Strategic Plan

Last Updated: November 9, 2021

Dr. Anna Nolin, Superintendent of Schools

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August 3, 2021

Strategic Plan DRAFT Updates

School Committee

Dr. Anna Nolin, Superintendent of Schools

STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS

TEACHERS SET STUDENT LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING GOALS

Teachers set aligned, cross town and cross department, student learning and professional practice goals.

(e.g. all 3rd grade teachers set the same student academics goal. All grade 9 math teachers set a unified goal).

PRINCIPALS ALIGN SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS

School Plans connect to school goals to district plan.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS EACH MONTH/COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

In spring, the superintendent’s performance is reviewed and feedback on prior year’s strategic plan achievement is assessed.

End of year feedback, surveys and reflections occur.

SUMMER RETREAT AND UPDATE OF STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTION STEPS FOR PLAN

School Committee and leaders workshop strategic plan updates, this is shared publicly.

EXAMINATION OF DISTRICT DATA “SUMMER STATE OF THE UNION”

Principals and teams develop analysis of student learning needs

PRIOR YEAR’S ACTION STEPS ARE REVIEWED

Superintendent Goals

goal overview 12/20/2021

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Contextualizing Memo: Superintendent Evaluation

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Goal Final Summary June 2022

GOAL 1: PROFILE OF A GRADUATE

Excel in academic achievement, and Profile of a Natick Graduate (POG) competencies for all groups and subgroups of students.

Recovery of Academic & Profile of a Graduate Vision

• Refocus on collaboration and socialization skills, link to SEL. Focus on Self-direction and executive functioning program
• Address mastery gaps and delays in grade level mastery.

Title I & RTI Support Restructure

• Redesign Title I program for longevity
• Clear unified screening, communication and intervention system communicated to community
• Development of intervention banks.

Literacy: Science of

Reading/Dyslexia Informed Instruction

Reliable Intervention

Procedures & Communication

Curriculum &

Assessment

• Schoolzilla deployment and use to address student achievement trends and sub- group tracking
• Math audit K-4
• Social studies unit development K-12
• Social Justice Curriculum K-4
• Revise common assessment collection based on revised unit scope and sequences due to covid delays/mastery gaps.
• Open Circle Replacement

Whole Child and COVID Brain Recovery:

Career Pathways; Athletics; Arts; and Health

• Orchestra program pilot resurrection
• Development of technical theater course NHS
• Development of parallel theater curriculum at NHS that maximizes new theater spaces and technical theater staff
• Development of planetarium and tech theater student leadership group program.
• Explore ROTC, paralegal, EMS and fitness certification pathways.

• Refresher trainings for all PK-4 staff, additional Wilson/OG certified practitioners,
• Define/execute RTI reliable screening procedures &parent communication.

Desired State and

Action plan

GOAL 2: DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY

Combat systemic barriers that limit student, family and staff equitable access to opportunity and cherish them to such a degree that they thrive.

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Desired State

Action Plan Artifacts

NEW POLICY

DIVERSITY

IN HIRING

DEVELOP PROCEDURES

CURRICULUM &

RESOURCES

STAFF TRAINING

STAFF AFFINITY GROUPS

STUDENT COGENS

ELL STUDENT &

FAMILY SUPPORT

Equitable Access for All

Continuing the journey from empathy to inclusion to equitable access to belonging for all…..

• Coaches/Athletics training. Classroom data analysis and trend development akin to that done at district and school level (Schoolzilla design, train, utilize)
• Course, grade and exam practices
• Student cogens to develop understanding of BIPOC, LGBTQ and DESE goal plan to address equity with significantly disabled students.

Identify bias and its impact on rigor �and opportunity at student level

Professional development in dyslexia and other disabilities, gender identity, language and culture of students and on racial bias. Education on the untold history of disabled, BIPOC and LGBTQ experiences and histories must be taught so teachers and students can create a belonging culture via curriculum and classroom resources.

Personal Teacher Reflection, Education, & Curriculum Revision

Continued and expanded focus and resources to diversify our workforce. Includes education of hiring managers and use of incentives for non-traditional candidates.

Hiring Diversification

• Resurrect NPS Diversity committee for advisory & continued development of district actions.
• Develop & pilot a belonging scoreboard –district metrics for determining success & depth in belonging.
• Create middle school Belonging Ambassador program and leadership designation to include disability education, LGBTQ education, anti-racism education/multiculturalism education.
• Implement the seal of Biliteracy Program at NHS; Resurrect International Program Partnerships

Move from Tolerance and Inclusion to Equitable Access and Belonging

Development of equitable access procedures enacted through policy in the area of cultural and holiday observances, and a student-requested microaggression policy.

