Strategies from Superintendents: Academic Excellence for All

The 2022 Academic Excellence for All Conference armed Ohio educators with research and strategies that support the six components of the Academic Excellence for All framework:

  • Equitable Student Access,

  • Culturally Responsive Practices,

  • Student-centered Learning,

  • Diverse Staff of Excellent Educators,

  • Family and Community Engagement, and

  • School Climate.

 

The conference included a panel of five Ohio superintendents who are actively engaged in the components of the framework. The superintendents shared the following:

When asked about Challenges and Successes of Student-Centered Learning:

  • A question we emphasize with our educators is, “How are you going to get to know your kids?” We need to know them personally as an individual and about their experiences and interests.

  • Amplification of student voice is key. Creating a “Let’s Talk” program for students provides a safe, informal place for honest conversations around core issues. We also include student voice in our formal processes that inform the future direction of our schools.

  • Make certain that students can close their eyes and see themselves successful in the future, and know they have access to resources and opportunities to support them. Look at both students’ interests and aptitudes when working with them on future planning and career exploration.

  • Help students see themselves in the now as learners with the ability to self-identify and build confidence and ownership of their learning.

When asked about Supporting Teacher Growth and Instruction for All:

  • It’s important to provide resources and training to support teachers and their efforts to grow all students, including those who are not like them.

  • Staff has grown in areas of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices. We still make mistakes, but our Culturally Responsive Practices learning has been critical in how we respond to students.

  • Tools from the Equity Institute have helped to begin changing mindsets.

  • Activate an equity plan. If your student demographics is 80% Black or brown, then your IB class enrollment should be a similar percentage of Black or brown. Work together as a staff to progress towards equity plan goals.

When asked about Diversifying Your Workforce:

  • Grow Your Own pathways for both current students and adults are impactful.

  • Support your people preparing for the certification exam. Provide mentorship and resources to prep for taking the test. Create a program to assist candidates in obtaining Ohio teacher certification requirements if you are hiring from out of state.

  • Partnerships– with the community, higher education, and business - are critical. Personal outreach and relationships have been very effective for us than simply flying out of state to a job fair.

    For more tips, see HCRC Resource: Ohio’s Diversifying the Workforce Brief & Recommendations.

  • Don’t bash the profession from within. Tell a different story about our profession – it truly is an amazing profession.  

    For more tips, see HCRC Resources: I Educate; Employee Branding

  • Revisit job descriptions, postings, and recruitment materials.

    For more tips, see HCRC Resource: Educator Recruitment

When asked about Family & Community Engagement:

  • Be visible in all communities of your district.

  • Find the best way to contact parents (different ways for different parents).

  • Meet folks where they are.

  • Use your partnerships – tap into their resources.

  • Community outreach personnel exist – form relationships across services (i.e. fire station, police).

  • The mentality for all should be – schools are an extension of our community. It’s incumbent upon the district to actively foster relationships in the local community.  

A closing thought shared was that Excellence for ALL should not be approached as a zero-sum gain – to provide for some should not take away from others.

“This is both head work and hard work,” – Shannon Cox, Superintendent of Montgomery County ESC

 

Thank you to the moderator and all the Superintendent panelists, including:

 

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