Call for New Quality Schools

New School and Facility Placement Applicant Presentations

DPS Board of Education

September 3, 2015

1

New School and Facility Placement Applicants by Region

Southwest

• Bear Valley International School

• Academia Lincoln

• DSST MS VII

• Compass Academy

Near Northeast

• Denver School of History, Speech, and Debate

2

Bear Valley International School at the Henry Campus

Henry Middle School Redesign Applicant

Bear Valley International School

Bear Valley International School

Community Designed School * Families* Henry Staff & CSC* Feeder Elementary Schools* 4th Graders* Neighborhood Associations * DPS Experts & School Works* Padres Y Jovenes Unidos* Public Impact national turnaround expertise

School Organizational Chart & Teacher Feedback Cycles* Investing In our Kids, Investing in our Community, Investing in our Priorities

Principal

Dean of Culture

RestorativeApproachesCoordinator

Social Worker/ Psychologist

Community Liaison

Dean of Instruction- MYP

Dean of Instruction Personalized

Learning

Teacher Leaders (Grade Level &

Content)

Differentiated Roles Teacher

Leaders

Operations Manager

Success for ALL Learners!

Questionand

Answer

ACADEMIA LINCOLNDUAL LANGUAGE • SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ART AND MATH (STEAM)

A District-run 6-8 school in the DPS Southwest Denver enrollment zone

Principal: Gabriella Maldonado – Gabriella_Maldonado@dpsk12.org – (720) 425-0413

MissionAcademia Lincoln promotes biliteracy and positive cross-

cultural attitudes in our increasingly multilingual world and

generates globally competitive students — giving them an

edge in the economy upon graduating high school and

college.

Vision

Academia Lincoln builds on a student’s home language and

breaks perceived cultural barriers with a rigorous Dual

Language and STEAM-focused program that provides

learners with the foundation they need to answer the

challenges of today and tomorrow. Academia Lincoln

engages students in activities that light up their intelligence,

ignite their imaginations, sharpen their critical capacities,

develop their consciences and expand their opportunities.

ACADEMIA LINCOLN

ACADEMIA LINCOLN EDUCATION PROGRAM

WHY DUAL LANGUAGE?

Students who participate can become bilingual (listening

and speaking) and biliterate (reading and writing).

It promotes cross-cultural cooperation and appreciation of

differences.

It improves achievement and acquisition of English for ELs

(English Learners).

It increases students’ knowledge of structural properties of

language, including sounds, words, and grammar.

WHY STEAM?

It gives students a chance to apply what they know,

identify problems, find unique solutions, and lead their

own learning through activities and projects.

It provides students rigorous and relevant experiences

using industry-leading technology to solve problems and

helps them gain skills in communication, collaboration,

critical-thinking, and creativity.

ACADEMIA LINCOLN

DENVER PLAN 2020: WE MUST EMPOWER STUDENTS TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL PREPARED

TO THRIVE IN COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE.

"Inspiring all our students

to be capable in math

and science will help

them contribute in an

increasingly technology-

based economy, and will

also help America

prepare the next

generation of STEM

professionals-scientists,

engineers, architects and

technology professionals-

to ensure our

competiveness.“

- U.S. Secretary of Education,

Arne Duncan

COLLEGE & CAREER PLANNINGThe exploration of college and career

pathways is embedded in Academia

Lincoln’s program. Our students will

have access to college and career

readiness counseling and mentors in

their field of interest.

STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAMOur Student Ambassador Program will

promote academics, self-enlightenment

and student involvement on campus and

in the community.

ACADEMIA LINCOLN

What we have heard from the South West Parent Community

A new middle school needs:

• Consistent high expectations for every student

• 4-year college focus

• Strong school leader

• Bilingual teachers

• Strong school culture – zero tolerance for bullying

• Welcoming environment for parents

• High quality teaching

• Respect between students and teachers

Community-Based Schools

• Serving Grades 6-12, 950

students

• Strong Culture: Respect,

Responsibility, Integrity,

Doing Your Best, Courage,

Curiosity

• Small school environment

• Advisory program (12:1

ratio) that supports all kids

• Strong English Language

Learning

• Competitive athletics

• Arts and Extracurricular

Serving the South West CommunityPrepare all students to be college ready

while honoring native languageOur Plan:

• Intensive native language reading support in

supplemental literacy classes

• Ensure content and texts reflect student culture

• Staff at least one bilingual teacher in core content areas

• Offer independent reading opportunities in Spanish

• Provide after-school clubs where Spanish is spoken

• Incorporate Spanish into morning meeting, advisory

• Provide a Family Support Liaison

DSST: Campus SW Program

• Care about every student: strong student advisory

program (12:1 staff/student ratio)

• Strong academics: high expectations, high support

• Deep experience with students with special needs

(SPED)

• Targeted support and programming for English

Language Learners (ELL)

• Partnership with University

• STEM, arts programs offered

Top Schools in DPS

We operate 5 of the top 6

schools in Denver

Questionand

Answer

• Partnership with City Year - 1:10 adult to

student ratio

• Personalized Learning - a responsive

approach to teaching and learning

• Curriculum that has relevance and purpose

along with strong skill development

• All students will be biliterate by 12th grade

What makes Compass unique?

The Whole Student: Follow the Evidence

Academic Assessments and Supports

–MAP

–ACCESS

–PARCC

– Internal Interim Assessments

–Wednesday Seminars

–Student Data Teams

Social/Emotional Assessments and Supports

–Holistic Student Assessment (Harvard)

–CEFI

–Chicago 5

–Mindfulness

–Restorative Practices

Our Value to SW Denver Community

ELL Program

• Strong commitment to our ELL Plan in partnership with

DPS - seven months of hard work together.

• Compass has been vetted and approved by the district

and signed off on by both the ELA Department and DPS

Legal for being in compliance with the consent decree.

• Most importantly, our school culture and academic

model build on bilingualism and family as assets for

learning.

Students as Change Agents

• Service Learning - Compass Quest

• Leaders of Change - Learner & Leader Plan

Parent Involvement at Compass Academy

Parent liaisons to ensure engagement and a

voice in the governance of the school:

• Home visits

• Feedback from parents by parents

• School Accountability Committee

• Parents help us to network the community

resources

• Parent Literacy Nights

First Class Snapshot

• 122 6th graders enrolled

• 93% Hispanic, 10% SPED, 60% ELL,

94% FRL (still estimates on some figures)

• 17 students on the wait list

• 24 adults supporting our students

• 9 Teachers

• 8 City Year AmeriCorps Members

• 7 Leadership Team Members

Compass Academy Founding Class

Questionand

Answer

Denver School of History, Speech & Debate

CommunityEducation

Plan

TeachingLeadership Governance

Denver School of History, Speech & Debate

Questionand

Answer