bradley presents at national schools to watch conference
Sharing firsthand knowledge of how to create and sustain a successful middle school, a team of administrators from Bradley Middle School in North East ISD joined educators from schools across the country that have been nationally recognized as Schools to Watch through the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.
Principal Justin Oxley, Assistant Principal Scott Rogers, Assistant Principal Misty Ptasnik and Academic Dean Michele Castaneda traveled to Washington, D.C., June 23-25, 2011 to present in the Schools to Watch Conference and share success stories, strategies and information about raising student achievement and supporting positive student development in the middle grades.
The conference provided the Bradley team with the opportunity to learn from and network with their peers. It also allowed them to discuss best practices and recently introduced legislation, Success in the Middle, which focuses on improving low performing middle schools.
The team highlighted the primary purpose of the bill, which is to target resources for the lowest performing middle schools in a state to help ensure that all students exit the middle grades prepared for success in a high school that prepares them for post-secondary education and the workplace.
“I applaud the work of the talented educators recognized by the Schools to Watch program who work tirelessly to provide an environment for their students where they will not only succeed academically, but also prepares them for success in high school and beyond,” said Deborah Kasak, executive director, National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.
The Schools to Watch program identifies and honors schools nationally so all might learn how to achieve academic success through best practices for all young adolescents. Schools identified as Schools to Watch initiative are academically excellent- challenging all students to use their minds well; developmentally responsive – sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence; and socially equitable – democratic and fair, providing every student with high-quality teachers, resources and supports.
In order to achieve this level of performance, high-performing schools establish norms, structures and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence. They have a sense of purpose that drives every facet of practice and decision-making. The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform is an alliance of more than 60 educators, researchers, national associations, and officers of professional organizations and foundations committed to promoting the academic performance and healthy development of young adolescents. To learn more, visit www.mgforum.org or www.schooolstowatch.org.
Posted on July 5, 2011