Empowerment Schools receive support that is localized, relevant and practical. As part of a network of approximately 20 schools, principals have the power to select a team of five individuals to provide support, guidance, advocacy, and coaching related to all issues ranging from instruction to budget. The job of the Network Team is to support schools in meeting all of their instructional and operational needs while ensuring that schools can reach their accountability targets. By selecting the Network Team and providing regular feedback, principals are able to ensure the Network Team has the skills and knowledge to help schools reach their goals.
The Network Team will customize support regardless of school size, level, or any classification. The diversity of the current Empowerment Schools exemplifies that the support structure designed is capable of supporting all schools.
Under the leadership of the Network Leader, each member of the Network Team is a subject matter expert in the areas of instruction, achievement, business services and special services. Regardless of functional role, each member of the Network Team acts as a professional developer, problem-solver, thought partner, navigator and ally.
The Achievement Coach supports schools in going through the new citywide accountability initiative by assisting principals in making the best use of centralized tools such as the new ARIS data system, Quality Reviews, progress reports and in mining and making effective use of achievement data to drive a school’s progress.
With a Business Services Manager schools are not alone in navigating the operational obstacles with regard to budget, purchasing, human resources, contracts, and grants. The Business Services Manager provides guidance, troubleshooting, problem-solving and advocacy related to all such issues.
The Special Services Manager offers support on issues related to special education, ELL, intervention and youth development. To improve student achievement and accelerate student learning, Special Services Manager provide professional development and guidance on special education regulations, service delivery practices, and instructional best-practices for special needs students (including Special Education students, English Language Learners, and at-risk student populations). Additionally the Special Services Manager advocates and negotiates resolutions across the key functions for special needs students including referral, placement, and service delivery for those students.
The Lead Instructional Mentor helps principals develop and design a program to support and mentor new teachers and provide other professional development needs like differentiated instruction.
Again, the support provided is completely dependent upon a school’s needs and desires. For the future our hope is to allow the network structure to adapt to the need of the network schools by allowing principals to decide to increase, decrease, or change the number and function of positions within the Network Team.