Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech Strategic Plan 2024-2028
Building on our Successes for a Better Tomorrow
Prepared by Michael Watson, Superintendent
Acknowledgements
The strategic planning team composed of teachers, teaching assistants, and district and school administrators met seven times beginning in January to meticulously develop our strategic plan. The meetings held in January, March, April, May, twice in June, and July, were marked by a spirit of collaboration and dedication. The team members included Erin Marcotte, Michael Meriano, Shannon Schabek, Robert Southerland, Joy Southworth, Santiago Ortiz and Michael Perry (Instructional Staff), Warley Williams (Principal), Pamela Stuart (Business Manager), Robert Watt (Exec. Dir. of Operations & Compliance), Erin Ptaszenski (Exec. Dir. of Student Services), Yolanda Dennis (Dir. of DEI), Maciel Pais (Information Technology and Digital Learning Director), Derek Medeiros (Assistant Principal), Cathie Rebelo (Dir. of CTE Programs), Helder Angelo ( Dir. of Academics) Ryan Methia (Athletic Director), Margaret Thurbide (Guidance Coordinator), Beverly Rebelo (Academy D Coordinator), Jeffrey Wildrick (Academy A Coordinator), Greg Haley (Math Dept. Head), and Mke Watson (Superintendent). The team’s thoughtful and professional approach has been instrumental in crafting a comprehensive and forward-thinking plan. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each member for their unwavering commitment and hard work in shaping a brighter future for our district.
Introduction
In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, our mission is clear: every decision must benefit our students. This guiding principle ensures that every strategic initiative we undertake is focused on enhancing student outcomes. By emphasizing the direct impact on students, we shift our decision-making process from abstract goals to tangible benefits, creating a unified vision where everyone is motivated by the same objective: improving student success.
At the heart of our educational success are our dedicated teachers, counselors, and support staff whose passion and commitment are the lifeblood of our institution. The world of education has changed considerably with the Covid-19 pandemic, the advent of AI tools, and evolving instructional practices. Our educators are on the front lines, adapting to these changes with remarkable resilience and dedication. They engage in professional development with greater frequency than ever before, equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the shifting educational landscape. This commitment to continuous learning ensures that they provide the highest quality education to our students, embracing new technologies, innovative methods, and inclusive practices. Supporting them in this crucial work by providing resources, training, and encouragement ensures they continue to inspire and educate effectively.
Creating a comfortable school environment hinges on sharing, learning, and synchronicity. It prompts us to stay present and deliberate, considering what we can implement tomorrow that was not done today. This proactive thinking fosters a blend of safety and bravery—spaces where dreams are drafted without restriction, distilled to their essence, and delivered in achievable increments. By continually evaluating and adjusting our instructional strategies and student support services, we ensure that all students are on track to meet learning objectives.
Progress Since 2021
Our school has recently undergone significant leadership restructuring to enhance efficiency and better support our students. At the heart of this reorganization is the one-principal model, thereby placing an emphasis on his role as an instructional leader supported by our Academic and Career Technical Education Directors. These directors supervise the academy administrators and department chairs in everyday school operations, ensuring smooth and effective management at the school level. Alongside these changes in school operations, district operations have also been revamped. Three executive directors, operating on the district side and reporting directly to the Superintendent, support school leaders by providing tools for operational improvement, ensuring consistency and compliance, and enhancing student support services. Our Executive Directors are committed to supporting the policy directives of the Superintendent and collaborating with school leaders to ensure a clear and cohesive message from operations to execution.
While school-level leaders focus on executing day-to-day operations, district leaders concentrate on charting a sustainable path that supports ongoing operations. The integration of guidance, special education, EL students, and nursing under the Executive Director of Student Services provides comprehensive support to our diverse student body, addressing their holistic needs to enable academic, social, and emotional growth. The Executive Director of Operations, Technology, and Digital Learning plays a pivotal role in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations. Recognizing the importance of technology, this position has been expanded to include school operations, ensuring our technological infrastructure supports both administrative functions and classroom activities. The Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance oversees district-wide compliance, ensuring our policies and practices are inclusive and equitable, fostering an environment where all students feel valued and supported. This leadership restructuring directly complements our ongoing efforts to enhance instructional outcomes and foster a diverse and inclusive learning environment.
