REESE ROAD LEADERSHIP CHARTER ACADEMY
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 Why we want to convert an existing public school to a charter public school
Our vision for educating students. What sources would be utilized?

Benefits of Charter
How the charter petition will be developed
Business Plan for the School
Parent/community involvement and faculty/staff involvement
Using the grant money?

1. Why we want to convert an existing public school to a charter public school 

            Reese Road Elementary has a rich legacy of maintaining high standards and meeting the diverse learning needs of all students. Our faculty and staff have made it a priority to use innovative, research based strategies and best practices that would ensure strong student achievement. As a faculty and staff we are constantly searching for ways to improve our instruction, by making learning more relevant and meaningful for our students. We are cognizant of the fact that our students live in a rapidly changing world.  It is our mission to prepare them for careers and jobs that do not currently exist. The world in which they will live and compete as adults will be different than what we know today.  We must empower our students to meet the challenges of the new Information/Knowledge Worker Age.

            We are a school that thrives on innovation. We have implemented strategies and supported district initiatives that will enhance our instruction and school operations. We are a pilot school for the “Pyramid of Interventions” approach for Student Support Teams; a pilot school for electronic grade books and report cards; a pilot for the “Clarity” program for electronic IEP’s; pilot for the LRE Co-teaching model. We have implemented collaborative planning at grade levels, formative assessments, and strong professional development. On site training has been utilized to further develop and improve our use of instructional technology. With a proven track record of innovation and change, we strongly feel that we are postured to move to the next level and implement a new initiative for the benefit of our students and the wider community. We believe the charter school concept would provide us the autonomy and flexibility to make better policies and decisions to serve all students and meet their needs.  Although we are successful at this present level, we recognize that constraints exist that inhibit our need to ensure success for our students. We are cognizant that we cannot continue to do things the way they have always been done. With this in mind we strongly believe that the charter school concept would essentially free us from binding constraints and enable us to realize our vision of a strong, world class learning connection for our students. Yet with the flexibility and autonomy paramount, we still would have enough structure and resources that would ensure student success. We want to provide the wider community with a unique educational experience that no one else in the state of Georgia has pursued. Conversion to a charter school would allow Reese Road to be more competitive with private schools and other magnet programs as well as encourage and prepare the students under our educational watch to reach their highest potential.

            In order to enhance the educational framework and instructional programs at Reese Road Elementary and prepare our students for their future, the faculty has decided to pursue The Leadership Model based on two core foundations- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences. We believe that our mission to encourage and prepare all children to reach their highest potential would be realized through this model. We began by researching various frameworks, programs, and educational reform models. We involved our stakeholders. We researched other programs that had been implemented in schools similar to ours. We took time to do action research on the efficacy of The Leadership Model Magnet Program, Wake County Public School District, North Carolina.  We began exploring the works of Dr. Howard Gardner on multiple intelligences and how they impact student learning and achievement. Implementing the MI theory will help our teachers design effective curriculum support aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards and support the diverse learning abilities of our students. We seek to create a process using MI theory in correlation with the leadership model principles. We believe that taking what our teachers already do in their classrooms, connecting with the leadership principles and correlating with multiple intelligence professional development, we will have a world class school that is highly encouraging, inclusive and unlimited in achievement for all learners.  We have become a more cohesive, collaborative team as a result of our working, researching and discussing the potential of our vision. We have engaged in serious conversation with the Muscogee County School District Division of Academics, MCSD Cabinet level leadership and Columbus State University leadership. These conversations have generated ideas and vision, as well as the challenges and barriers that may occur. We are confident that we are ready to take the necessary steps to move forward developing successful, self-confident, well-rounded students at Reese Road Elementary.  

Our vision for educating students. What sources would be utilized?                  to top of page

“The mission of Reese Road Elementary School is to encourage and prepare all children to reach their highest potential.” We believe that it is important that our students understand learning is a life-long experience.  We envision that the Leadership Model and the introduction of principle-centered character training would create an environment that would allow the development of the WHOLE Reese Road student-socially, emotionally, academically, and ethically.    The opportunity to create a signature instructional framework and program in the State of Georgia would be beneficial for all our students and would attract students from other areas of the school district. We want to utilize the Multiple Intelligences framework to ensure that our students develop higher order thinking skills, cutting edge technology skills, understanding and appreciating their environment, and the diverse people they encounter.

