English Department Meetings

Vision Meeting 5/3/2017

1.Darrin Brozene 6.Jessica Stith

2.Maya Furukawa 7.

3.Marissa Adkins 8. Rob Hathaway

4.Caitlin Bell-McCarthy 9. Sara H

5.Courtney Queen 10. Jennifer Travis

Vision and mission statements provide schools with an overview of where they want to go and
what they want to be. Vision and mission statements establish clear expectations and standards
for the whole school community, and help the school reach common goals.
○ A vision statement is a collective expression of the school’s aspirations. A vision is
concise and easy to recall.
○ A mission statement provides an overview of the steps to achieve that future vision. A
mission is lengthier and is the "how-to" statements that help schools achieve their vision.
1

Vision​: A vision statement describes the department as it would appear in a future successful
state. When developing a vision statement, try to answer this question: If the department were to
achieve all of its strategic goals, what would it look like 10 years from now? An effective vision
statement is inspirational and aspirational. It creates a mental image of the future state that the
department wishes to achieve. A vision statement should challenge and inspire employees.​2

Sample Vision Statements 3​​ :

Every Battlefield High School student will achieve personal success and become a
responsible and productive citizen.

The Richard Montgomery cluster will work collaboratively to ensure all students succeed.
Placing the highest priority on reading and writing instruction will support consistent student
achievement so that all students attain grade-level or higher performance levels annually,
as measured by county, state, and national assessments. Partnerships across the cluster
will sustain student success so that all students will read fluently by the end of Grade 2,
write proficiently in both narrative and expository modes, pass algebra by the end of Grade
 8, pass all High School Assessments on the first attempt, and graduate on schedule with
the skills and knowledge required for success in higher education and/or the workplace.

Our vision, as a community, is to inspire a passion for learning.

All Potomac Senior High School students will achieve personal success in their learning
and become responsible and productive citizens.

At Brentsville District we believe that all students can learn to their fullest potential. Student
learning will be enhanced by national, global, and multicultural perspectives. Graduates will
possess the basic knowledge and skills that will assure their proficiency in problem solving
and technology. They will be responsible citizens, lifelong learners, and will be prepared for
a variety of post graduation options.

Questions to guide a vision statement:

● What kind of department do we hope to be?

● What should be reflected in our vision statement?

● What do we need to do differently to achieve this vision?

● How are we different from other departments? What unique opportunities or pathways
do we offer?

Vision statements should be:

● Understood and shared by members of the community

● Broad enough to include a diverse variety of local perspectives
● Inspiring and uplifting to everyone involved in your effort
● Easy to communicate - for example, they are generally short enough to fit on a
T-shirt

English Department Vision:​ As a department, we are committed to advancing student

achievement through the use of rigorous academic opportunities which are creative,
collaborative,culturally relevant, and developed through critical thinking skills in order to
graduate socially conscious citizens.

Question Adkins Bell- Brozene Furukawa Queen Stith Travis

McCarthy

What kind of The Plans Cohesive One The Fun ← What

Collaborative
department do we Forest with that one! she said.
Creative
hope to be? Park colleague Critical actually One that
 English s to Cultured works. drives One that
team is prepare Like student is
committe 21st one achievem collabora
d to century where ent and tive,
advancin learning student success. productiv
g student and s Collabora e, and
achievem encourag actually tive and sees
ent es grow in supportiv results of
through students their e. effective
multiple to utilize reading, Excited teaching
levels of these writing, and via
collabora skills and motivated growth in
tion and speakin , eager to student
integratin g try data.
g STEAM abilities technolo
and 21​st gies and
Century strategies
learning .
into our
planning
and
practices.
Critical
thinking,
communi
cation,
creativity,
collabora
tion are
central to
our work
together
and with
students.

What should be STEAM Commitm Real world Somethi Student STEAM/

reflected in our ent to implication ng readiness CCSS
vision statement? practicin s of about for
g 21st English reading post-seco
century skills writing ndary
collabora and options.
tion speakin Authentic
g assessm
ent?

What do we need to More Practice Give I DO Meaningf -Understa

do differently to collabora using students NOT ul and nd what
achieve this vision? tion on technolo practical KNOW.. strategic STEAM is
actual gy/21st skills and . incorpora and how
lesson century tie them tion of it applies
planning- learning into technolo to FPHS
 more skills as lessons gy. and the
technolo teachers English
gy and dept.
awarenes foster its
s (for me, use -Focus in
at least) within the on
classroo skills/stra
m. It will tegies
take that are
upfront evidence-
planning based
and
WORK
for our
students

