Pacesetter Spotlight: Richland High School’s Flex Block

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Welcome to a special two-part episode of the Making Schools Work podcast! In this first installment, we're joined by Richard Morrison, senior leadership coach at SREB, as he discusses his three-year partnership with Richland High School in Mississippi. We also hear directly from Richland High School's principal, Marcus Stewart, and assistant principal, Heather Bryan, about their incredible journey of improvement.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Power of a Curriculum and Instructional Review (CIR): Discover how Richland High School, a middle-high school serving 7th-12th graders, utilized a comprehensive CIR process to identify areas for growth and promising practices. Principal Marcus Stewart shares how the data-driven, neutral review helped foster receptiveness and transparency among staff.
• A Culture Shift Towards Improvement: Hear how Richland High School transitioned from skepticism to open reflection and courage, leading to significant positive changes in student achievement.
• Impressive Gains in Accountability & Proficiency: Learn about Richland High School's remarkable improvements, including a consistent rise in their Mississippi accountability rating, a doubling of AP enrollment, a 30%+ jump in AP proficiency, increased reading proficiency and a rise in math proficiency from 75% to 82%.
• The Revolutionary "Flex Block" System: Assistant Principal Heather Bryan details the innovative "Flex Block," a unique daily scheduled time designed for both student and teacher development.
• Student Benefits: Explore how students utilize Flex Block for academic remediation and enrichment on Wednesdays, and for high-interest "human interest" clubs (like Wiffle Ball Club, Taylor Swift Club or Spa Club) on Thursdays, fostering engagement and diverse experiences.
• Teacher Professional Development: Understand how the Flex Block is leveraged for differentiated professional learning communities and professional development for teachers, including book studies and dedicated time for national board certification candidates.
• Empowering New Teachers and Peer-Led Learning: Discover how new teachers receive dedicated support during Flex Block and how the school is fostering peer-developed professional learning opportunities led by experienced teachers.

Stay tuned for Part 2! In our next episode, we'll continue our conversation with Dr. Stewart and Dr. Bryan to delve into how Richland High School boosted their AP program, connected students to career pathways and set high expectations for their teachers. You won't want to miss it!

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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