The Leadership Model is based on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  which are: be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win/win, seek first to understand, then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw and the Multiple

Intelligences which are: verbal/linguistic intelligence, logical/mathematical intelligence, visual/spatial intelligence, musical/rhythmic intelligence, bodily/kinesthetic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, and naturalist intelligence.  These tow core foundations would intertwine and form the basis for a unique learning model that will develop leaders.  The Leadership Model will not only enhance student achievement but also develop effective problem solvers, higher order thinkers, communicators, and risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, reflective, well balanced, caring learners. The Leadership Model at Reese Road Elementary School would result in a climate of  successful  student directed instruction, infusion of technology in instruction and student work, modern language infusion, high expectations, and multiple methods of assessment that would be congruent with multiple intelligences.

We look forward to developing policies and procedures that parallel the above characteristics. We would begin with the end in mind using the backwards design process in which our teachers have utilized in unwrapping the GPS standards and planning for instruction.  It is important to note that this program would not be for a select group of students, but for all students at Reese Road Elementary. There would be no entrance requirements which would support the spirit of No Child Left Behind and would provide a high quality educational experience for all learners without exception.  All curriculum areas would be impacted by this approach.  Muscogee County School District adheres to the Georgia Performance Standards and the Quality Core Curriculum. By coupling these basic components with the proposed Leadership Model and Multiple Intelligences framework Reese Road will develop the whole child - socially, emotionally, academically, and ethically. The focus of the model fosters a climate of principle-centered personal leadership and character development.

Benefits of Charter                                                                                       to top of page
 

            The charter school concept is a balance between autonomy and accountability, allowing all stakeholders to establish schools that meet their needs while preserving students’ civil rights and meeting objectives set by the state for all students. Becoming a charter would increase opportunities for learning and access to unique educational experiences for all students. The charter school concept would encourage innovative teaching practices and professional development opportunities for teachers at Reese Road. Conversion to a charter school would give parents and students choice within the public school system.

            Charter schools differ from traditional public schools in autonomy, accountability and choice. They are a version of school reform measures where communities have the ability to set up an educational experience that still is accountable to student achievement results, paid for by public money, but freed from most local and state policies not related to civil rights. Because charter schools reframe the entire educational organizational structure of a school, many details will need to be worked out, including an educational plan, business plan, and governance plan. 

How the charter petition will be developed                                        to top of page

            The charter petition will be developed building on the relationships and partnerships Reese Road Elementary has formed over time. This includes a strong Parent Teacher Association, Local School Council, Partners in Education, and a strong collaborative culture with the surrounding community. We will focus on collecting more data through parent, student, and community surveys and informational meetings. A team will be formed to lead the charter conversion process. These individuals along with the Local School Council, faculty, and staff will be invited to planning retreats to engage in conversation, planning, and drafting of the petition.

 Business Plan for the School                                                                 to top of page

            As a conversion charter school, we would work collaboratively with the Muscogee County School Board, Division of Academics, and other district divisions to develop a viable business plan. 

Parent/community involvement and faculty/staff involvement           to top of page

            The administration, faculty, and staff of Reese Road Elementary are committed to on-going professional development. Teams of teachers will travel to dialogue and observe The Leadership Model in action in other states. We will engage the entire faculty and staff in professional development training in the Leadership Model (Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences).

            Workshops and informational meetings will be scheduled frequently to keep parents abreast of the model.  A parent newsletter will be developed for scheduled updates.  Community and business partners will also be informed via postings on the website, workshops, informational meetings, and newsletters.  Our parents and the community will be involved every step of the way, providing input and support for the charter conversion and building The Leadership Model for Reese Road Elementary. 

Using the grant money?                                                                                to top of page

            Thinking futuristically, “outside the box” and globally is important in the development of our charter. We recognize that barriers as well as challenges exist. We would address the first challenge of a ‘model’ for our planned charter. We would travel to sites that have implemented The Leadership Model and infused the Covey Habits and Multiple Intelligences in the curriculum. This would involve costs for travel, meals, and substitute teachers. Through these visits, we would expand our vision of what could be and bring new and fresh ideas to the discussion.

            Another significant barrier and challenge is time. Our common planning time is limited.  Interactions between staff and parents are often hurried. Therefore, putting first things first, our focus must remain  solely on our students. We propose  a minimum of two planning retreats away from the school facility, not during instructional time. We would engage in brainstorming, conversation, discussion of our vision, and sharing our perspectives. The subsequent planning retreat would focus on the development of the actual charter petition. Stipends would be offered for participation.

            As we engage in the practice of creating a vision, we will model what many schools and businesses, do by engaging trained facilitators to maximize the planning process. This will occur at an off-site location. By providing lunch and supplying materials  we would create an environment conducive to conversation, visioning, consensus building, and team building.

Please contact us 706-569-3684 if you have questions or concerns?       to top of page