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All students and staff are instructed in goal setting. Students meet annually during their Parent Teacher Conferences to set SMART Goals based on EdPerformance, Aimsweb, state SBA (formerly), SAT or ACT data as well as individual learning, behavior, or career goals. Students create Personalized Education Plans (PEPs) and track progress in their classes.

Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.

What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?

Goals for next year have not yet been developed. However, they will most likely be to continue to strengthen Social Emotional learning through continued implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and continuing to promote student involvement in their own education through personalized learning plans.

What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?

We believe strongly in treating each student as an individual. By encouraging and fostering autonomy and sense of purpose through authentic and meaningful lessons, students are more likely to thrive and learn.

Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.

Title I and the school partner with the Nikolaevsk Community Council to provide opportunities for open gym, game nights, movie nights, art projects, an Alternative New Years’ Eve, etc. This provides the community a place to engage their children in a positive atmosphere and activity while strengthening the bond of school and community for the success of all. Furthermore, the community allows the Title I program to use their board games in an after school enrichment program that emphasizes social skills, specific math or reading skills, cooperative learning, and “learning as fun.”

Currently, reading interventions are delivered through a certified teacher using the district supported Sonday program for reading interventions in the elementary and the use of manipulatives and SuccessMaker for math. Programs used are research-based and progress-monitored to determine the effectiveness with each targeted student/need.

Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.

Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.

Nikolaevsk has written Professional Development grants and participated in book studies to examine instruction in best practices. Nikolaevsk staff has also participated in quality discussions surrounding research-based education literature, focusing on instruction and application of real-world skills. Teachers participate in professional development opportunities throughout the district and attend national training opportunities to support instruction and programs that are in-place in the school. For example, the site coordinator of the PBIS program recently attended a national training in Chicago where PBIS is a statewide model for promoting positive behavior in schools. This teacher also participates in district-wide opportunities in PBIS planning sessions where schools utilizing the model share strategies and look at strengthening the program in our building.

Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.

All students and staff are instructed in goal setting. Students meet annually during their Parent Teacher Conferences to set SMART Goals based on EdPerformance, Aimsweb, state SBA (formerly), SAT or ACT data as well as individual learning, behavior, or career goals. Students create Personalized Education Plans (PEPs) and track progress in their classes. Teams meet in the spring to discuss progress and set goals for their remaining school career. Additionally, this year the staff is creating Student Growth Maps (SGMs) in anticipation of the district and state’s movement toward tracking student growth. Previously, Nikolaevsk teachers have set goals through the Teacher Enrichment Pathways or the cohort of SGM, working towards particular goals in their instruction – employing research and student data in their plans.

Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.

• Category 2

  Selected in 2015

• Grades: k - 12
  School Setting: rural
  Town Population: 350
  Student Enrollment: 64
  Student Demographics:
  

  Black/African American: 0%
  White/Caucasian: 94%
  Hispanic: 0%
  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
  Asian: 0%
  Native American: 6%
  Other: 0%
  

  Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:16
  % Reduced Lunch: 80%
  % ELL Learners: 20%
  Founded: 1969
• PRINCIPAL:
  Michael Sellers
• CONTACT:
  65524 Nikolaevsk Road
  Nikolaevsk, AK 99556
  907-235-8972
  msellers@kpbsd.k12.ak.us