VASSP members Dr. Linda Scott, principal, Oscar F. Smith Middle School, Chesapeake Division, and Skyles Calhoun, principal, Woodbridge Middle School, Prince William Division, have been notified by NASSP that their schools are among 10 middle schools throughout the nation that are being recognized for their academic successes through the 2012 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools program. The schools will be honored at the 2012 NASSP Breaking Ranks K-12 Conference in Tampa, Florida, March 8-10, 2012.
Established in 2007, the MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools program awards middle level and high schools that are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement and serve large numbers of students living in poverty. Selection criteria are based on a school’s documentedsuccess in implementing strategies that are aligned with the three core areas of NASSP’s Breaking Ranks Framework including collaborative leadership; personalization; annd curriculum, instruction, and assessment. These schools have demonstrated continuous growth on state assessments over at least three years and efforts toward reducing the achievement gap. Success in implementing the strategiesis documented and verified through school site visits.
The 2012 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools:
Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, NJ, Christopher Jennings, principal
Lafayette Academy Charter School, New Orleans, LA, Mickey Landry, head of school
Lesher Middle School, Fort Collins, CO, Tom Dodd principal
Oscar F. Smith Middle School, Chesapeake, VA, Linda Scott, principal
Pierce County High School, Blackshear, GA, Anthony Smith, principal
The Preuss School, La Jolla, CA, Scott Barton, principal
Vallivue Middle School, Caldwell, ID, Rod Lowe, principal
Wade-Hampton High School, Greenville, SC, Lance Radford, principal
West Carter Middle School, Olive Hill, KY, Ryan Tomolonis, principal
Woodbridge Middle School, Woodbridge, VA, Skyles Calhoun, principal
The leaders of these schools have proven that with strong leadership, suffucient time, and a clear focus, urban, rural and suburban high-poverty schools can be successful. Given the 2014 ESEA deadline for 100% proficiency, principals are feeling the pressure for all student subgroups to demonstrate proficiency. Increasingly, schools are struggling to achieve adequate yearly progress (AYP). Many school districts and states including the Commonwealth of Virginia are requesting an ESEA waiver. The 2012 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools have made gains in academic achievement by providing rigorous instruction and personalizing their schools to meet the needs of each and every student.
For more information about the program and the selected schools, visit www.nassp.org/breakthrough.