Our commitment to improving instructional outcomes is evident in the introduction of common formative assessments in all academic classrooms. These assessments allow teachers to gauge student understanding and adjust instruction accordingly, ensuring that all students are on track to meet learning objectives. In addition to these assessments, we have added a SkillsPlus competency component in all CTE classes to monitor student proficiency in Chapter 74 career and technical education. This initiative ensures that students are gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their chosen fields. Evaluations have identified areas where students were struggling, allowing teachers to provide targeted interventions and support. Similarly, SkillsPlus helps students track their progress in mastering specific competencies, keeping them focused and motivated.
We have also incorporated hundreds of culturally competent lessons into the daily curriculum across all courses, fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment. These lessons provide students with diverse perspectives on significant historical events, scientific discoveries, and literary works, allowing them to engage with the material in a more meaningful way. Our science curriculum now includes contributions from scientists of diverse backgrounds and our English classes analyze literature from a wide range of cultural perspectives. This approach not only enriches the educational experience but also promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures and viewpoints.
We have invested millions of dollars in capital and technological infrastructure to create a state-of-the-art learning environment. We have developed new, renovated CTE learning spaces, a new health center, revamped office settings, a new track, and outdoor renovations to improve school visibility. These enhancements have improved the physical environment and the overall learning experience for our students. Improved campus-wide Wi-Fi access and the creation of a five-lane internet access highway ensure that students and staff have reliable and fast internet connectivity. This is crucial in today’s digital age where access to online resources and tools is essential for effective teaching and learning. We have also incorporated software that uses artificial intelligence to enable real-time data to inform instruction, ensuring that teaching methods are continually optimized to meet student needs. Our AI-driven learning platforms analyze student performance data to provide personalized recommendations for both students and teachers.
Our new health center provides essential physical health services and to address mental health needs we have increased our school adjustment counselor personnel by 250%. This expansion ensures that students have access to the support they need to manage their mental health and succeed. Additionally, our commitment to real-world learning is evident in the expansion of cooperative vocational technical job placements. We have doubled the number of students participating in these placements and increased our industry partners by more than 30% in just three years. Our students collectively earn more than $1.5 million annually while gaining valuable industry-recognized credentials. This practical experience is crucial in preparing them for successful careers and demonstrates the value of career and technical education. Students in various programs have had the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, thereby enhancing their skills and boosting their confidence and employability.
Effective communication with families and stakeholders is a cornerstone of our approach. We have implemented a comprehensive strategy to document all two-way student-centered communication with families in their primary language, utilizing translation services as needed. This ensures that all families are informed and engaged in their children’s education. We use Lionbridge for phone translations, SYSTRAN for text and document translations, and Lexikeet for video translations. For large document translations, we rely on Lionsbridge or Lexikeet. Our commitment to clear communication is also reflected in our referral process to student support teams, which document at-risk student support to improve learning outcomes. For example, a parent-teacher meeting was recently conducted in Portuguese to ensure that a student’s family could fully participate and understand the discussions about their child’s progress. This approach strengthens the partnership between home and school and ensures that all students receive the support they need to succeed.
The future of educational technology rests on five critical components: equitable access to tools, a common pedagogical framework, capacity for meta-learning, curricula that anticipate future needs, and varied opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery. Embracing artificial intelligence in the classroom signifies a shift towards a future where human-AI collaboration is vital. With 60% of today’s workers employed in jobs that didn’t exist in 1940, it’s clear that our educational model must evolve to prepare students for the unknown. The integration of AI in our educational practices will provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Our AI-driven learning platforms analyze student performance data to provide personalized recommendations for both students and teachers. This forward-thinking approach ensures that we are not just keeping pace with technological advancements, but are also leading the way in educational innovation. Our recent introduction of AI-driven personalized learning platforms allows students to receive customized instruction that meets their unique learning needs, as well as enhancing their educational experience and outcomes.
Our commitment to innovation, strategic planning, and responsive operations have driven us to prepare students for a future filled with possibilities. By aligning our initiatives with the needs and benefits of our students, we have created a cohesive and focused approach to educational innovation. Whether it’s through the integration of AI, the adoption of responsive operational systems, or the emphasis on equitable access to technology, our ultimate goal has remained the same – to provide our students with the best possible education. This commitment ensures that every initiative, strategy, and decision is made with the students’ best interests at heart driving us towards a future where every student can succeed.
Our recent advancements in curriculum modernization, infrastructure enhancement, and administrative restructuring highlight our dedication to creating a dynamic and supportive educational environment. These efforts, combined with our focus on real-world learning and effective communication, ensure that we are well-equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. Our commitment to leveraging technology, fostering leadership, and maintaining a student-centered approach positions us as a leader in educational innovation, ready to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. By working collaboratively and leveraging interconnected systems, we continue to build a sustainable institution where all systems go, ensuring the continued growth and success of our students and our community.
