Pre-Kindergarten Study Initiative

Data collected at kindergarten screening in August of each year supports the need for a pre-kindergarten program at Sandusky City Schools. This program would provide four-year-olds with experiences preparing them for kindergarten. The district has begun to formally explore the facts about how to begin such a program. A Pre-Kindergarten Study Initiative has been formed that is collecting information about the requirements and possibilities for a quality Pre-Kindergarten classroom for typically-developing students in Sandusky. The curriculum and staffing of this program would need to be approved by the Board of Education and the Ohio Department of Education. Stay tuned for more facts and information relative to this exciting new initiative in the Sandusky City Schools.

Curriculum Alignment Initiative

State Minimum Content Standards require that all learning goals must be completely “aligned” with the state’s minimum standards of learning. Sandusky City Schools’ K-12 teachers examined their courses and compared what is taught in them with what the State Department of Education outlines in content standards for each course and grade level. This initiative, while still on-going, was largely completed by 2004. In some cases, alignment resulted in a rearrangement of learning objectives and prompted the selection of more current teaching resources and student textbooks, software, etc. Contact Dr. Sally Roth, Director of Curriculum, if you have questions about Curriculum Alignment (419-621-2865).

Curriculum Mapping Initiative

Curriculum mapping is a process of arranging what is going to be taught along the calendar school year. It is also a process by which key skills and concepts are clumped together into teaching units for most effective student learning. The exciting part of curriculum mapping is that it brings all teachers at a subject and grade together to discuss the best ways to teach that curriculum. Termed “best practices,” discussions of these strategies help teachers share ways to help, including making best use of available computer resources and technology and developing tests or assessments that pinpoint student strengths and needs. Curriculum maps are never completely finished; they evolve through yearly teacher-revision to produce higher student achievement. Each layer of maps supports the next highest layer. All layers aim to prepare the student for required benchmarks of learning. Contact Dr. Sally Roth, Director of Curriculum, if you have questions about Curriculum Mapping (419-621-2865).

Reading First Initiative
Reading First is a kindergarten through grade three initiative that began in 2005. This initiative was investigated during 2004 and state/federal monies were granted to our district in the summer of 2005. In this initiative, all Sandusky K-3 classrooms received new, research-based core reading materials (Trophies, by Harcourt) for the learning of reading skills. Teachers test student reading skills each week using a PDA and provide specific remediation and intervention for struggling readers. All K-3 teachers are required to attend a minimum of 180 monthly minutes of professional development that centers upon the five basics of reading instruction and use of the Trophies materials to teach reading. This training is provided by a team of teachers who are trained Literacy Specialists. The coordinator of Reading First is Mrs. Joy Kear (419-621-2838).

Enhancing Education Through Technology Initiative
Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) is an initiative in five elementary buildings: Hancock, Madison, Mills, Osborne, and Ontario. This eTech-granted initiative has revolutionized instructional practices in both the computer labs and classrooms by providing intense teacher training. The focus is on improving math achievement in grades 4-6. At Madison, EETT has focused on after-school tutorial math assistance in the computer lab. Diedre Bartemes (YES Learning Consultant) and Christine Zess (SCS Instructional Technology Facilitator) work together with EETT leaders in each of the five schools and their principals to coordinate all professional development and use of lab software. Parent outreach activities are also a growth of this program both last year and this year. If you have questions about EETT school activities, call Christine Zess (419-624-3347).

Sandusky/Erie County Community Foundation Education Initiative
Through the generosity of our community, the Sandusky/Erie County Community Foundation (S/ECCF) has made possible an education initiative that will provide, over the next four years, waves of benefits for all students in our schools. Beginning with grades 7-12, all math classrooms this year are being outfitted with Interactive (Smart) White Boards and projectors to enhance math instruction for our students. Along with the equipment, teachers are being trained to help students use this technology as a tool for learning. When students can come up to the board, touch the board, take notes on the board, and interact with the board, they learn in ways they cannot by simply sitting at their desks. Additionally, this large grant of $68,000 will help the district redesign its web site in ways that will help the district better communicate with and serve parents and the community. For answers to questions about the S/ECCF Education Initiative, contact Christine Zess (419-624-3347).