How are we We rock. Sense of WE Focus on -Respectf

different from other Also, we collabora TEACH skills, not ul and
departments? teach a tive ENGLIS standard productiv
subject approach H ​We s. e
that and pick on collabora
easily willingne Brozene tion
and often ss to . -Focus
leaks into learn on
other from student
subjects; each successe
we can other s/ best
capitalize practices
on this to -MORE
tap PRESSU
student RE!!!
interest. (PARCC,
i-Ready,
SATs….
All those
high
stakes
testing
that
students
need to
be able to
READ
AND
COMPRE
HEND in
order to
understa
nd)
 Mission Meeting 5/10/17

1.Darrin Brozene 6.Jessica Stith

2.Maya Furukawa 7.Jennifer Travis

3.Marissa Adkins

4.Caitlin Bell-McCarthy

5.Courtney Queen

Mission:​ A mission statement explains the department’s reason for existence. It describes the
department, what it does and its overall intention. The mission statement supports the vision and
serves to communicate purpose and direction to employees, students, and other stakeholders.
The mission can change to reflect a department’s priorities and methods to accomplish its vision.

Sample Mission Statements​4​:

At Battlefield Senior High School, we believe that student learning is the chief priority and
all students can learn to their fullest potential. Students will develop their individual talents,
critical thinking, and technology skills by being actively engaged in the learning process.
Continuous commitment to improvement ensures that our students are well-rounded,
self-directed, lifelong learners. By maintaining a safe and optimum learning environment,
we provide the opportunity for students to be successful. Promoting high standards and
expectations, teachers, administrators, parents, and the community share the responsibility
for advancing the school's mission.

In order to prepare students to live in and contribute to a changing world and engage in
active, lifelong learning, Richard Montgomery High School provides a balanced, varied
school curriculum designed to meet the academic, cultural, and social needs of individuals
from the diverse backgrounds of our community.

John T. Baker Middle School seeks to be an exemplary learning community school. We

build the foundation of this community through meaningful relationships, relevant and
engaging learning, and effective communication. We challenge ourselves to be better than
we think we can be, and advocate for the greater good of our multidimensional community.
Our success in this mission will build lifelong, confident learners, who have the tools
necessary for success in a changing world.
 Our mission is to empower all students to apply their acquired skills and knowledge, and to
rely upon their personal attributes to lead productive lives and to become contributing
members of the global community.

Our mission is to provide a high-quality, comprehensive, and meaningful education for all
students. Each student will be expected to succeed within the bounds of their abilities and
chosen educational goals. Each student will be treated as an individual, given the tools to
be a lifelong learner, and taught to function as a member of a group and as a productive
member of society.

Questions to guide Mission Statements:

1. Why are you here? What do you want for yourself, your family and your students?

2. Who are your students? What can you do for them that will enrich their lives and contribute to
their success—now and in the future?

3. What image of your department do you want to convey?Students, staff, employees and the
public will all have perceptions of your department. How will you create the desired picture?

4. What is the nature of your products and services? Consider how these relate to the reasons for
your existence. How will all this change over time?

5. What level of service (teaching) do you provide? Most companies believe they offer “the best
service available,” but do your stakeholders agree? Don’t be vague; define what makes your
service so extraordinary.

6. What roles do you and your staff play? Wise captains develop a leadership style that
organizes, challenges and recognizes employees.

7. How will you use technology, capital, processes, products, and services to reach your goals? A
description of your strategy will keep your energies focused on your goals.

8. What underlying philosophies or values guided your responses to the previous questions?
Some departments choose to list these separately. Writing them down clarifies the “why” behind
your mission.
 A Mission Statement should be​6​:

● Concise.​ While not as short as vision statements, mission statements generally still get their point
across in one sentence.
● Outcome-oriented​. Mission statements explain the fundamental outcomes your organization is
working to achieve.
● Inclusive​. While mission statements do make statements about your group's key goals, it's very
important that they do so very broadly. Good mission statements are not limiting in the strategies
or sectors of the community that may become involved in the project.

Question Adkins Bell- Brozene Furukawa Queen Stith Travis

McCarthy

Why are we here? To help To help Determini Because Here to I think To

students students ng how every help our prepare
strengthe build we student students students students
n their confidenc deliver deserves learn. are to be
reading e in their and make a good BCTR disadvant literate
and ability to the vision education pulls aged by and
writing learn new come to . random the productiv
skills as skills. life. people structure e citizens
well as off the of the upon
build streets… district graduatio
their I was one and high n/promoti
confidenc of them! teacher on from
e in turnover. our
themselv I also classes,
es and think that and to
their our give them
abilities students the
need high confidenc
quality, e to
dedicated advocate
teachers for
who themselv
believe in es.
their
potential
and are
willing to
push
them to
achieve
it.