Strategic Plan 2024-2028
We have crafted a comprehensive strategic plan for 2024-2028, focusing on five key focus areas to enhance educational experiences and ensure the safety and well-being of all students. These objectives are designed to provide high-quality, engaging, and relevant learning experiences in a dynamic environment that fosters growth and innovation, ultimately preparing students to be productive global citizens. The five key focus areas are the implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), the promotion of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, ensuring exploratory equity in Career and Technical Education (CTE), cultivating a robust professional development environment for our team, and enhancing school safety and security.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
The first focus area includes implementing a comprehensive Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. MTSS is a data-driven, tiered approach to providing academic and behavioral support tailored to the specific needs of each student. This framework is essential for ensuring that every student receives the personalized attention and resources necessary for their success.
To achieve this goal, the district plans to develop school schedules that allocate specific times for tiered interventions. This structured approach allows for intensive support for struggling students, targeted assistance for those needing additional help, and enrichment opportunities for advanced learners. By dedicating time specifically for these interventions, the district can ensure that students receive the help they need without disrupting the overall instructional flow of the school day.
Refining MTSS practices based on continuous feedback from stakeholders, including students, teachers, and parents, is crucial for our success. Regular assessments and data collection will inform the necessary adjustments to improve the efficacy of the support provided. This iterative process ensures that the MTSS framework remains responsive to the evolving needs of our student population.
The integration of MTSS principles into the new school schedule ensures that support is embedded into the daily routine, making it a seamless part of the educational experience. By prioritizing MTSS, we aim to create an inclusive environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed. This approach not only addresses academic challenges, but also supports behavioral and social-emotional development, fostering a well-rounded educational experience.
For instance, the district will employ a tiered system of support for academic interventions, where Tier 1 involves high-quality classroom instruction and universal screening for all students. Tier 2 provides targeted interventions for students who are not making adequate progress in the general education curriculum, and Tier 3 offers intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant needs. This comprehensive approach ensures that all students receive the support they need to thrive academically.
Behavioral support is also a critical component of the MTSS framework. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) will be integrated to promote positive behavior and create a supportive school climate. PBIS involves proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create a positive school environment. By emphasizing positive behavior, the district can reduce disciplinary issues and improve overall student engagement and achievement.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The second focus area is to promote inclusive and effective instructional strategies through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. UDL is an educational framework that guides the development of flexible learning environments to accommodate individual learning differences. By incorporating UDL principles, the district ensures that all lessons are engaging, inclusive, and aligned with state standards.
To implement this objective, the district will provide professional development on UDL and differentiated instruction strategies. Teachers will be trained to develop UDL-aligned curriculum units, ensuring that instructional materials and methods are accessible to all students. Applying these principles in every classroom guarantees that every student, regardless of their abilities or background, has equal access to high-quality education.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) emphasizes three principles to foster an inclusive learning environment: engagement, representation, and action and expression. Multiple means of engagement involve offering students various ways to demonstrate understanding, such as projects or presentations. Representation ensures all students can access content through diverse formats like visual aids, audio recordings, and hands-on activities. Action and expression encourage creative assessments beyond traditional tests, such as multimedia projects and interactive simulations. These principles enable teachers to accommodate diverse learning needs, promoting a more inclusive and effective educational experience.
By focusing on UDL, we are committed to creating a learning environment that values diversity and inclusivity. This approach not only improves academic outcomes but also promotes a culture of acceptance and understanding within the school community.
Exploratory Equity in Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Ensuring exploratory equity in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is the third focus area of the strategic plan. This initiative aims to redesign the exploratory process for career and technical education to provide equitable access for all students. The goal is to offer every student the opportunity to explore various CTE programs and make informed decisions about their educational and vocational paths.
The district plans to design a new exploratory model that incorporates augmented co-instruction strategies. This model ensures that all students can explore different CTE programs, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities. Robust support systems will be established to help students navigate their choices and succeed in their chosen paths. Data-driven outcomes will guide adjustments to the exploratory process, ensuring it remains fair and effective.
For example, the new exploratory model will include hands-on experiences and interactive sessions where students can engage with different vocational fields. These experiences will be supplemented with career counseling and guidance to help students understand the potential career paths available to them. By providing comprehensive support and resources, the district can ensure that all students have the opportunity to explore their interests and make informed decisions about their future.
