What are you most proud of, in terms of accomplishments by the District?
I’m very proud of the work we’ve done around early learning. Our work to address the
achievement gap through Shaker’s First Class, our full-day preschool program, really is
a huge celebration. Our first cohort finishes this year and we’re moving on to our next
group of three-year-olds.
I’m really proud that we have the Innovative Center for Personalized Learning.
It’s not just a place for kids who haven’t maximized their success in a traditional high
school learning environment. It’s also a place where students can take classes online
and earn up to 30 hours of college credit. Today, we have offerings in career and
technical education and in blended learning, so now there are multiple pathways for
students to obtain a Shaker Heights diploma.
Our Human Resources Department has instituted an interview process that
includes community members and has protocols in place to hire the best candidates.
Also, we now have a professional learning department, which is something we didn’t
have before. Our professional learning is intentional and its efforts are aligned with
our strategic goals and initiatives. This has a huge impact on our kids.
Finally, becoming only one of eight International Baccalaureate PreK-12 Districts
in North America was a major accomplishment. We completed a vision that started
here even before I arrived.
Photograph by Kevin G. Reeves
Photograph by Jason Miller
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