THE

SHANNON WRIGHT

AWARD

The Arkansas Exemplary

Middle School

CRITERIA

A school that demonstrates outstanding achievement in the implementation of the best middle practices as outlined in the report Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21^st Century (see attachment).

ELIGIBILITY

• A school must have implemented best practices as described in the eight principles of Turning Points.
• A school must serve students in any grade configuration that would include any of grade levels 5 through 9.
• Schools that were previous winners of the award may re-apply after three years.
• A school must be an institutional member of AAMLE.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• A formal letter of request on school stationary, a request by phone or e-mail from the school principal should be made no later than February 15^th . A request by mail should be sent to:

The Shannon Wright Award

AAMLE

PO Box 2120

Little Rock, AR 72203

• Submit application to the Awards Committee no later than February 15^th.
• Awards Committee will review all applications.
• Finalists will be chosen and notified by March 15^th.
• A visit to the top three applicants will be made during the spring semester (April or May).
• The Shannon Wright Award will be presented at the annual AAMLE Professional Development Conference in October.

Any questions may be directed to Dr. Mona Briggs, AAMLE Public Relations Coordinator (501) 658-1811, or Charles A. Green, AAMLE Executive Director at (501) 351-6638.

THE SHANNON WRIGHT AWARD

SPONSORED BY

The Arkansas Association of Middle Level Education

APPLICATION

PART A:

School____________________________ District_________________________________

Principal__________________________ Superintendent___________________________

Grade Configuration_________________ Student Population (5-9)___________________

School Mailing Address: District Mailing Address:

__________________________________ _______________________________________

__________________________________ _______________________________________

__________________________________ _______________________________________

Phone_____________________________ Phone__________________________________

Fax_______________________________ Fax____________________________________

School Contact Person________________________________________________________

E-mail________________________________________________________

Principal Signature______________________________________Date_________________

Superintendent Signature_________________________________Date_________________

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PART B:

The Arkansas Association of Middle Level Education recognizes that good middle level schools evolve over time. Good middle schools do have certain common characteristics, however. Please describe in narrative form how the school in question is impacting positively in each of the identified Turning Points for middle level schools. Use additional sheets as needed.

CREATING A COMMUNITY FOR LEARNING

1. Describe the team concept, as it exists at the applicant school. Explain how the team concept has affected delivery of the curriculum. Do the teams have common planning

time? Individual planning time?

2. How could the middle level school be defined as a distinct entity in the K-12 setting?

What district level support has encouraged this identity?

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3. How can the climate of the applicant school be described as developmentally appropriate?

And conducive to learning?

4. What systems are in place to adequately monitor and assess academic growth across the

curriculum?

3

TEACHING A CORE OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

1. To what extent is the curriculum organized to be supported by interdisciplinary themes?

By use of technology?

2. What opportunities exist for the student to explore the curriculum?

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3. How is health education integrated into the core instructional program?

4. Describe how teachers are viewed as facilitators through which young people may construct knowledge?

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ENSURING SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS

1. To what extent is heterogeneous grouping used to meet the needs of all students? How

are you meeting the needs of sub-groups / sub-populations within your school community?

2. To what extent has flexibility been incorporated into the daily schedule?

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3. How is the support staff utilized for remediation and enrichment?

4. What participation based extra-curricular activity programs exists to meet student interest needs?

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EMPOWERING TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS

1. Describe how teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and key representatives from the community participates in the decision making process.

2. How has the instructional leader moved the applicant school toward a more responsive middle level philosophy?

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3. To what extent do teacher teams exercise control over curricular goals, use of time, and procedures?

PREPARING TEACHERS FOR THE MIDDLE LEVEL

1. What staff development opportunities have enabled teachers to be more in tune with the

physical, emotional, social, and intellectual characteristics of the middle level student?

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IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE THROUGH HEALTH AND FITNESS

1. Describe what system the applicant school has in place to identify physical and

emotional health problems and provide for interventions or referrals to outside agencies or individuals.

2. Describe counseling or mediation programs available to students.

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REENGAGING FAMILIES IN EDUCATION

1. Describe meaningful opportunities that are afforded parents to become involved

with school programs and activities.

2. What support does the school provide to help parents understand their emerging adolescent?

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CONNECTING SCHOOLS WITH COMMUNITIES

1. What school community collaborations exist to better meet the emerging needs of the

middle level student? (Include any use of technology)

PART C:

Give a succinct summary of the applicant schools growth history in the areas of achievement, attendance, and discipline. Attach any necessary charts, graphs, or statistical evidence as needed.

(1) Achievement

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(2) Attendance

(3) Discipline

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PART D:

The Shannon Wright Award will be presented at the AAMLE Annual Conference in Hot Springs. All applications must be received by February 15th in order to be considered in the competition. Please mail five (5) copies of the completed application to:

The Shannon Wright Award

Arkansas Association of Middle Level Education

P.O. Box 2120

Little Rock, AR 72203

PART E:

The following signatures indicating support for middle level practices and endorsing this application are required:

___________________________________ ____________________________________

Principal Superintendent

___________________________________ ____________________________________

Team Leader Team Leader

___________________________________ ____________________________________

Parent Parent

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TURNING POINTS

PRINCIPALS FOR

MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOLS

· Create small communities for learning, where stable, close and mutually respectful relationships with adults and peers are considered fundamental for intellectual development and personal growth.

· Teach a core academic program that results in students who are literate, including the sciences, and who know how to think critically, lead a healthy life, behave ethically, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship in a pluralistic society.

· Ensure success for all students through the elimination of tracking by achievement level and promotion of cooperative learning, flexibility in arranging instructional time, and adequate resources for teachers.

· Empower teachers and administrators to make decisions about the experiences of middle grade students through creative control by teachers over the instructional program.

· Staff middle grade schools with teachers who are experts at teaching young adolescents and who have been specially prepared for assignment to the middle grades.

· Improving academic performance through better health and fitness by ensuring access to health services and establishing schools as health-promoting environments.

· Re-engaging families in the education of young adolescents by keeping parents informed and by offering families opportunities to support learning at home and at school.

· Connecting schools with communities by providing opportunities for youth service, ensuring student access to health and social services, supporting the middle grade education program, augmenting resources for teachers and students, and expanding career guidance for students.

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