School Improvement
September 27, 2015
School Improvement is a continuous cycle of examining our district to determine our areas of strength and how to sustain those areas, as well as, identify areas in need of improvement and determine actions to be taken. Over the past year, the faculty and staff have been focusing efforts on our own self-assessment of the district. The self-assessment is a an in-depth evaluation of each of the five AdvancED Standards for Quality, that are the foundation of the AdvancED accreditation process. Each standard has several indicators with performance levels that describe varying degrees of accomplishment. Five groups have been meeting for discussions and collecting evidence to support our self-ratings on the Five Standards. The committees for each of the standards are as follows:
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Standard 1: Purpose and Direction The school maintains and communicates a purpose and direction that commit to high expectations for learning as well as shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning. |
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Chairs: Gail Hutt and Tanya Crotty Members: Barb Gottula, Susie Lacey, Tom Doran, Dean Wellensiek, Diane Wilken, Casey Fricke, Kathie Grotrian, Joni Fox, Lisa Weber, Daisy Mejia, Stacie Lada, Alison Jackson, Karla Benson |
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Standard 2: Governance and Leadership The school operates under governance and leadership that promote and support student performance and school effectiveness. |
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Chairs: Shelley Moles and Maggie Rother Members: Jo Gadeken, Lavinia Doeden, Ron Kothe, Jackie Parrish, Judi Borrenpohl, Ruth Bray, Jeff Robeson, Reid Genuchi, Mary Teten, Greg Hunzeker, Heather Clements, Mike Gerdes, Kris Farris, Lavonne Niedermeyer |
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Standard 3: Teaching and Assessing for Learning The school’s curriculum, instructional design and assessment practices guide and insure teacher effectiveness and student learning. |
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Chairs: Nick Weber, Lisa Othmer, Dustin Buggi Members: Robin Heidemann, Teresa Goracke, Kayleen Doeden, Candy Laue, Tania Durre, Christy Hodges, Angie Huskey, Colleen Naber, Susan Dieckgrafe, Julie Tubbesing, Rachel Walters, Lisa Schuster, Beckie Robeson, Kelli Dorsey, Emily Lubben, Ben Swanson, Linda Goracke, Kathy Phillippi, Julie North, Stephanie Berkebile, Emily Fricke, Joan Peters, Laurie Badertscher |
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Standard 4: Resources and Support Systems The school has resources and provides services that support its purpose and direction to ensure success for all students. |
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Chairs: Rebecca Kling and Jeanette Palmer Members: Abby Klaasmeyer, Sue Borcher, Ashley Juilfs, Mandy Goodrich, Brie Stephens, Connie Watson, Vicki Mulholland, Lisa Kuhl, Cheryl Grove, Sally Hutt, Linsey Meints, Beth Rumery, Kim Ellicott, Michelle Borrenpohl, Devon Roesener |
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Standard 5: Using Results for Continuous Improvement The school implements a comprehensive assessment system that generates a range of data about student learning and school effectiveness and uses the results to guide continuous improvement. |
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Chairs: Marsha Bacon and Marcus Scheer Members: Julie Damme, Nichole Justesen, Alta Bohling, Kirk Faris, Carol Hemmingsen, Tina Richardson, Vicky Boone, Karen Hunzeker |
As the committees have been working, they have shared some of the data collected, and a few actions have already taken place. Teachers felt that having a formal mentoring program will benefit teachers new to Johnson County Central. This fall, a mentoring program was implemented, and as a result, each new teacher has a veteran teacher to help them navigate through their first year.
Teachers also showed concern for knowing how to read and evaluate student data for decision-making in their classrooms. This fall, our district implemented a mini-data retreat held in August before the start of the school year. Teachers had access to NeSA and MAP data to give them a picture of how students are scoring on those assessments. We have also started a new “database” storing student data that can be accessed easily by classroom teachers.
Another concern involves the use of technology in classrooms. JCC already has a 1:1 initiative with iPads at the high school level. The district is planning to get more iPads in the hands of the middle school students. At the same time, the district is planning to make iPads available on carts that elementary teachers can utilize for classroom instruction.
These are just a few of the ideas that came from the self-assessment. The faculty and staff will be discussing the information obtained from the self-assessment and presenting this information to the school improvement team that will be conducting the AdvancED External Review on April 11-13, 2016.