Turnaround Practices in Achievement Gain Schools: Burke High School

Summary

The Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Boston has significantly improved its educational approach after being identified as a Turnaround School in 2010. The school focuses on creating a vibrant community of practice, deliberate instruction, data-driven student support, and a safe learning environment. Teachers build relationships with students, addressing both academic and emotional needs, especially in the face of poverty and trauma. Innovative strategies like the 4x4x1 schedule and targeted academic support have led to a decrease in suspensions and increased student engagement, emphasizing the importance of psychological safety and a collaborative staff culture.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The Jeremiah E. Burke High School is located in Dorchester, Boston, and serves students from 9th to 12th grade.
• 🔄 Identified as a Turnaround School in 2010, Burke implemented four key practices to improve significantly, including creating vibrant communities of practice.
• 🎓 The school is deliberate about instruction, using data to meet student needs, and establishing safe learning environments.
• 🌱 The impact of poverty is acknowledged, with the understanding that it shapes students' experiences and identities as learners.
• 🌟 Abdah St. Fleur's story highlights the challenges of coming to America and finding support at Burke High School.
• 💼 Cheryl Windle emphasizes the need for both academic reinforcement and building students' self-esteem from within.
• 📈 Katherine Peta discusses the importance of meeting students' social and emotional needs to improve their classroom performance.
• 🏠 The Youth Development Network helps with attendance issues by providing case managers for home visits.
• 📉 Suspensions at Burke have significantly decreased, reflecting a change in approach to student behavior.
• 🤝 James Likis talks about creating a student-friendly environment and engaging marginalized students with academic support.
• 📚 Isaiah Knight shares his experience of the school's supportive atmosphere despite the workload.
• 🤔 Sarah Evans stresses the importance of forming relationships with students and being consistent in approach.
• 📈 Lindsay McIntyre discusses the challenges of bridging the gap between students' current academic levels and the Common Core curriculum.
• 📝 The school has introduced a new 4x4x1 schedule to better manage instructional time and content.
• 📚 ELL Team Meetings show a focus on differentiating instruction to meet the varied needs of students.
• 🧠 Sarah Evans also mentions the focus on reasoning, critical thinking, and analysis to enhance students' understanding.
• 🔐 Lindsay McIntyre emphasizes the importance of psychological safety and accountability for effective learning.
• 👥 James Likis and Cheryl Windle highlight the value of staff culture and collegiality in supporting student progress.

Q & A

What grade levels does the Jeremiah E. Burke High School cater to?

The Jeremiah E. Burke High School serves students in 9th through 12th grade.

In what neighborhood and city is the Burke High School located?

Burke High School is located in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

What was the status of Burke High School in 2010?

In 2010, Burke High School was identified as a Turnaround School.

What are the four key practices implemented by Turnaround Schools in Massachusetts that made significant improvements?

The four key practices are creating vibrant communities of practice, being deliberate about instruction, using data to meet student needs, and establishing safe environments for learning.

How does poverty impact the students' learning experience at Burke High School according to Lindsa McInytre?

Lindsa McInytre explains that the impact of poverty on life and learning cannot be ignored as it becomes part of the students' experiences and shapes them as learners.

What was Abdah St. Fleur's initial experience with education in America?

Abdah St. Fleur found coming to America and adjusting to the education system very challenging until she got to Burke High School.

How does Cheryl Windle describe the approach to student support at Burke High School?

Cheryl Windle emphasizes that the school not only reinforces academics but also builds students from within, addressing their social and emotional needs.

What measure did Burke High School take to address attendance issues?

Burke High School incorporated the Youth Development Network, which provided case managers to conduct home visits and engage with students and their families.

How did the school reduce the number of suspensions?

By establishing clear expectations and teaching students about these expectations, the school saw a consistent decline in suspensions, now less than 20 for the year.

What is the school's approach to creating a student-friendly environment?

The school focuses on engaging marginalized students, creating a safe space for them to feel part of a community, and then increasing academic rigor with necessary supports.

What is the significance of the 4x4x1 schedule implemented at Burke High School?

The 4x4x1 schedule, consisting of 80-minute blocks, was introduced to help students manage longer class periods and allow teachers to strategically cover more content.

How does Sarah Evans describe the importance of the relationship between teachers and students?

Sarah Evans stresses that forming a strong relationship with students is crucial, as students need to know that teachers care about them and have their best interests at heart.

What is the school's strategy for enhancing students' critical thinking and reasoning skills?

The school focuses on teaching reasoning, critical thinking, and analysis, encouraging students to consider not just facts but also the 'how' and 'why' behind them, and to use evidence to support their arguments.

How does Lindsa MacIntyre describe the importance of psychological safety and accountability in the school community?

Lindsa MacIntyre emphasizes that psychological safety with accountability is key to creating an environment where teachers and students feel comfortable taking risks and working towards improvement.

What does Cheryl Windle highlight about the collaborative nature of the work at Burke High School during the turnaround?

Cheryl Windle points out that while the turnaround is hard work, it is not about working harder but working differently and incorporating teamwork, as no one can do it alone.