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2015 Annual Report News Items » All nine ADSB secondary schools are now included in the School Support Initiative

All nine ADSB secondary schools are now included in the School Support Initiative

The Algoma District School Board has been involved in SSI since September 2009. Funded by the Ministry of Education, the goals of the School Support Initiative are:
 
  • to improve student achievement, in particular improve pass rates for students in grade 9 and 10 applied level courses;
  • to implement evidence-based, high yield instructional practices;
  • to develop a collaborative culture among teachers; and
  • to develop the instructional leadership of the Principal, in working with a teacher team in a collaborative inquiry.
 
Funds from the School Support Initiative support release time and professional learning for the Principal and Professional Learning Team in each secondary school, and opportunities to network with other secondary schools within the Initiative. This year the School Support Initiative expanded to include all nine ADSB secondary schools. Since 2009, through participation in the SSI, overall pass rates have improved in grade 9 and 10 applied level courses and collaborative inquiry has expanded within ADSB secondary schools.
 
Superintendent Marcy Bell, Principal Jana Tetreault and two teachers from Central Algoma Secondary School (pictured left) provided an overview of the role of SSI in their School Improvement Plan. Through the school-driven improvement planning process, CASS staff delved into their data to uncover the most urgent learning need.

As a result, the CASS team has been focused on developing a better understanding of learning disabilities and instructional strategies which most effectively support specific learning needs. The CASS staff has engaged in professional learning opportunities, the instructional rounds process, and collaborative inquiry to develop and refine instructional practices. Through this school wide focus and explicit work over the past three years, the school realized a 15% decrease in the number of students with learning disabilities deemed ‘at-risk’ (0-59%).