Vision: The vision for New Bedford Public School’s students, as stated in the district’s newly adopted Three Year Strategic Plan reads as follows, “As whaler’s provided light to the world, so shall New Bedford students shine with academic excellence.” The focus of the Strategic Plan is to identify and meet the needs of all, and each individual, learners by focusing on 21st Century curriculum and skills. Toward this end, the district recognizes the need to restructure the existing 2,800-student comprehensive high school into smaller learning communities designed to provide meaningful learning experiences through innovative curriculum and instruction for students and to measure and monitor learning through multiple assessment strategies and a comprehensive accountability system.
Rationale: As is the case in many comprehensive urban high schools, the existing New Bedford High School is plagued by issues of poor student achievement and dropout rates in excess of 40%. To overcome the institutional nature of the many roadblocks that have led to this state, a complete re-invention and break with past policies, structures, and practices is required. The autonomies inherent within a Readiness Advantage School model provide excellent vehicles for deep, meaningful change.
Specifically, the Readiness Advantage School structure will provide the autonomies and support to achieve the goals of the district Strategic Plan and Vision in four critical areas: 1) empowerment of teacher-leaders vs. a top-down, hierarchical administrative/management/governance structure; 2) centers of learning for the “whole child” with innovative curriculum (e.g., standards-based, UbD, project based, thematic, real-world) and teaching (e.g., inquiry, creative and critical thinking) vs. the current compliance model focused on the traditional textbook and lecture-heavy instruction; 3) engagement, motivation, achievement, and college readiness for all students vs. a continued high drop-out rate; 4) engagement and development of student leaders for (school and community leadership, civic engagement, business entrepreneurialism, educational leadership, and more) vs. the traditional adult-centered school and community.
Leadership Academy Vision: In the spring of 2009, the Restructuring Committee developed a shared vision for the high school that would guide decisions, create and sustain common values, and establish long-term objectives. We stated that the vision of New Bedford High School is to provide a supportive and enriching environment in order for all students to prepare themselves with the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century. Building on this process and content, the summer design team developed a vision for our proposed Readiness Advantage School model. We believe strongly that the vision of the New Bedford High School Leadership Academy is to provide a holistic and innovative approach to learning, providing our community with scholars prepared to lead in the 21st century.
About Administrator
