SCCPSS PARTNERSHIP Ombudsman Update October 2, 2013 LEADERSHIP John - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SCCPSS PARTNERSHIP Ombudsman Update October 2, 2013

LEADERSHIP John K. Wacha Assistant Vice President, Center Operations • 10 years experience in Alternative Education as a Center Director, Operations Manager and AVP • Responsible for successfully opening over 60 alternative schools in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Nebraska • Retired First Sergeant, Army National Guard 2002

LEADERSHIP Rashada Tedder Alternative Education Administrator: • Fifteen years education experience with fourteen years working in large urban school districts • Successful experience in middle and high school environments as a mentor teacher, alternative middle school director, district instructional specialist, New Leaders for New Schools resident principal, and high school principal • Joined Ombudsman last year as Savannah East Center Director

UPDATE • Planning for Success • Learning Environment • Academics • Student Commitment

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS • Savannah Center Directors participated in Professional Development training • All Savannah staff completed 80 hours of induction training • Mentors assigned to Savannah Center Directors • Provided Direct Instruction Remediation Program training • Implemented research-based instructional strategies • Regional Trainer assigned to Savannah centers • Adopted a plan for transition criteria • Identified high-intensity and low-intensity centers

TRAINING Director Workshop – July 2013

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS & SUPPORTS • Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) provide a framework for addressing the behavioral needs of students. Within the PBIS framework different levels of interventions are developed for students based on their needs. • Outcomes of PBIS: • Behavioral Expectations are Defined. • Behavioral Expectations are Taught. • Appropriate Behaviors are Acknowledged. • Behavior Errors are Corrected Proactively.

WRAP AROUND SERVICES PILOT PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTH FUTURES AUTHORITY • Focus on the high-intensity center • Behavioral Health Services • Mentoring • Anger Management and Conflict Resolution • Workforce Development • Parenting Skills • Academic Tutoring

ACADEMICS • All centers have developed a master schedule that includes teacher led instruction 60% of the school day. • The schedules include 45 minutes of Reading Plus daily during the high school sessions and 90 minutes of math and reading remediation during the middle school sessions. • Ombudsman and Savannah-Chatham worked together to enhance our Aplus program to align with the district’s Twilight program. • Continue use of Study Island as well as the implementation of USA Test prep for additional enrichment and remediation activities. • Implementation of weekly progress monitoring of student academics.

DIRECT INSTRUCTION OVERVIEW BASIC READING AND MATH SKILLS REMEDIATION • Explicit, scientifically validated and evidence-based model of effective instruction. • System of teaching that attempts to control all the variables that make a difference in the performance of children. • Can be distinguished from other models of explicit instruction by its focus on curriculum design and effective instructional delivery. • DI programs are published by Science Research Associates (SRA)

2012-2013 YEAR DATA • Attendance improved by 4% to 74%. • Discipline referrals decreased by 30% to 13%. • CRCT pass rate improved in 73% of content areas. • EOCT pass rate improved in 50% of content areas. • Basic reading skills improved for 13% of total students enrolled.

ATTENDANCE Attendance Per Center* Ombudsman Attendance* <1% 2% 9% 95% 93% 91% 90% 89% 86% 85% 85% 80% Present Excused Unexcused Suspension *Data based on first 25 days of school.

CENTER SAFETY/DISCIPLINE • Consistent implementation of PBIS and transition criteria. • A full-time behavior specialist has been placed at our high-intensity center. • All alternative centers have police officers on duty throughout the day. • Students are scanned with a metal detector upon entry into the centers. LIFE SKILLS ACTIVITIES • Students participate in life skill lessons weekly. • Skillstreaming problem-solving protocol is used to guide students through scenario-based discussions. • Our guidance counselor conducts small group sessions on organization skills as well as college and career readiness.

BEHAVIOR Suspension Days <1% 99% Non-Suspension Days Total Days Enrolled: 3961 Total Number of Suspension Days: 10 Suspension Days (.25%)

READING PLUS In the first 25 days of school, 38% of our students have improved their reading skills by at least one grade level. According to Reading Plus, number of words read in the first 25 days of school: 2,132,239

A LASTING IMPRESSION Dear Faculty and Staff of Ombudsman Alternative, Coming to Ombudsman Educational Services has changed me and my life tremendously and I have you all to thank! Since I started at Ombudsman, each of you have played an important role in my education and the successful completion of my senior year. I just want to formally thank all of you for the dedication and efforts you have put towards the well-being of my life after high school. You are greatly appreciated and shall never be forgotten. Special thanks to [my teachers]. Sincerely, Marcus S. Washington