ADA Core Values and Goals for the Wayland Public Schools

CORE VALUES AND GOALS FOR THE WAYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CORE VALUES:

Teaching and Learning

The Wayland Public Schools believes that the teaching and learning of all children are the fundamental goals of its educators: believes in the full potential of all children; and believes that one’s abilities are not predicated on differences in race, ethnicity, culture, language, socio-economics, gender, sexual orientation, learning style and physical and mental capacity. The Wayland Public Schools will work to:

• Provide instruction that promotes mastery and leads to lifelong inquiry

• Create a learning environment in which all students are appropriately supported and challenged

• Provide opportunities for educators to reflect and actively participate in the advancement of their craft

• Narrow the gap in performance among various racial groups as well as the performance between students with special needs and those without

• Offer and actively promote opportunities inside and outside the school day that allow every student to explore interests, refine skills, and receive the academic support he/she needs

Collegiality

The Wayland Public Schools will establish, maintain, and nurture a culture in which collegial relationships, risk-taking, and mutual support are encouraged. The Wayland Public Schools will work to:

• Support collaboration, planning and professional conversations about teaching and learning

• Provide opportunities for educators to participate in professional opportunities to improve instructional practices and expand pedagogical skills

• Offer opportunities for educators to share expertise through various leadership roles (teacher mentors, curriculum leaders, lab classroom teachers, professional developers, etc.

• Sustain a culture that empowers educators to make decisions on instruction

Respect for Human Differences

Wayland Public Schools values the full range of human differences. The Wayland Public Schools will work to:

• Incorporate into our practices respect for differences in race, ethnicity, culture, language, socio-economics, gender, sexual orientation, learning styles, and physical and mental capacity, as well as the fundamental similarities of the human family.

• Institute practices and supports that recognize and address the ways in which the above differences can influence learning.

• Invest in training and staff development opportunities that help educators understand and accommodate the different ways in which children learn.

• Continually examine our understanding of different ways students of diverse backgrounds receive and understand instruction in order to maintain and achieve high expectations for all.

Community

The Wayland Public Schools recognizes the importance of the individual’s place in and responsibility to the community, including his/her place as a member of a family, classroom, school, town and the world: and that communication fosters strong community. The Wayland Public Schools will work to:

• Model a positive environment for all people regardless of age, sexual orientation, race, gender, culture or religious beliefs

• Demonstrate that concern for the well-being of others is part of one’s civic obligation

• Create a safe physical and emotional environment for our students, staff, families, and residents

• Engender in the individual a sense of responsibility to family, school, community, and the world at large, including the environment

• Provide effective internal and external communications for receiving and disseminating timely information to the school community

• Maintain and enhance local political and financial support for high quality public education

GOALS

In conjunction with the Superintendent, the School Committee will establish annual goals for the District to support the Core Values of the school system.

School Committee Approval: February 4, 2013