Thomas InnocentiOhio County Board of Education

Facility Teaching Staff – 60 membersStudent body – 1,000Community – downtown Wheeling

What did I find inside?◦Disadvantaged, low socio-economic area◦Large minority population◦A variety of cultures◦Distinctive leadership (some hidden)

within each culture◦Businesses◦Communities within the community

Proactive effort to identify and remove barriers that might exclude students

and parents from participation in the school

community

Students excluded from extra curricular activities (Why?)

Parents not active in school activities (Why?)

School didn’t compete in academic competitions (Why?)

School viewed as an unsafe and unfriendly place (Why?)

Community Visits◦ Make contact with as many in the

community as possible. Become highly visible in the

community◦ Communicate the school’s vision◦ Develop trusting relationships

Become the center of the community◦ Educational◦ Social

WJHS was made up of three distinct communities

East Wheeling (Clay community) Center Wheeling (blue-collar high

unemployment) South Wheeling (blue collar, German

decent, high employment) Bethlehem ( Professional

community)

School-wide commitment to effective two-way

communication with parents that is respectful of the diversebackgrounds and unique and challenging needs of families

and the community.

One mission was to continue to support the relationships in the Clay community while learning all I could about the new communities and establishing new relationship.

◦ Communicate vision◦ Develop trusting relationships

Proactive partnerships and relationships within the community that are mutually beneficial, that result in the school being a respected and valued partner, and that expand the school’s ability to meet the needs of students

It doesn’t matter how they enter the building, it matters how they leave.

Treat every visitor of your building with respect.

Understand that every child can become a great 21st century citizen.

Wide variety of student support systems emphasizing

collaboration including consultation, teaming, co-teaching, informal problem

solving, instruction in a separate setting and collegial

learning communities

Organization for school communication and collaboration

◦ Establish weekly administrative team meetings◦ Common planning for all teams◦ Establish teacher leaders◦ Regular planned team meetings

Implement an effective transition plan that involves students, parents, teachers and staff from all schools

participating in the transition process both into and out of

the middle level school

WMS team leaders attend PTO meetings of feeder schools to present curricular expectations

Participate in the high school transition plan

Principal attends and speaks to schools and community organizations

Team leaders meet with feeder school leadership to discuss student and parent concerns

Communicate with parents concerning expectation of what is required to succeed at middle school

PTO, Booster Organizations and School Business Partners are not Personal Enough

I wish you every Success as a leader in the 21st century.