Executive Summary: The New Bedford Leadership Academy (NBLA) is a highly collaborative teacher-led autonomous small learning community set within a reserved area of the existing New Bedford High School facility located at 230 Hathaway Boulevard in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Our education community is comprised of professional educators supporting 125 students.
Currently New Bedford High School (NBHS) is experiencing academic, financial and behavioral challenges which directly impact student population, faculty, and the entire NBHS community. NBHS suffers from a high dropout rate, large numbers of failure in core subjects, low MCAS scores, and fails to meet average yearly progress goals in Math, English Language Arts, and attendance. In 2009, New Bedford High School was deemed chronically underperforming by the state of Massachusetts. Although these challenges are deeply entrenched and wide in scope, its designers believe the NBLA is the first essential step toward positive, long term change.
The mission of NBLA aligns with the district, which is ‘We are committed to developing a community of learners who are academically proficient, demonstrate strong character and exhibit self confidence.’ The proposed academy will accomplish its mission by involving stakeholders in providing the support students require in order to realize their individual potential. The vision of NBLA is to maintain an autonomous small learning community (SLC) which provides personalized instruction and leadership skills training in an academically challenging and innovative learning environment. The academy will enable students to become well-adjusted, high functioning adults able to lead effectively in the 21st century. Educators in the NBLA will possess the knowledge, skills, and values required to achieve its vision and mission.
The NBLA curriculum and instruction will employ integrated, inquiry-based, and constructivist strategies delivering relevant content across disciplines. Students will work collaboratively, lead by example, take initiative, demonstrate entrepreneurship, and gather and analyze information. Development of higher level, critical thinking and real-world problem solving will be an integral part of planning and facilitating lessons. Standards-based instructional systems will be fully integrated in delivering and assessing classroom learning. Daily lessons, activities and projects of all classes will thoroughly integrate leadership skills and values. Specific leadership strands – law and criminal justice, education, business, politics, health, and community-activism – will inspire student internships, graduation portfolio projects, and community partnerships.
The NBLA will offer five blocks with 67 minutes per block. Students will have an advising leadership block each day to facilitate leadership electives with the assistance of a staff advisor. The NBLA design team is composed of teachers, administrators and community leaders who recognize the critical need for change and are committed to the success of the proposed academy. The design team’s collective vision is one founded on practical teaching experience, demonstrated commitment to the execution of NBLA mission, and adherence to progressive, research-based education. Members of the design team consistently strive to make a positive impact on the lives of students and express a genuine passion to lead the NBLA school community toward excellence. Members of the design team are certified by the state of Massachusetts in respective content areas and, in some cases, possess dual licensure as well as having experience teaching students with diverse backgrounds and academic abilities.
Read the whole prospectus here: http://www.engineofsouls.com/file-323.pdf
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