A Sampling of School Year 2019 – 2020 Accomplishments
Innovation
- Converted Harding Elementary School media space into a maker space to create a 21st Century learning environment.
- Transitioned a Gifted & Talent teacher into STEM teacher to provide students with design challenges and STEM thinking.
- Began work towards getting our schools Future Ready certified.
- Laid the groundwork for a new Technology Facilitator who will provide ongoing coaching to teachers to advance our technology practices, a key position for an increasingly tech-reliant world.
- Worked to expand the Computer Science program at Brearley for 2020-21.
- Created the foundation for our 1:1 Chromebook program, which will equip every student with a Chromebook in grades 7-12 next school year.
- Leveraged distance learning to increase our reliance on technology tools and practices to include: virtual professional learning, Seesaw in grades K-2 and Google Classroom in grades 3-12 as online learning management systems.
Curriculum & Instruction
- Supported the work and expansion of Pre-Kindergarten, particularly by adopting the research-based program Tools of the Mind. Also, we offered free pre-school.
- Trained all K-1 teachers in the Orton Gillingham approach to reading instruction, a scientifically-supported word study program.
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Began moving toward a more balanced literacy model in grades K-6 by taking preparatory measures to adopt readers/writers workshop.
- Extended the use of Go-Math from Kindergarten through Grade 7 to provide a continuous math program; it will expand to grade 8 next year.
- Created the foundation to advance towards standards-based report cards in K-3 for 2020-21.
- Created foundation/case for support to move towards marking period trimesters, as opposed to quarters, for grades 1-6 next year.
- Wrote, or revised, dozens of new curriculum guides to incorporate proven methods for meeting the educational demands of today and tomorrow.
Staff & Professional Development
- Hired several new administrators including an Assistant Principal for Brearley Middle-High School and a Director of Student Personnel Services, both of whom will support the instructional staff for a better educational experience.
- Through the director and teachers/faculty members in the student personnel services department, widened our efforts and focus on social emotional learning, which has a proven positive impact on academic achievement.
- Introduced Ed. Camps as a way of re-framing Professional Learning in our district.
- Provided professional development in culture responsiveness with Ali Michael.
- Began work with the NJ Coalition for Inclusive Education to better support teaching and learning that provides for differentiation, accommodations and modifications.
Community & Communication
- Resuscitated and expanded the Kenilworth district’s social media usage to reach stakeholders more often, sharing news and kudos through campaigns such as Kenilworth Shouts Out.
- Redesigned the KenilworthSchools.com website to provide more information and make the site more user friendly.
- Galvanized the Special Education Parent Advisory Group to improve two-way communication with parents.
- Increased communication from the Superintendent to share district-to-home news.
- More thoughtfully designed District Goals, including action plans and a SMART method of goal-setting.
- Developed a more formal system of providing the community with a summary of actions taken by the Board of Education via a monthly Board of Education Bulletin.
- Organized the dissemination of district news through the implementation of a Friday Folder.