BOE Goals
- Develop district wide coherence and implementation around Critical Thinking using our Critical Thinking Global Competency Rubric.
Focus Areas Addressed: All Students Can Learn, STEM & Personalized Learning
- Enhance our Scientifically Research Based Intervention (SRBI) systems to support the social emotional needs of our learners and to develop a respectful district-wide culture that supports diversity.
Focus Area Addressed: All Students Can Learn
- Renovation of Rockwell and Johnson Schools. Focus Area Addressed: Infrastructure
2017-2018 Superintendent’s Theory of Action
If we provide rigorous instruction and strengthen opportunities for critical thinking, then we will develop the global competencies of our students and enhance student outcomes.
Rationale for Goals
Critical Thinking
The mission of the Bethel Public Schools is to ensure that all of our graduates have the ability to think critically. It was developed as a Global Competency as it is a foundational skill for college and career readiness. While the Global Competency Rubrics were introduced last school year, the system needs to develop a common understanding of the rubrics, implications for teaching and learning, and provide more frequent instructional activities to demonstrate those
competencies. We have begun work as a system in embedding critical thinking tasks, resources, and the critical thinking rubric into the curriculum. Each school has made the development of critical thinking skills a central part of their School Improvement Plan, focused on developing coherence for instructional implications and calibration of the rubric. We believe that a focus on critical thinking will increase the rigor in Tier 1 instruction and support our All Students Can Learn, STEM, and Personalized Learning Initiatives.
Social Emotional SRBI and School Wide Culture
Last school year, we focused on enhancing staff understanding of executive functioning and the impact on instruction. We also began discussions on how to develop systems for a more robust social - emotional SRBI process. We would like to continue to develop that work for the 2017-2018 school year. In addition, the Bethel Public Schools value a diversity in background. We strive to promote that culture so all students, staff, and families feel accepted and safe in our learning environment. We would like to develop and implement further strategies which promote those values across all settings.
Renovation Projects
This project has been going on since 2010. Both Rockwell (1971) and Johnson Schools (1980) have failing infrastructures, nor do they meet the needs of today’s learners. In June of 2017, we filed with the Office of School Construction for both projects. With a successful referendum we will work through the State of Connecticut, School Construction grant process, and begin planning for construction to begin in the summer of 2018.