will enable students to discover the meaning of content-specific words that can be integrated across the curriculum

Meet with teachers during professional learning communities (PLCs) designated planning times to participate in discussions with addressing students’ needs

Fiscal Resources: Instructional Coaches, Teachers, Special Education Lead Teachers, Assistant Principals, Principals

***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met quarterly

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PROGRESS MONITORING

GOAL #2 Monitoring of MathematicsCluster School Leadership will: Monitor cluster goals (increasing mathematics achievement) through

reviewing monthly instructional coaches’ meeting notes to determine whether monthly focus aligns with overall goals

Ensure students are administered computer adaptive assessments with teacher using data to modify their instructional practices

Examine weekly, bi-weekly, and unit assessments in mathematics to ensure standards are being taught at appropriate levels of rigor

Ensure staff is providing multiple opportunities for students to re-engage and be re-assessed on un-mastered standards.

Meet with teachers during professional learning communities (PLCs) designated planning times to participate in discussions addressing students’ needs



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PROGRESS MONITORING

GOAL #3 Monitoring of ScienceCluster School Leadership will: Monitor cluster goals (increasing science achievement) through reviewing

monthly PLC notes and action items to determine whether monthly focus aligns with overall goals

Ensure literacy strategies are consistently integrated into the science curriculum by review lesson plan and conducting observations

Examine weekly, bi-weekly, and unit assessments in science to ensure standards are being taught at appropriate levels of rigor

Ensure that all science classes provide hands-on lab experiences at least once a week

Provide model science classroom at every grade level within the cluster to serve as demonstration classrooms for professional development opportunities teachers and instructional coaches



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PROGRESS MONITORING

GOAL #4 Monitoring of AttendanceCluster School Leadership will: Monitor cluster goals (decreasing students’ absenteeism by 5% - missing 10

or more days) through reviewing infinite campus student data related to absent days and tardiness

Ensure teachers submit counselor and social worker referrals for students with attendance issues in a timely manner

Review teacher contact/call logs to ensure all parents are informed of students’ attendance issues

Review attendance reports created by the school counselors to actively monitor submission by teachers (with the most severe cases being forwarded to school social worker)

Develop and Implement a positive reinforcement program for perfect and excellent attendance through celebrations

Fiscal Resources: School Attendance Clerks/Secretaries, Teachers, Special Education Lead Teachers, Counselors, School Social Workers, Assistant Principals, Principals

***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met monthly04/10/2023 33

PROGRESS MONITORING

GOAL #5 Monitoring of Parental Involvement Cluster School Leadership will:

Monitor cluster goals (increasing parental involvement by 10%) through reviewing parent-teacher association (PTA) attendance list, parent conference logs by teacher, parent logs located in main office

Meet with parent liaison personnel to ensure monthly goals are met through monthly activities, volunteering, etc.

Monitor automated telephone calls to all families about district and school events via the Infinite Campus Messaging System

Create calendar of events that will involve parents on a regular basis Review teacher contact/call logs to ensure all parents are informed

of students’ progress towards meeting academics goals Fiscal Resources: Parent Liaisons, Students, Teachers, Special

Education Lead Teachers, Graduation Coaches, Counselors, Assistant Principals, Principals

***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met quarterly04/10/2023 34

PROGRESS MONITORING

GOAL #6 Monitoring of Behavior InterventionCluster School Leadership will:

Monitor cluster goals (decrease student suspensions and referrals by 5%) through student discipline records

Meet with school behavior specialist to ensure monthly goals are met through monthly activities, volunteering, etc.

Implement activities that address model or expected positive behaviors through assemblies, motivational speakers, monthly homeroom discussions, etc.

Review teacher contact/call logs to ensure all parents are informed of students’ progress towards meeting discipline goals

Fiscal Resources: Behavior Specialists, Graduation Coaches, Students, Teachers, Special Education Lead Teachers, Counselors, Assistant Principals, Principals

***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met monthly

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PROGRESS MONITORING

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Q & A

State of the Cluster Presentation - South Region

Education

Transcript of State of the Cluster Presentation - South Region