Strategies
BEST PRACTICES OF EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS
POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE & CLIMATE
The benefits of a positive school culture for students are increased student learning, improved behavior, and improved mental health. The faculty and staff thrive in an environment that respects them as professionals and adults. A positive school culture and climate is a safe place where everyone feels seen and valued.
SCHOOL SAFETY AND STUDENT WELLBEING
*School Safety Team Monthly Meetings
*Safety information and Emergency routes are posted throughout the building
*First Aid Kit or Go Bag in every classroom
*Perform regular safety drills (fire, tornado, lockdowns, etc.)
*Stay abreast of emergency response protocols for: accidents, illnesses, injuries, administering first aid & CPR, etc.
BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
*Create a warm and supportive atmosphere with the staff
*Promote parent engagement and volunteers
*Support family involvement activities
*Establish partnerships with the community organizations and businesses
COMMUNICATION
*Written and spoken feedback is delivered with clarity for targets hit and missed
*Delivered and responded to in a timely manner via email, phone, Parent Square, etc.
*Recognizes efforts, achievements, and contributions by the faculty and staff publicly
HIGH EXPECTATIONS ARE THE NORM
*Continuously encourage the school vision, mission, and values
*Thriving Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Program (PBIS) Utilizing grade-level and age-appropriate incentives.
TRENDS AFFECTING EDUCATION
Education is affected by the following state, local, and national trends:
UNITED STATES
* Teacher shortage and retention crisis
* Mental health is a core priority
*AI integration and digital learning
VIRGINIA
* School Performance and Support framework to measure school performance
* Virginia Literacy Act
RICHMOND CITY
* Record-breaking graduation rate of 80.1%, John Marshall High School 100%
* Combating chronic absenteeism
* Closing the equity gaps for multilingual and Hispanic/Latino students
EVALUATING SCHOOL AND INSTRUCTIONAL
PROGRESS
SCHOOL MONITORING AND EVALUATION
I will serve my school as a support to all operations by properly communicating with all departments and services through these regular procedures and activities:
*Bi-weekly check-ins with the administrative team on progress and challenges
*Daily building walkthroughs to check on operations
*Utilize central office-supplied evaluative tools for school-based programs
*Participate in and receive regular updates from the Safety Team, Attendance & Discipline Team, and Culture & Climate Team Meetings.
*Bus or car/ van transport duty, cafeteria duty
*Reasonable response time to calls, texts, walkie messages, and email
SUPERVISING INSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION
To provide optimal service to students, I will use disaggregated student data to verify classroom rosters to ensure proper ratios, match teacher uniqueness professionally and personally, and identify specific needs in each classroom to support targeted instruction. I will use the following strategies for supervising instruction:
*Utilize district-supplied forms for instructional staff observations and evaluations
*Regular classroom walkthrough observations with feedback
*Plan pre-observation conferences, formal observations, and provide feedback
*Attend grade-level PLCs to monitor and provide feedback for planning and assessments
*Participate in the School Leadership Team.
"First Grade STAR Math data shows strong academic growth from fall 2005 to spring 2026 across the entire grade level. The percentage of first grade students performing at or above benchmark more than tripled... B. Williams demonstrated some of the strongest overall growth, with many students reaching benchmark proficiency by the end of the year."
G. H. Reid Elementary School Year-End Data Celebration
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
The school leadership team and I will work collaboratively to utilize the following steps in creating a school improvement plan:
*Create a needs assessment based on data from four targeted areas in need of growth
*Establish SMART goals for each need
*Provide staff development for the utilization of evidence-based strategies
*Attend bi-weekly PLCs for continuous monitoring
*Provide materials and retain support personnel for students
* Continuously monitor for growth
MANAGING SCHOOL RESOURCES
I will use the following practices when making financial decisions and managing a budget:
*Assess school needs and prioritize them by urgency
*Place prioritized needs in "buckets" of preset categories with their allotments for spending
*Be consistent with spending-tracking and internal audits regularly
*Communicate with and involve stakeholders for budget suggestions
*Review statements, make adjustments if possible and plan ahead