Mission Statement: The New Bedford Leadership Academy (NBLA) is committed to developing a community of learners who are academically proficient, demonstrate strong character and exhibit self confidence. To that end, all stakeholders will be invited to assist NBLA in providing the necessary supports students require in order to realize individual potential and lead as effective citizens in the 21st century.
Vision Statement: New Bedford Leadership Academy students will demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, active leadership skills and exemplary citizenship preparing them for success in the 21st century.
The NBLA is an autonomous small learning community (SLC) which meets the social and emotional needs of all members and provides personalized instruction and leadership skills training in an academically challenging and innovative learning environment. The NBLA is committed to developing an academically proficient community of self-confident learners who demonstrate strength of character. NBLA students will reach academic proficiency as a result of the academy’s holistic approach to instruction focused on preparing students to lead in the 21st century. The following is a declaration of the NBLA commitment to students:
- NBLA promotes a college bound culture and inspires lifelong learning within students.
- NBLA embraces and supports development of each student’s unique leadership potential.
- NBLA fosters a united school community composed of students, staff, families and community partners.
The Leadership Academy pursues excellence in:
Academics: Instruction in all disciplines will be challenging, intellectually stimulating, and learning will bear relevance to students’ experiences in the 21st century real world. Course work will ready students for placement in post secondary level programs of study including English language, mathematics, sciences, technology, global studies, history, foreign language and professional leadership. Electives and Advanced Placement courses will be accessible to students through online courses, such as Virtual High School as well as dual enrollment where appropriate. Students will be encouraged to take ownership in learning through critical analysis and personal reflections which will assist in building students’ capacity for effective application of learning.
Research methods of note-taking, document analysis, inquiry skills, writing, and organization will be consistently employed across disciplines. Socratic methods of discussion will afford students the opportunity to explore and express ideas and perspectives in collaboration with peers. Students will learn to structure debates which creatively express a critical and accurate understanding of ideas and concepts. Clearly established criteria will be used to assess student learning demonstrated by student portfolio production and performance on state assessments, high school exit exams, and college entrance tests. Each year students will prepare an interdisciplinary portfolio providing evidence of content application and mastery. NBLA seniors will prepare a capstone project which will be presented to a panel consisting of school community stakeholders.
Leadership: The NBLA is committed to fostering development of each student’s unique leadership qualities as students engage in thematically focused leadership strand curriculum. Students will benefit from opportunities to apply acquired knowledge and skills through internships, community involvement and enrollment in higher education programs. Students will be valued stakeholders involved in all aspects of the school community while pursuing personal and academic goals and preparing for citizenship roles. NBLA will consistently model quality leadership and citizenship skills by creating a safe and supportive learning environment from which all stakeholders will benefit. Students will discover individual strengths and strive to overcome personal challenges as a result of the NBLA‘s commitment to personalized, innovative and holistic approach to teaching and learning. Each student’s identity as a competent, life-long learner and agent of positive change will be recognized.
Community: NBLA will recruit, train and develop a staff dedicated to upholding the NBLA mission and vision. Staff members are expected to be proficient in discipline fields and committed to excellence, continued study, and leadership modeling. Faculty and staff will engage in the learning process alongside students, recognizing and appreciating student ideas and abilities. Staff members will be accessible and approachable so that students are able to build trusting relationships with educators having the students’ best interest at heart.
All stakeholders will collaborate and share responsibility for the formation of an academic community based on mutual respect, friendship, communication and shared commitment to the vision of the NBLA community. NBLA will seek relationships with professionals and community groups interested in becoming part of our school community and willing to share professional expertise. Student success will be achieved also by welcoming parents on campus as partners ensuring a bridge of positive interactions is built between home and school.
As a result: NBLA success will be measured through alumni surveys which are expected to reveal a large percentage of alumni who pursued post secondary education and, or who entered fields most closely matched to individual strengths and interests. Alumni will prove to be effective leaders within the community and experience great personal satisfaction.
