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Superintendent praises freshman academies and classroom engagement; students thank board
Summary
Superintendent Jesse highlighted the district’s freshman academy model and a Shelton High ‘Shark Tank’ presentation, praised teachers for hands-on algebra lessons and announced the board’s WASDA recognition; students from across the district offered brief thanks to the board.
Superintendent Jesse highlighted the district’s academies model and recent classroom activities at the board meeting, praising a Shelton High School freshman seminar that used a Shark Tank-style project and calling out teachers for hands-on instruction.
Jesse told directors that the freshman academy model — in place districtwide for about nine years and expanded with a freshman academy two years ago — aims to help students navigate high school and explore career pathways. At Shelton High School, freshman seminar students developed business proposals tied to pathways, presented those proposals to local business leaders and were scored on their presentations. Jesse called the event “an amazing opportunity” for content learning and presentation skill development and thanked staff and community leaders who attended.
The superintendent also commended Colleen Cost at Cedar High School for a hands-on algebra activity on complementary angles and Margaret Warren at Shelton High School for engaging Algebra II instruction. He noted improvements in district outcomes, saying third-grade reading scores had risen from 25% to 43% meeting standard and that the district has seen increases in 9th-grade on-track-to-graduate measures and decreases in discipline in recent years.
Students from multiple schools gave brief remarks and video messages thanking the board for support. Student representatives Alan Ramirez (Cedar) and Abigail Hurst (Shelton High) reported classroom projects, community outreach and a student safety survey that led ASB to purchase a digital hall-pass system. Joseph McCray (senior at Cedar) and other students spoke on behalf of their schools and expressed appreciation for board support.
Superintendent Jesse also announced the Shelton School Board’s recognition as a WASDA Board of Distinction for 2024, citing alignment with the district strategic plan and improved student outcomes. He presented certificates to the board members at the meeting.
No formal board action was required for the superintendent’s report and student recognitions.
