Our focus for the 1920 school year is on removing barriers of all kinds for students. The official education term for this is “Universal Design for Learning” (UDL). We are using a three-pronged approach for this.

• Literacy & Math Instruction - This has been our focus for the last 2 years. While we have made excellent progress, we still have more important work to do here. The more masterful our students become in the literacy and math skills, the more life barriers are removed and doors are opened for them. Throughout the year, teachers will continue to refine their instruction, activities, and assessment to help students excel in these vital life skills.
• Technology & Innovation - Technology is evolving at a rapid rate and we want to make sure we are leveraging it (when it makes sense) to help remove barriers for all students, learn faster, and do things/have experiences they otherwise would not have been able to previously. Just this past week, one short segment of our faculty meeting was introducing teachers to an app on their iPads they can use to create short videos they can use in their classes. Here was mine.
• Equity - Very closely tied to UDL, the focus here is to provide each student with the tools and support they need to be successful. Notice in the bicycle image of our School Improvement Focus graphic the difference between equal and equality. Each student might get something different, but it is exactly what they need to see success. All year long, we will be having discussions about and making adjustments that ensure equity for all students.

Theory of Action