On 4/14/2011 I attended a seminar about Pennsylvania Middle School Association Accreditation, which was presented by the principal of the Yellow Breeches Middle School. What I came away with from this seminar was inspiration and admiration for the devotion that this principal had to developing his midlle school. My son is a middle school student and happens to attend the same middle school that I attended and what I found is that he is doing some of the same exact projects that I was assigned over 25 years ago! This is kind of sad in comparison to Yellow Breeches Middle School, who is constantly challenging their students with new ideas and technology.
The key ingredients for the Yellow Breeches Middle School's success lies with the fact that they treat every child as an individual. How you ask? By compiling research on each student. It seems like a daunting task, however this school is proof that it can be done and is an aid in the education of students. Each student's file contains their learning style, test scores from the previous years, and any pertinent information that would be needed to help understand each student as an individual.
Naturally, the staff plays a signifigant role. Hiring decisions impact the quality of education, plain and simple.
Yellow Breeches wants teachers who constantly challenge how students learn and how they can impact EACH student. The hiring authorities want to know how teachers can excite, and motivate their students. Teachers must have high expectations of their students, a basic understanding of research practices, and an understanding of the biological needs of middle schoolers.
Yellow Breeches also has reduced tracking in their school system. The entire school operates on two tracks. Students are not stuck in a track, they are able to move within tracks based on their individual needs. This is achieved through the research performed.
Addressing other issues increases test scores. One fourth of the school day is spent in the "arts, humanities, culture, technology, and personal and family health and wellness." There are many extra curricular activities, which include clubs, drama, and music. Every year the entire school decides on a project and completes it as a whole school together, including staff. Yellow Breeches is dedicated to community service. They believe that connections in the classroom, connections to student's lives and connections to the real world are going to make each student successful citizens. I believe them!
Here is a link to the PMSA: Pennsylvania Middle School Association
