NABSE School Tours Tour # 1 STEM Focused Schools Hattie Cotton STEM Magnet Elementary Elnora Furdge-Mitchell Hattie Cotton is focusing on the first theme for this school year entitled Friends Far and Near. The Project Based Learning projects will emphasize reading integrated with STEM. The final project will be a book created by each classroom. Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School Dr. Christian Sawyer This tour will showcase the STEM FUNdamentals, the Vanderbilt Scientist on staff and the Project Based Learning Initiatives. At Bailey STEM Magnet we develop and nurture the internal brilliance of all our scholars by encouraging them to THINK, EXPLORE, ANALYZE, INVENT, and SOLVE. Stratford STEM Magnet High School Michael Steele Stratford High School opened in 1961. The school's facilities sit on 30 acres, which include a baseball field, football field with practice area, and ample parking. The school is a recipient of Race to the Top (RTTT) funds and Magnet School funds. These sources of funding have been used to improve classrooms, provide professional development, and develop the school into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) themed academies: The Academy of Science and Engineering, The Academy of National Safety and Security Technologies, and the Freshman Academy. Pathways include engineering, interdisciplinary science research, and more. Further renovations include the expansion of the thriving criminal justice pathway and creating pathways for teaching bio-technology and computer gaming and simulation. The Martha O'Bryan Center opened the "Top Floor" in October of 2010, providing after-school tutoring and ACT preparation for students at Stratford. They are housed within the school building, utilizing a second floor mezzanine area. There is a lounge area, enrichment, tutoring, college help, and a computer lab. They offer work-ready programs where they build relationships with employers and national career advancement centers. Tour # 2 Non-Traditional High Schools MLK Jr. Magnet High School Dr. Shunn Turner Great to Royal, How MLK is providing rigor for exceptional students.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet emphasizes scientific research, mathematics and an advanced placement curriculum, which are designed to give students a competitive edge in post-secondary institutions. The MLK student matriculates through six years of mathematics and science, inclusive of physics and AP Calculus. The rigorous fouryear engineering program integrates mathematics and science in a state of the art computer lab. MLK students design and present award-winning engineering projects. The school tour will focus on key areas of our school where students will be engaged in highly engaging instruction and study. You will tour our Math and Science classrooms; award winning Music (band and orchestra) classes; and the historic Pearl High School archives. Pearl Cohn High School Sonia Stewart Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School is the only Entertainment themed public high school in the country. Through the magnet themed academies, our school program equips students with the 21 st century skills necessary to be successful within the global economy. Pearl-Cohn students are exposed to the components of the entertainment industry including audio engineering, radio and television broadcasting, record production, songwriting, style and imaging, media publishing, marketing, and the record industry. The tour will highlight: State of the art Television Station (donated by the Golf Channel) Audio Engineering Lab with adjoining studio and recording rooms Personal Care Lab dedicated to students studying Stylist & Image Consulting Marketing Program Student Record Label Collaboration with Warner Music Nashville and Music Makes Us Pearl-Cohn offers entertainment themed pathways aligned with industry standards. The program includes audio technology, song writing, a student run record label, and an Emmy winning broadcasting production. W.A. Bass Learning Center Henry Johnson Bass Learning Center is a combination of three separate yet innovative programs. The Bass Alternative Learning High School is a unique environment where students who have been removed from a regular school setting receive academic and social mentoring and instruction. The goal of Bass ALC staff is to prepare students to achieve academically and learn to make better choices. Also housed in the Bass Learning Center is the Transition School. The Transition School began two years ago with Mr. Johnson as the Coordinator. Transition School provides individual mentoring, service learning, social counseling and academic instruction for students who are returning to the MNPS school setting from the Juvenile Justice System or
