LM Nov-Dec_2023

2024 IASA Superint

Dr. Genevra Walters

Walters ... cont’d.

studies, English and math all encompassed in a career opportunity. For example, in kindergarten, the focus is on the human services field. In first grade, they’re studying the agricultural field. Students get to see how math, science and all the core academics apply to the job that they may get when they get older. This process of implementing Defined Learning, or project-based learning, goes from kindergarten through 12th grade. The goal is that by the time students get to their junior or senior year, they are going to have a good idea of what their interests are and what field they want to go into. Why did your district invest in hiring Social Emotional Learning coaches? What is really nice about SEL coaches is the idea came from a partnership with the teacher’s union. During our negotiations, we use interest-bargaining. We often talk about things that will not be contractual, so the discussion occurred around, coming out of COVID, that both our students and adults are having mental health issues and dealing with trauma. We also recognized there’s a shortage in school social workers. From that, we came up with the idea to have SEL coaches. Each coach has to have a bachelor’s degree in the social services field

We have a Teen Court to keep students from entering the Juvenile Justice System. We have a Mini Bike Program because there was an issue in our community where youth were riding bikes inappropriately in the community. The Mini Bike Program is a way to do that in a more productive way. We have mentoring, an African-American Male Initiative, and a Hispanic initiative. We also have a girl’s group because some of our girls were involved in a lot of conflicts beginning as early as third grade and through the beginning of high school. Anywhere we feel there is a community-wide problem among our youth, we try to find a solution along with resources and put it under the umbrella of Youth Empowerment. What is the Defined Learning Project and why has it been important to your school district? We partnered with Defined Learning during my first year as a superintendent. The goal is to infuse academics with career exploration so that starting as early as kindergarten, students are doing projects that support science, social

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