VOTE NOW! Help DISHS Win $100,000!

Post date: May 28, 2016 2:57:39 PM

Deer Isle-Stonington High School is eligible to win $100,000! Principal Todd West has been nominated for the Lawrence W. O’Toole Award, which is given out each year to honor an individual who has exhibited great leadership through innovation or courage in moving student-centered approaches to learning forward in New England. The winner will receive a $100,000 grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation for their school, district or organization.

Voting is open until 12:00pm on Friday, June 3rd. You can vote twice, once by text and once by email. If DISHS wins, the award will be used to increase personalized learning, including the creation of a student-run cafe to teach entrepreneurial skills; educational trips which will ensure all students have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of post-secondary options, and expansion of project-based learning for Pathways courses.

In 2007, the school had a 57% graduation rate, the highest dropout rate in the state, and 240 suspensions in one year involving 170 students. With a focus on changing school culture, Deer Isle’s graduation rate has held steady at 85% over the past four years. The school now embodies a culture of college and career readiness for all students, with a focus on personalized learning by connecting students’ needs and interests with community resources.