DCS Custody. Students are admitted to the school through an application process. Finally, Bass Learning Center is also home to the only MNPS Adult High School. Formerly Cohn High School, Bass Adult High School offers adults a second chance to obtain a regular high school diploma. Bass Adult High School is truly an asset to the Nashville community and Davidson County. The most important features of our program are individualized planning for each student s personal needs, team planning for the utilization of innovative interventions, and a compassionate staff with expertise in working with at risk populations. Our session will consist of a brief synopsis of our school presented by Mr. Henry Johnson. Mr. Johnson will be available for questions and additional discussions of interest. Tour # 3 International Schools Title of tour: Glenview Elementary School Claudia Russell Glimpse of the New America This is one of the largest ELL centers in the state of Tennessee, we also have the largest population of students from Egypt at the elementary level. We currently have over 300 students that are Arabic speakers in addition to the large Spanish population of students. We have the only approved Boys and Girls club site in MNPS, we have two after school programs which are federally funded; LEAP and GoldStar. We have two computer labs available for student use. Glenview Elementary School has approximately 780 students. There are 14 different languages spoken by faculty and students of the school. English as a second language has been the process for more than 80% of students enrolled in Glenview for the last 4 years. All students live within a mile and half of the school. The school has a garden and is a relative new facility of 6 years with 13 new rooms added just last school year. Glencliff High School Clint Wilson Pathways to Success Glencliff High School is one of the most diverse schools in the state of Tennessee. There are over 42 different nationalities and 26 languages represented in our student population. That diversity makes Glencliff a very unique and exciting community to teach and learn. We view our diversity as a strength that allows us to provide an educational setting that truly addresses a global society. The administration and staff of Glencliff embrace the changing demographics of our community and set high expectations for student performance and behavior. At Glencliff, we recognize that students are driven by a technological society; therefore, technology is integrated into the educational experience in both instructional and/or research settings.
In 1989, Glencliff was recognized as a National School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2011 GHS was the recipient of the National Community Schools Award for Excellence by the Coalition for Community Schools. Glencliff s focus on achieving results for all students, our wonderful partnerships, and our focus on engaging families and the community are a testament to the strong foundation and dedication that Glencliff has built around the community school curriculum. Glencliff is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools with commendations for the programs and services provided. Several unique features that set GHS apart from other schools include the following: an on-site health clinic open for students, teachers, and the community; an outdoor classroom; and a community garden club. Further, Glencliff students are encouraged to serve as leaders in our school and to participate in activities that extend the scope of their education. Glencliff students currently participate in the Mayor s Youth Council, International Teen Outreach Program, Future Business Leaders of America, Youth In Government, Community Nashville, Hands-on-Nashville, United Nations, AVID and a host of other clubs and organizations. In the fall of 2008, Glencliff High School implemented Career Academies as a part of MNPS s high school redesign program. Students have the opportunity to receive training and instruction in the areas of: Health Sciences, Human Services, Hospitality and Marketing, Business Management and Administration and Environmental and Urban Planning. The Career Academy curriculum provides students the opportunity to work with professionals in their respective fields while allowing students to develop the skills necessary for them to enter the work force or attend college to pursue post-secondary training and education. We are proud to say that Glencliff offers the only ACF certified culinary arts program in the state of Tennessee. Additionally, Glencliff also houses a district award winning Freshman Academy with an advisory program to provide more support and assistance to freshman students. This additional support increases the likelihood of academic success for first time ninth graders. Wright Middle School Jud Haynie Professional Learning Communities at Work Wright Middle was in the lowest tier of middle schools in the state of Tennessee four years ago. Terms like high priority, restructuring/reconstituting, failing school, state take-over, charter location were common place. And then something happened. Professional Learning Communities were introduced to the faculty. Since that time, this middle school is off of all lists that imply failure. It is in the top 3 middle schools for improved math scores. When you ask teachers, students and parents, the most common response is teachers taking time to build relationships and PLC s. During this tour participants will visit grade level PLC s at work. You will see content-specific planning
