Unique Approaches to
Raising Student Achievement

Raising student achievement is a District-wide goal, and two unique approaches are managing to do just that.


Miramar High School’s Mentor Program In order to increase the graduation rate of

Miramar High School FCAT Mentor Coaches

Miramar High School students, the school established a Mentor Program in the fall of 2005 that has proven to be very successful. A total of 117 upperclassmen have been recruited to serve as mentors to 9th graders whose FCAT reading scores were in the lowest 25th percentile or who were targeted due to poor behavior. The objective of the Mentor Program – which operates under the supervision of coordinator John Murray and coach Melissa Sirin – is to put these freshmen on the right track towards graduation.

To be a mentor, students need a grade point average of 2.0 or above, few or no behavior concerns and must demonstrate a willingness to dedicate time and energy to help the targeted students succeed during their critical first year of high school. Twenty volunteer mentor coaches, most of whom are either teachers or staff members, oversee mentors. As coaches, they supervise their assigned group of mentors, organize bi-weekly meetings and attend monthly mentor meetings and events.

The pairing of mentors and mentees was based on several “in-common” factors, including language, lunch periods and elective periods. Each pairing formula is designed to create maximum time for students to meet for tutoring and counseling. Once mentor coaches are assigned their groups of mentors and mentees, an orientation is held after school – at which time the mentors and mentor coaches meet their assigned group of mentees and their respective parents.

The program’s results so far this school year have been outstanding. Mentees had an average of 27.9% increase in their grade point averages from the first to second marking periods and significantly improved their Benchmark Assessment Test scores from September to December. Last, but not least, there was a noted decrease in referrals and behavioral issues with the students participating in the Mentor Program.

The program’s success has garnered much interest around the county and even earned Broward County’s Quality Award in March. Mentor recruiting for next school year has already begun.

Hallandale High Business Students Volunteer to Improve FCAT Scores
Students enrolled in Hallandale High School’s Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship (IBE) learn about America’s free-enterprise system, entrepreneurship and the real world of business – including the importance of making a difference in their communities. When it was time to choose a community

IBE students assist students at the Hepburn Center

service project, the junior class chose one that was two-fold. One of the IBE students had already been volunteering at the Hepburn Center, where he saw a need for positive teenage role models. He recommended to his peers that they consider helping the 250 school-age children in the center’s after-school program with their homework and FCAT studies. They agreed and called their initiative, “Chargers Taking Charge of Their Community.”

Since January, IBE students have been visiting the center after school to assist with math and reading groups, Black History Month, FCAT reading and FCAT Explorer. Simply by teaching children how to study and by serving as positive role models, these teens have made a great impact on the children at the Hepburn Center.

Miramar High’s Mentor Program and Hallandale High’s IBE community service project are just two examples of the hundreds of unique and creative approaches employed within Broward County schools to raise student achievement. We hope reading about them will motivate you to develop and implement your own initiatives. Good luck!

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Appointments &
Reassignments

February 21,    2006
The Board approved the following appointments: Ronald Adderley, Assistant Principal, The Quest Center; David Harvin, Interim Assistant Principal, New Renaissance Middle; and James Wollschlager, Supervisor, Police Operations.

The Board also approved the following reassignments: Matthew Decker, Special Assignment Project Manager II, Facilities Project Management; Francine Baugh-James, Acting Interim Assistant Principal, Deerfield Beach High; Jacqueline Smith, Acting Interim Assistant Principal, New Renaissance Middle; and Charles Zimmerman, Acting Interim Assistant Principal, Pompano Beach Middle.

March 7,   2006
The Board approved the following appointments: Shukree Cha-Jua, Coordinator, Head Start; Jeffrey Whitney, Assistant Director, Capital Budget; Gail Silig, Interim Assistant Principal, Cooper City Elementary; Jacqueline Ackerina, Training Analyst; Tanisha McFarlane, Specialist, Head Start/Early Head Start.

April 18,   2006
The Board approved the following appointments: Jan Beal, Area Director, School Improvement (South Central); Russell Clement, Director, Student Assessment & School Performance; Ann Evans, Curriculum Specialist, Educational Programs; Dr. Joel Herbst, Area Director, School Improvement (South Central); Jonathan Peservich, Driector, Real Estate & Environmental Planning; Toni Weissberg, Area Director, School Improvement (North Central); Anthony Smith, Interim Assistant Principal, Everglades High; and Lewis Jackson, Acting Interim Principal, Hallandale Elementary

The Board also approved the following reassignment:  Margaret (Sharon) Ludwig, Principal, Hallandale Elementary.