Safe Schools/Healthy Students Partnership Initiative
SS/HS is funded through a cooperative grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Department of Justice. Sandusky City Schools was awarded the 3 year, multimillion dollar grant in October of 2004. Six core elements comprise all SS/HS grants:
Safe school environment
Violence, alcohol, and other drug prevention and early intervention
School and community mental health preventative and treatment intervention services
Early childhood psychosocial and emotional development services
Educational reform
Safe school policies

Anyone interested in knowing more about programs coordinated by SS/HS should contact that initiative’s director, Marlene Boas (419-621-4410) or visit the SS/HS web site: www.sanduskysshs.org

Mentor Program for Entry Year Teachers Initiative
A mentor program, mandated by the Ohio Department of Education, has been in place for a number of years in the Sandusky City Schools. It provides solid support for beginning-year teachers, called Entry Year Teachers, who possess initial (2-year provisional) licenses and are preparing to be observed by a Praxis III evaluator in the spring. Teachers who satisfactorily fulfill E-Y-Teacher requirements will obtain a five-year teaching license, as required by the State of Ohio. Teachers who mentor E-Y-Teachers are trained in best practices and meet with our newest instructors on at least a monthly basis to prepare them for the Praxis III evaluation. We are proud of our teacher mentors who give so much of their time and expertise to assist new teachers. Questions about the Mentor Program for Entry Year Teachers may inquire about this initiative by calling Dr. Roth (419-621-2865).


District-Wide Embedded Professional Development Initiative
Beginning in 2003, Sandusky City Schools began a true team approach to Professional Development of its teachers and administrators. Teachers recognized the need to deliver consistent and well-organized lessons throughout the entire district. On-the-job training is a plan that emphasizes on-site training. For the elementary, K-3, there is one training day per month. In grades 4-6, training takes place once per quarter for a full day. At the Junior High level, training occurs a minimum of twice and up to a maximum of four times per year. High school training is determined by department chairpersons and the principal. “Embedded” means district-wide professional training that gives teachers the opportunity to regularly examine current achievement data, devise teaching strategies to address areas of difficulty and apply those strategies in the classroom to see if these help the students. We appreciate the extra work our teachers must do to prepare good lessons for students and substitute teachers while the regular teacher is receiving embedded professional development. It is because of this development that our teachers are able to improve achievement in the Sandusky City Schools. To discuss this initiative in greater detail, contact Dr. Sally Roth (419-621-2865).

Diversity and Sensitivity Initiatives
“Diversity” is the strength of the Sandusky City Schools community and “Sensitivity” is a requirement for appreciation of this strength. Our students represent a true cross-section of economics, ethnicity and learning needs. For this reason, teachers at SCS are quite aware that to address the learning needs of all students, a variety of teaching approaches must be used and a true appreciation for different cultures, styles of learning and educational needs must be modeled. These ideas call for initiatives within our school system that help increase awareness of differences and improve validation of individuals. “Bridges of Poverty” training, March 31, 2006, was one example of such an initiative. Dr. Cathy Hamilton, of Dr. Ruby Payne’s research on poverty, spoke on the importance of recognizing language barriers our students may possess. This year, Dr. Hamilton will return to SCS on twelve occasions to work with grade levels K-8 where she will train teachers to address math and reading issues for children of different backgrounds, including differing ethnicities. To offer positive suggestions on how this initiative might be expanded upon in the future, please contact Dr. Sally Roth (419-621-2865).


District-Wide School Improvement Initiative
Sandusky City Schools has a district-wide School Improvement Initiative, a written plan that provides a key focus for the year. The 2006-2007 plan has two goals: (1) provide research-based professional training for teachers; (2) study and plan to provide pre-kindergarten instruction in the future. Jason Holbrook, Regional School Improvement Team coach, works Supt. William Pahl; Director of Curriculum, Dr. Sally Roth; Federal Programs Director, Mrs. Joy Kear; Instructional Technology Facilitator, Mrs. Christine Zess; and District Data Manager, Bob Bruni in a partnership that supports the district improvement plan. to increase student achievement. Mr. Holbrook supports this initiative by visiting our district frequently and working with the improvement team.

Math Coach, Ann Van Nort; Literacy Coach, Marian Ralph-Abrams; and Data Manager, Bob Bruni are important contributors to our plan. They collect and analyze data, model lessons and provide training in what are known as “best teaching practices.” For example, Mrs. Ralph-Abrams helps teachers through training in Adolescent Literacy; Mrs. Van Nort helps teachers assess students’ math skills each quarter and Mr. Bruni compiles data such as a summary of pre-kindergarten readiness needs. Mrs. Zess provides research, training and technology’s connectedness to everyday instruction. In all, a District-Wide School Improvement Initiative propels us to be focused on ever-increasing student achievement. To discuss this initiative in greater detail, contact Dr. Sally Roth (419-621-2865).