Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Strategic Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mt. Pleasant board hears strategic-plan progress, expands Capturing Kids Hearts implementation
Summary
District leaders told the school board the strategic plan's academic and culture teams are using classroom-observation data and surveys to scale "Capturing Kids Hearts," report near-universal classroom greetings and social contracts, and target National Showcase recognition based on baseline metrics.
Board members received a midyear update on the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools strategic plan on Jan. 20, focusing on efforts to deepen student engagement and strengthen school culture.
District administrators said the academic team has prioritized "cognitive engagement" and will use the Charlotte Danielson observation rubric to tag engagement indicators during classroom visits. "Our group believes this is a very important component of engagement," a presenter said during the report, noting administrators will be trained to collect consistent baseline data across schools.
The board also heard detailed examples of the Capturing Kids Hearts (CK) program, a two-year professional-development initiative the district has integrated into classrooms. Elementary schools reported universal use of classroom social contracts and daily greetings; the presenters noted that seven of eight buildings are using CK staff- and student-survey data and that 94% of teachers report using morning greetings. The presentation highlighted routine practices designed to reinforce classroom culture, including student "ambassadors" who greet visitors and structured "launch" activities at the end of instructional periods to focus students on next steps.
Administrators said the district receives two types of CK data: locally administered monthly administrator reports and vendor-provided midyear and year-end surveys that compare year-to-year progress. Presenters said the district aims to reach vendor baseline metrics that would qualify schools as "National Showcase" sites and that at least one school may meet that threshold by year's end if current trends continue.
Board members asked how tagged-observation data would be used at the grade and building level and how the Professional Studies Committee would contribute. Presenters said PSC will help analyze results and recommend high-impact instructional strategies after the district establishes consistent baseline data.
The board was told implementation varies by building and by grade level and that staff are working to sustain the program through a mix of vendor training and internal "process champions" who can help train new staff. Presenters described steps to maintain momentum: training new hires on CK, continuing monthly administrator huddles, and using survey and observation data to identify gaps and next professional-development steps.
The board will receive a follow-up report on strategic-plan progress in May or June, including additional details from the operational and implementation groups.