Who are our Our They Critical Teenager They are Our Our
students and how students need lots thinkers s filled young students students
can we help them? are of who need with and full are are
scholars different the potential. of teenagers extremely
who have supports opportuni potential. , most of diverse in
 a desire from us; ty to I do not them are terms of
to be they are analyze know also academic
successf critically in this how to students ability
ul. It is behind in way. help them with high and
our job to reading ACE experienc
give them and scores es. Many
the writing. who lack have not
opportuni sufficient had
ty to tap supports positive
into that and/or experienc
success. have not es with
learned the
societal education
expectati s system,
ons. and
almost all
are
significan
tly behind
in math
and
reading.
Our
students
need
consisten
t and
effective
academic
supports,
coupled
with
caring
and
devoted
teachers
who will
empower
them to
realise
their
potentials
.

What image do we An image One that One full The We want That we
want to convey? of challenge of image I’d to be are
teachers s motivatio like to perceived committe
who are students n convey is as d to
dedicated and a serious educator student
to engages and s who are success.
student them in urgent educated,
sucess. learning image. dedicated
with READ , and
 necessar NOW OR skilled.
y DIE We want
supports L8TR… to make
Like real
symbolic progress
for an with our
intellectu students.
al death

What is the nature Supportiv A Sassy Good Our -Positive

of our department? e collabora natured departme -Collabor
tive team Sincere nt is a ative
that Hopeful core -Supporti
engages departme ve
one nt, we professio
another build the nally and
and skills that personall
supports students y
each need to -Humoro
other be us
with successf
feedback. ul in
other
subjects
as well as
our own.
Our
tempera
ment is a
bit sassy,
but it is
also
focused
on the
work we
do.

What is the quality Boss Focused The best Low I think we We hold
or level of teaching level on we can Level are high
we provide? reading do moving academic
and towards a expectati
writing standard ons for
supports that is our
with rigorous students
scaffolds for all while
to students, also
support but meets providing
deficits in students supports
ability. at their to meet
individual their
levels academic
and helps needs.
them
 develop
towards
the
common
goal.

What roles do we Teacher, Numerou Teacher, Teacher Teacher, SO.

play? advisor, s, “school Friend advisor, MANY.
role teacher, mom” Counselo mentor, -Educator
model support r coach, -Student
system, Advisor cheerlead -Counsel
advisor Mentor er, or
MOM OR educator, -Mentor
DAD counselo -Support
Pastor r, social system
worker,
confidant
, role
model,

What resources will Challengi Technolo Good Books Tested Technolo

we use? ng texts, gy is key ones Well and gy,
tech but we planned Proven evidence-
need a lessons strategies based
foundatio , specific practices/
n for this strategies strategies
“21st and best /intervent
Century” practices ions,
learning to drive books,
our each
instructio other
n and
prioritizat
ion,
whicheve
r
technolo
gies are
appropria
te for the
work we
are
doing.

What are our Creating Also We value We value

philosophies and/or engaging good literacy the power
values? lesson ones and see of literacy
that make our work and
learning as crucial education
meaningf to social al equity
ul for justice.
students We think
that
 making
our
students
better
readers
and
writers
doesn’t
make
them
better
people,
but it can
help them
create
better
lives for
themselv
es.

Forest Park’s Current Vision/Mission:

Mission:​ The guiding mission of Forest Park High School is that every scholar will graduate,
environmentally conscious, ​globally competitive​ for work and post-secondary education, and
thoroughly prepared for life in the 21st Century.

Vision:​ Every scholar excels in a rigorous and relevant ​21st Century Common Core​ curriculum that
includes a mastery of languages, an appreciation of the arts, competency in the use of ​technology​,
and prepared to ​excel in a globally competitive workforce​. Every student’s achievement is measured
with an ​assessment portfolio that drives instruction and evaluates knowledge, skills, performance,
and dispositions​ needed in the 21st Century

English Department Vision:​ As a department, we are committed to advancing student

achievement through the use of rigorous academic opportunities which are creative, collaborative,
culturally relevant, and developed through critical thinking skills in order to graduate socially
conscious citizens.

English Mission Statement: Mission​: ​In order to empower our students to create better lives for
themselves, contribute to an evolving world, and sustain active learning, our department is committed to
engaging students in a balanced, varied English curricula designed to meet their individual academic,
cultural,and social needs. As faculty we strive to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our
students while pushing them to meet standards of college and career readiness. We equip our students
with the tools and technology to advocate for themselves and others, to effectively communicate in a
variety of mediums, and become socially conscientious global citizens.
In order to prepare students to live in and contribute to a changing world and engage in active, lifelong
learning, Richard Montgomery High School provides a balanced, varied school curriculum designed to
meet the academic, cultural, and social needs of individuals from the diverse backgrounds of our
community.

Our mission is to provide a high-quality, comprehensive, and meaningful education for all students.
Each student will be expected to succeed within the bounds of their abilities and chosen educational
goals. Each student will be treated as an individual, given the tools to be a lifelong learner, and taught
to function as a member of a group and as a productive member of society.

● Connected to social justice

● Technology
● Supportive/Supports
● Student agency
● Globally, socially, politically, emotionally, conscious
● Mastery of language
Memedom