1. Plymouth South High School
Creating a Culture that Prioritizes Personalization and Leads to
Effective School Change
March 8, 2012
NASSP
Monday, March 5, 2012

2. Where is Plymouth,
Massachusetts?
Monday, March 5, 2012

3. Location - 40 miles south of Boston, MA
Largest town in Massachusetts: population - 52,000,
134 square miles
9 Elementary Schools - 2 Middle Schools - 2 High
Schools
Birthplace of the Nation
Monday, March 5, 2012

4. PSHS Mission Statement
The mission of Plymouth South High School is to deliver a quality
education in a caring, safe, and respectable environment that
encourages a diverse student body to become independent, critical
thinkers and productive citizens in a changing society.
Monday, March 5, 2012

5. Facts about PSHS:
Relatively New School
(Opened with students in 1989)
1400 Students
203 Staff members
True Comprehensive High
School (chapter 74 - 14 shops)
19% Special Education
25% Low Income (Free/Reduced
Lunch)
6% Non-White
Overcrowded facility
(school built for 1200 students)
Monday, March 5, 2012

6. Compass Activity
North
“Let’s do it!”
Likes to act, try things, plunge in
West East
“Paying attention to details...” “Speculating...”
Like to know the who, what, Like to look at the big picture
when, where, and why before and the possibilities before
acting acting
South
“Caring”
Like to know that everyone’s feeling have
been taken into consideration, that their
voices have been heard, before acting
Monday, March 5, 2012

7. Why a culture shift was
needed...
NEASC Status
Dropout Rate
Multiple study halls per student
Discipline/Attendance/Aggressive Behaviors
Grade 9 Failures
Low Behavioral Standards
Crowded Hallways
No Staff Ownership/Accountability
Monday, March 5, 2012

8. What we do well...
School Culture
Freshman Academy
Advisory
Communicate
Collaborate
Promote Student Successes
Monday, March 5, 2012

9. School Culture
Staff Accountability
Advanced Placement Recognition
Literacy Initiative - “Write On!”
Faculty Senate - Rumor Control
Leadership Team - Common Vision
Technology Upgrade
Student Discipline/High Standards
Monday, March 5, 2012

10. School Change
Implementation Timeline
2005-2006 - Freshman Academy
2006-2007 - Freshman Academy with Housemaster
2007-2008 - Initial Review/Research Advisory
Program
2008-2009 - Advisory Pilot - Schedule Review
2009-2010 - New Schedule - Advisory Grades 9/10 -
Voluntary 11/12
2010-2011 - Old Schedule - Advisory - Senior
Project Research
Monday, March 5, 2012

11. PSHS Freshman Academy
History - Team Structure - Seventh Consecutive Year
Common Planning Time - Technology
Housemaster - Guidance - Staff Teams
Reading Lab - SRI Testing/Lexile Scores
Grade 9 Events: Camp Clark, Barbecue, Academy
Awards, etc.
Website - Teacher & Housemaster Blogs
ENHANCED Communication with Families
Monday, March 5, 2012

12. Logistics of Advisory
Fourth consecutive year
Freshmen and Sophomores mandatory
Juniors and Seniors optional
Curriculum Binders by Grade Level
9th - Transition into High School; Study Skills
10th - Career Exploration; Driver’s License
11th - Personal Finance; Stress Management
12th - Conflict Resolution; Post-Secondary Process
Looping for four years
Monday, March 5, 2012

13. Longitudinal Data for
Advisory
2008-2009
2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012
(Pilot Program)
Advisories Per Two Days Two Days One Day Two Days
Week 25 Minutes/Day 25 Minutes/Day 25 Minutes/Day 25 Minutes/Day
Yes Yes
Curriculum Yes * provided to teachersJune * additional units created Yes
before Sept. start based on teacher input
Advisors compensated No $400.00 stipend $400.00 stipend
Stipend for meeting time
(hourly rate) compensation (SLC Grant) (SLC Grant)
Professional Yes
Yes Yes Yes
Development (added CPT)
# of Teachers
12 Teachers 61 Teachers 76 Teachers 89 Teachers
Involved
% of Students 13% of student 63% of student 76% of student 87% of student
Involved population population population population
Monday, March 5, 2012

14. Personalization
Goals of PSHS...Achieved!!
Effective
Freshmen Senior
Advisory
Academy Project
Program
Reduced freshman failures
Real life application of education
Reduced Dropout Rate - Sustainability
DRASTICALLY - Improved School Culture
Monday, March 5, 2012

15. Senior Project
The purpose of the Senior Project is to empower all students to explore
an area of great personal interest that extends beyond the classroom
setting. Through this project based learning, students will apply
knowledge and connect research that culminates with a showcase
demonstrating their learning stretch. Students will produce physical/
written products, oral presentations, and portfolios.
“6 P’s”
Proposal
Paper
Practicum
Product
Portfolio
Presentation
Monday, March 5, 2012

16. Panther TV Story
Monday, March 5, 2012

17. Student Perspective
Monday, March 5, 2012

18. Seniors: Mariah McKenna
and Anna Gleason
Anna - Social Media and the Athlete
Real World Application
Positives
Mariah - The Evolution of Lacrosse
Networking
Challenges
Monday, March 5, 2012

19. Teacher Perspective
Monday, March 5, 2012

20. Obstacles
Implementing Change
Contractual Obligations
Disgruntled Staff
Senior Project - Next Steps
Advisory/Senior Project
Facilitator
Bell schedule
Other - must keep moving forward
Monday, March 5, 2012

21. Where do we go from here?
Redistricting - New North
Increase Population of Senior
Project Students
Maintain Advisory Program
Sustain Strong School Culture
Monday, March 5, 2012

22. Questions/Answers
“Change is optional; growth is mandatory”
-Michael Fullan
Monday, March 5, 2012