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Northeast Middle School principals and staff point to culture teams, data for improved climate
Summary
Northeast Middle School leaders told the Midland school board they created staff, student and parent culture teams and are using student perception data to guide improvements in belonging, engagement and communications with families.
Northeast Middle School leaders on May 19 outlined steps taken this year to strengthen school climate and staff collaboration, telling the Midland Public Schools Board of Education that the changes were grounded in staff feedback and student perception surveys.
Why it matters: School climate correlates with student engagement and academic success, administrators said, and Northeast used both qualitative staff input and quantitative student perception data to shape interventions.
Principal Keith Seibert said he interviewed staff individually after assuming the lead principal role and launched —coffee and cookies— sessions to hear concerns directly. Seibert said the effort reached about 70% of staff and produced ideas that fed into formal culture teams.
The school formed four subgroups addressing student culture, staff culture, parent culture and a data team, Seibert said. Learning coach Jen Lennon told trustees the school used the Michigan Student Voice student perception survey to examine sense of belonging, social-emotional indicators and engagement. Lennon said Northeast scored at or above a consortium of 108 districts on most measures, but identified a lowest-scoring question: whether students have open discussions with peers about different cultures and backgrounds.
Staff culture lead Christy Volmering and other teachers described more frequent staff recognition (a —Thor award—), student events such as tailgates and a talent show, and an increase in participation for both students and staff. Parent culture lead Jen Jaster said the group is working to present grade-level proficiency skills and improve how the district—s Synergy portal displays standards-based progress so parents and students can track growth more easily.
Assistant principal Kyle Woodruff said the school plans a —Standards-Based 101— orientation station for families to explain proficiency scales versus traditional grades and to help parents navigate Synergy.
Ending: Trustees asked how the board could support the school; Seibert said continued district support for staff professional development and the occasional conference has helped and that stability among custodial and operations staff matters for long-term maintenance of improvements.