The district will also focus on removing barriers that may prevent certain student populations from accessing CTE programs. This includes providing accommodations for students with disabilities, offering language support for English Language Learners (ELLs), and addressing any socio-economic barriers that may hinder participation. By prioritizing equity in the exploratory process, we aim to create a more inclusive and diverse CTE program that reflects the needs and interests of all students.
By prioritizing exploratory equity, we will provide all students with the opportunity to discover and pursue their passions. This approach not only enhances student engagement but also prepares them for future careers, contributing to their overall success.
Professional Development
The fourth focus area focuses on cultivating a robust professional development environment that emphasizes inclusive and effective instructional strategies. Professional development is crucial for ensuring that educators have the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.
To achieve a supportive work environment, the district will promote faculty and staff wellness through initiatives such as stress management workshops and work-life balance programs, helping educators manage their workloads and maintain their well-being. Additionally, professional development on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles will equip teachers with essential tools to implement these strategies effectively. By integrating expertise from Special Education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) specialists, the professional development program will enhance teachers’ ability to support diverse learners and create inclusive classrooms, ultimately improving education quality.
The district will also foster a collaborative learning environment by emphasizing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and interdepartmental collaborations. This approach will promote effective teaching practices and support continuous professional growth among educators. By focusing on collaboration and ongoing development, teachers will be better prepared to use data to inform instruction and adapt to the needs of all students, contributing to a positive and productive educational atmosphere.
The district will collaborate with Special Education and DEI specialists to provide targeted professional development on inclusive teaching practices. This includes training on cultural responsiveness, understanding disabilities, and implementing advanced accommodation strategies. By incorporating these perspectives, the district can ensure that professional development is comprehensive and addresses the diverse needs of all students.
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and interdepartmental collaborations will be emphasized to promote a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth. PLCs provide a structured platform for educators to share best practices, collaborate on lesson planning, and engage in reflective practice. Interdepartmental collaborations encourage cross-disciplinary learning and foster a sense of community among educators. By creating opportunities for collaboration, the district will enhance practices and support the professional development of its educators.
By investing in professional development, we will create a supportive environment where educators can thrive. This approach not only improves teaching practices, but also enhances the overall quality of education for all students.
School Safety and Security
The fifth focus area is to enhance school safety and security to create a safe and supportive learning environment. Ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff is a top priority for the district.
To achieve this objective, the district will implement advanced security technologies and maintain current emergency contact information and student photos. Consistent signage will be deployed throughout the school to ensure clear communication and direction in case of emergencies, and regular reviews of security and safety initiatives will be conducted to assess their impact and make necessary adjustments.
The district will invest in state-of-the-art security technologies to enhance the safety of the school environment. This includes installing surveillance cameras, access control systems, and emergency communication systems. These technologies will help monitor and control access to the school, ensuring that only authorized individuals are allowed entry. In the event of an emergency, the communication systems will enable rapid and effective response.
Regular reviews of security and safety initiatives will be conducted to assess their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. This includes gathering feedback from students, staff, and parents, as well as conducting drills and simulations to test emergency response procedures. By continuously evaluating and refining safety measures, the district can ensure that its security protocols remain effective and responsive to changing needs.
A parent advisory committee will be established to provide regular feedback and engagement on safety and security measures. Increasing student participation in planning and decision-making for community events will also be emphasized, ensuring that their voices are heard and considered.
By enhancing school safety and security, we will create a secure environment where students can focus on their learning without concerns for their safety. This approach not only protects students and staff, but also promotes a culture of trust and accountability within the school community.
Conclusion
Our strategic plan for 2024-2028 outlines a comprehensive approach to enhancing the educational experience and ensuring the safety and well-being of all students. By focusing on implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), promoting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, ensuring exploratory equity in Career and Technical Education (CTE), cultivating a robust professional development environment, and enhancing school safety and security, the district aims to provide high-quality, engaging, and relevant learning experiences in a dynamic environment that fosters growth and innovation. These efforts are designed to prepare students to be productive global citizens who are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the 21st century.
In order to achieve our strategic plan initiatives, the district is committed to continuous improvement and adaptation guided by feedback from all stakeholders. By working collaboratively and leveraging interconnected systems, we are building a sustainable institution where all systems go, ensuring the continued growth and success of our students and our community.
Through this strategic plan, we reaffirm our commitment to providing an inclusive, supportive, and innovative educational environment. Together, we will work towards achieving these goals, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.