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I would say that our initiative to operate a student-centered school has had the greatest positive impact on student achievement. To that end, we set in motion a number of factors that run concurrently to form a strong student support system; setting up an infrastructure that supports effective teaching and learning.

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

An Academy Parent Coordinator helps to implement the Academy’s Parent Involvement Policy. Throughout the year, parents are engaged through various modes of communication; meetings, workshops, school newsletter, classroom news, classroom blog pages, Jupiter Grades, face to face meetings, phone calls, emails, and school visits.
The SEI Community & Family Programs schedules parent classes throughout the year with topics that focus on parent concerns; graduation requirements, the common core state standards, student advocacy and more.
The After School Program provides students with an array of classes under four categories; Academic Strand, Coaching for Character, Performing & Visual Arts), and Social & Life Skills.

Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.

One of the successful activities to date was Eighth Grade Parent Night. A vice-principal from a local high school spent the evening discussing high school requirements, the new state assessment system and a student transcript. The meeting was very well attended and there was lively discussion.

Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.

Our school change and school improvement philosophy is that we are all held accountable. After setting SMART goals for academic improvement, ongoing professional development is paramount and strategies that address documented problems are critical. It is hard, collaborative work in building assessment literacy
and the administration and staff must be literate in these principles. It is important that we share our students’ learning progress and school report card with our stakeholders – students, parents and school partners so that all can be involved in contributing to a students’ success. As valued partners in their child’s education, regular communications to parents regarding students’ progress helps to increase student achievement. School improvement is continuous and the Data Wise Improvement Process enables us to be informed by our data findings so that we can make meaningful decisions about change and school improvement.

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

To continue our momentum of setting and measuring student academic targets and holding all parties accountable for student success.

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

Our process of data analysis and review is worthy of replication. Data is shared with the school community. Students know how they are performing and are involved in accountability talk. Data is shared with parents at various parent meetings and issues raised by data become agenda items at staff meetings throughout the year. We have a data driven decision making culture.

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

I would say that our initiative to operate a student-centered school has had the greatest positive impact on student achievement. To that end, we set in motion a number of factors that run concurrently to form a strong student support system; setting up an infrastructure that supports effective teaching and learning. This included: a staggered school arrival and departure time by grade level, a Block Master Schedule, frequently monitoring student progress taking into account factors that impede student success (attendance, behavior, grades); classroom designs (double doses of instruction as well as acceleration of instruction), and an After School, and Summer School Programs. Our school decisions are always made with students at the center of a network of support.

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

Over the years, funds have been used for professional development, technology and instructional materials. In recent years, Title I funds have only been used to pay teacher salaries.

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

Our critical professional development has included: subject area training/course work, the Common Core State Standards, Courageous Conversations about Race and Equity, Oregon Technology Education Association, teacher collaboration in Curriculum Meetings and Grade Level Meetings.

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

We realize that data are the key to school improvement. In designing our yearly School Improvement Plan, we follow a Data Wise Improvement Process of continuous improvement that involves eight steps that fall under three categories; preparing, inquiring and acting. Each year, SMART goals are written for reading, math and/or writing and the progress toward goal attainment is monitored throughout the year. Student growth targets, which are shared with students and parents, are also set and monitored. Our teacher teams meet, collaborate and reflect on data that guides their work so that they can make informed instructional decisions. The principal and teachers routinely review test scores and student growth data in making decisions about: individual student’s progress, data patterns, the composition of double dose classes, grouping of students, and students’ performance in subject areas. Our work with data is seen as a very useful and reliable way to make school improvements.

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

The SEI Academy’s school culture is one that is built on the fundamental of the SEI Youth Development Framework which involves four non-negotiable elements of the SEI Model used in working with youth; The Relationship Model – In SEI relationships are cultivated; The Culture of Success – In SEI, a healthy environment is created based on the Relationship Model and the SEI Value System – In SEI fundamental beliefs and the SEI Standards are upheld, Comprehensive Approach – In SEI risk factors are believed to be only barriers to success. Children are seen for who they can become, rather than who they are.

In making improvements, we have ensured that each grade level’s In-School Coordinator attends Student Staffing Meetings to have input on student concerns.

Our school culture promotes collaboration, collegiality and support. Our staff works with cohesiveness in an environment that facilitates growth and fosters respect for each individual.

• Category 2

  Selected in 2013

• Grades: 6 - 8
  School Setting: urban
  Town Population: 592,120
  Student Enrollment: 124
  Student Demographics:
  

  Black/African American: 85%
  White/Caucasian: 0%
  Hispanic: 6%
  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
  Asian: 0%
  Native American: 0%
  Other: 9%
  

  Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:11
  % Reduced Lunch: 86%
  % ELL Learners: 0%
  Founded: 2004
• PRINCIPAL:
  Andre Goodlow
• CONTACT:
  3920 N Kerby Ave
  Portland, OR 97227
  503-249-1721
  andreg@selfenhancement.org