and communication that has transformed the Wright learning community into one of improved student achievement and school pride. Participants will observe collaborative planning and sharing of best practices in the classroom. Participants will observe a highly effective academic coaching model that is the foundation of Wright s improved status. Professional Learning Communities can transform a struggling faculty to one that provides students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning. At Wright Middle such a transformation has occurred. A school that was recently target for state takeover is now one of the top performing middle schools in MNPS. Come observe professional learning communities in action. Tour # 4 Elementary Schools J.E. Moss Elementary School Dr. Carlos Comer Addressing Student Diversity through the PLC Framework At JE Moss Elementary School, our vision is to maximize the potential of every student. We are one of the largest, ethnically diverse elementary schools in our district serving more than 15 different nationalities. In an effort to better serve our students, we have embraced the Professional Learning Community Framework which serves as our guide for making decisions regarding teaching and learning. One very unique feature of our school is our learning pods which are based on the school within a school concept model. Our learning pods provide a framework which we use to raise the affective filter of our students and address their varied learning needs through differentiation. Key program features 7 highlights: Professional Learning Communities Learning Pods Effective use of Instructional Coaching Data Driven Instructional Decision Making Effective use of Common Assessments JE Moss Elementary School employs the Professional Learning Community Framework to address challenges that are unique to many urban schools with large populations of English Learners. Visitors will be able to observe practical PLC strategies that are used to support student learning. Chadwell Elementary Renita Perkins Chadwell Elementary, School of Excellence Chadwell Elementary has made great strides in the past three years. The school has gone from the status of School Improvement II in 2010-11 to good standing in 2011-12. In 2012 our test scores in reading increased by 22.5 % and by 12.5% in math. Out of 113 schools Chadwell Elementary went from 54 in 2011 #31 in 2012. We
contribute these gains to a lot hard work, collaboration, professional development, new programs implemented with fidelity and a shift in school culture. School wide emphasis on higher level thinking questioning and response. School wide continuous focus on particular skills utilizing the calendar. (All hands on deck Focused Calendar) Every child, everyday working on mastery. Implementation with fidelity, a comprehension program called HeadSprout, which guarantees to yield great gains. Data meetings once a month for all grade levels. Data days for the 3 rd and 4 th grade teachers to strictly study their data and plan accordingly. Persistent and ongoing data checks and follow-up with a plan of action. Data chats between the students and the teachers. A road map for achievement is created by the teachers. The teacher s conference with each student to help them understand where they are, where they need to be and what efforts are required to get them there. Implementation of the Leaps Program. Chadwell received a grant that allows Chadwell s teachers to provide additional instruction, homework assistance and enrichment to academically struggling students in the third and fourth grade before and after school, Monday through Thursday. Through this journey of academic excellence, we have learned that the quality of teaching is the direct result of the quantity of the students that become proficient or advanced. Jones Elementary Paideia Magnet Dr. Debra Smith Jones Paideia Magnet School is one of the two Paideia schools in the elementary tier. We believe all children s voice matters. We practice rigorous dialogue and critical thinking. Three types of teaching occur in our school: didactic teaching of subject matter, coaching that produces the skills of learning, and Socratic questioning in seminar discussion. Our mission is to address the needs of the whole child in a nurturing environment that develops intelligence, creativity, and productive citizenship. During this session, teachers will focus on Socratic questioning in a Seminar discussion. Paideia Seminar is a collaborative, intellectual dialogue facilitated by open-ended questions about text. It nurtures both intellectual and social skills.