Policy and Procedures Update

A

B

C

D

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GOAL 3: SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND HEALTHY LIVING

Develop a systematic, developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning (SEL) and healthy living framework for student learning and parent engagement and partnership.

CURRICULUM

Develop and select articulated curriculum to match identified grade level competencies; vet open circle replacement

RTI/

INTERVENTION

use sel student survey and select follow up sel screener (pilot year) to identify struggling students and determine district staff development needs; parent education groups, intervention groups

INSTRUCTION

expand and deepen tools of the mind use at preschool; execute executive functioning lessons, direct instruction and strategies at every grade level.

launch natick profile of an educator expectations w. staff

COVID TRAUMA

RECOVERY STAFF &

STUDENTS

implement social routines and activities, goal setting, team building and predictable classroom routines.

Profile of a Graduate Focus:

Self-Direction and Resilience

HEALTHY LIVING FRAMEWORK

addressing vaping,

sleep, eating

and substance use disorder

Desired State

Action Plan Artifacts

GOAL 4: FINANCIAL AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

Excel in strategic and financial planning.

• Develop compensation strategy with town partners
• Develop agreed-upon comparables for salaries in like cohort towns
• Successfully negotiate successor contracts for our 6 unions: Unit A/B, food service, facilities, paras, Title I, administrative assistants
• Determine/expand staff diversification and retention monies through grant an operational sources, expand merit pool resources.

COMPENSATING OUR STAFF: NEGOTIATION OF 6 CONTRACTS AS BASELINE FOR FINANCIAL MODELING WITH TOWN

REORGANIZE LEADERSHIP

STAFFING ALIGNED WITH

STRATEGIC PLAN

Create and fund a leadership and support structure for NPS that furthers service and leadership in special education and ensures RTI implementation in both SEL and Academics; develops a Diversity Officer and Family Engagement Center Lead.

DEVELOP LONG-RANGE SUPPORT �MODE TO FUND TITLE I NEXT GENERATION PROGRAM

Develop financials to sustain added ESSER supports which will need to replace dropping Title I revenue stream.

ADDRESS IMMEDIATE

SPACE NEEDS

• Begin MSBA process for Memorial School
• Johnson School Decisions. Develop Capital Campaign $12M for Memorial Field house and classrooms (space NHS)
• Develop strategies for overcrowding at NHS and lack of capacity to offer all needed electives and advanced placement courses.

DEVELOP NEW POST-COVID 3-YEAR FINANCIAL, NATICK VALUES AND STAFFING PLAN IN CONCERT WITH TOWN PARTNERS

• Two teams of leaders will participate in leadership seminars with town partners and develop joint goals; joint planning for use of ARPA funds and strategy creation / override planning. Submit for meritorious budget review process, round 1.
• Develop long-range capital plan with new facilities director and new TA.
• Develop long-range financial strategy to fund Natick’s vision of comprehensive services.
• Address personnel, policy and financial operating vision for Town of Natick with new TA.

Desired State

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Action Plan Artifacts

GOAL 5 : COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT

Establish communication procedures and philosophy that build trust, transparency and engagement with our community.

EDUCATOR/PARENT

INTERACTION AND FEEDBACK

• Explore revised parent interaction experiences: virtual vs. live;
• negotiate conferences (virtual? Expanded?) in new contract

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL

COMMUNICATION, PODCAST

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

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• Revise website design
• Revise the “push-pull system” of communication to families
• Empower principals to provide real time communication without fatiguing parents.

School and Town

THOUGHTEXCHANGE Info Gathering

Use thought exchange to gauge our implementation of academic, SEL recovery and our preparation for possible override and ARPA spending.. Joint town school forums for budget planning and override work.

PARENT AND STUDENT FOCUS GROUPS

• Student Superintendent Advisory formalized (was informal during pandemic)
• Student cogens advised across classrooms
• Monthly Listening sessions

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

CENTER SERVICES

• Develop a plan for center implementation in collaboration with new TA and community partners (Ymca, Metrowest Engagement center, intercultural council.
• Expand use of talking points, translation team and Lexikeet for all parent functions and meetings.

Desired State

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Action Plan Artifacts