Tour # 5 High Schools Cane Ridge High School Michel Wall Our ultimate goal to provide an environment that is rich in academic and career technology offerings. Students will graduate with the academic and social skills expected to become competitive members in our global society. The 9th grade academy is a smaller learning community in which first-time 9th graders are separated from the rest of the school and taught by teams of teachers. The 9th Grade Academy is focused on helping students make a smoother and more positive transition to high school. In addition to a rigorous academic core of courses (including Honors and Advanced Placement courses for students in all Career Academies), each student will follow a career focus of interest during his/her years of high school. McGavock High School Robin Wall The Academies of Nashville at McGavock High School The Academies of Nashville at McGavock have been implemented with fidelity to the principles of small learning communities. Inter-disciplinary teams of teachers working with business partners plan rigorous, relevant curriculum and experiential learning opportunities for students interested in career pathways in each academy. Profile of McGavock Redesigning from a Comprehensive High School to an Academy Structure: Freshman Academy; Career Academies Distributive Leadership Master Schedule Transforming Teaching and Learning Project-based Learning Experiential Learning: Tour, Job Shadow, Internship or Capstone Sustaining Change through Business and Civic Engagement Business Partnerships and Advisory Boards Business Partners and Student Ambassadors McGavock High School is rapidly becoming a school of choice because of significant gains in student achievement. Learn how implementing career academies with fidelity to the principles of smaller learning communities and the three strands of the Ford PAS Next Generation Learning are creating a college and career ready environment in a high priority school. Maplewood High School Ron Woodard
Maplewood High School is striving day by day to be a center of educational excellence. The objective is to prepare young people for their future roles as college students, service members, capable employees and good citizens. Maplewood also recognizes each student as one who has individual needs and aspirations. A highly dedicated faculty has helped to provide opportunities for students to make amazing progress while keeping in mind that it is essential to sustain achievement. A close look at student test results show continuous improvement in meeting state benchmarks and individual goals. We have several academies that are thriving and will be showcased during the tour; The Academy of Business & Consumer Science The Academy of Energy & Power The Academy of Sports Medicine & Wellness. Tour # 6 Middle Schools DuPont Tyler Middle School Jamila Martin Technology in the Classroom Our school has access to various media such as CPS response systems and MOBI boards. Our teachers and students integrate media into various lessons and projects. J.F. Kennedy Middle School Sam Braden Big School with a Personalized Touch John F. Kennedy Middle School is one of the largest middle schools in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools with a school population of over 800 students. As a school, we believe every day is a first day and your child is our child. We believe in shared leadership and pride ourselves in providing a quality education that meets the needs of each individual student. At JFK, we offer high school credit classes in Algebra, Physical Science and Spanish. We also have a superior music program which always receives the highest commendations at festivals. Along with the core classes JFK offers classes in creative writing, keyboarding and health as well as intervention programs such as Reasoning Minds for 5 th grades, Think Through Math 6 th through 8 th grade and Wilson Reading for intensified reading support. As you can see, John F. Kennedy Middle School is a Big School with a Personalized Touch. Deployed Leadership (Shared Leadership) School Culture and Climate Quality Foreign Language Classes
Music Education Literacy and Math Instruction Student Engagement in Science and Social Studies One of the components to running an effective school is shared leadership and empowerment of all stakeholders. John F. Kennedy Middle School is a Big School with a Personalized Touch. During your visit you will see the effects of Deployed Leadership on a large school which is effectively meeting the needs of all learners. Isaac Litton Middle School Tracy Bruno Isaac Litton Middle School is one of only two STEM-themed middle schools in MNPS. ILMS just underwent a multi-million dollar renovation that included new classrooms, a new band room and chorus room. It also included an upgrade in technology. All classrooms now have LCD projectors and we just ordered interactive Smart Boards for every classroom. We have five classroom sets of ipads the teachers check out for student use and two netbook carts. We have a band program that boasts a membership of nearly 1/3 of the entire student population. Our STEM related arts class engages in many handson activities such as building survival shelters and studying the sun with special telescopes. We also have a Vanderbilt scientist that co-teaches one day a week. Also we are a certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) school which means our building is green. STEM projects Band Program Integration of Technology Our partnership with Vanderbilt Visitors will be escorted through the building by our boy s group, Junior Men of Valor. During the tour, groups will visit classrooms where students engage in hands-on science and engineering activities. Visitors will also see the use of student technology used on a daily basis in the classroom and there will be a Q and A about our LEED certification (what makes Litton one of the few certified green schools in Nashville. There will also be a performance by our band program.