‘Instructional Focus’ for the Bethel Public Schools is Based on the ‘2021-2022 Strategic Plan’ –Dr. Carver, Superintendent of Bethel Public Schools

Report by Paula Antolini, August 12, 2021, 9:53PM EDT

“Our instructional focus for the 2021-2022 school year based on our Strategic Plan,” states Dr. Christine Carver, Superintendent of Bethel Public Schools, on Thursday, August 12th.

Shown below is the Bethel Public Schools Strategic Plan 2021-2025 which Dr. Carver said was the same plan.

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Bethel Public Schools Strategic Plan 2021-2025

“Our Primary Purpose is to Improve Student Achievement.”

The purpose of this site is to provide parents, community members, staff and students an overview of our five year strategic vision for the Bethel Public Schools. In addition, we also want to provide our stakeholders with access to multi-year outcome data linked to our strategic initiatives and overall progress as a system. The plan is not static, but a living document which continually evolves based on the needs of our students in the system and based on a Theory of Action.

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BPS Equity Statement

The Bethel Public Schools has adopted the CAPSS Equity Statement:

Equity is achieved when student outcomes are not predicted by gender, race, ethnicity, class, or special needs and where all students reach a level of efficacy and competencies that support a rewarding and productive life. This requires the elimination of the inequalities that contribute to disproportionate learning and achievement by students of different social groups while ensuring all students are prepared for a productive and meaningful life.

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Bethel Public Schools is to foster a culture of excellence and achievement accomplished through strong, collaborative relationships and rigorous teaching and learning opportunities for all learners.

Our graduates will be compassionate, skilled and inquisitive individuals, who take initiative in making positive contributions to society.

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Core Beliefs

We believe:

  1. that educational excellence benefits the entire community and is the shared responsibility of students, families, educators, staff, and citizens.
  2. that equity is a fundamental value, providing for high-quality education and that the diversity of our students is an asset to the educational community.
  3. in having high expectations for all children to learn and grow to their full potential.
  4. in developing caring, respectful, and supportive relationships among stakeholders which creates an environment that fosters social-emotional growth.
  5. that if we want our students to engage in a global workforce and become effective stewards of democracy, we need to develop their ability to think critically, become effective collaborators, creators and innovators.
  6. in the necessity of teaching students to become informed and positive contributing members of society.
  7. that recruiting, developing, and retaining exceptional educators creates a rigorous learning environment that will prepare our students for the demands of the future workforce.
  8. that safe, secure, well-maintained, equipped facilities are essential for the physical, social-emotional, and intellectual development of our students.
  9. in communicating the fundamental value and quality of education being delivered in our schools.

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Focus Area: Empowered Learners

Goal:

Develop empowered learners who engage in autonomous decision-making, self-directed learning, reflection, and take ownership of progress and outcomes. 

Theory of Action:

If we design environments that foster curiosity and engage learners in authentic, relevant problems and tasks where they can set goals, initiate actions to achieve those goals, seek feedback, and reflect on their progress, then they will be empowered and develop their agency and self-efficacy.

~(Education Reimagined)

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Focus Area: Social Emotional Competencies

Goal:

To develop and promote students’ self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making; in order to improve students’ social and emotional well-being, and their performance in school and in life.

Theory of Action:

If we develop a strong system for social emotional learning (SEL) by: implementing an SEL curriculum aligned to a research-based framework and/or standards, assessing student progress and needs, and organizing our responses to student needs in a multi-tiered system of interventions, then our students will develop the skills necessary to regulate their emotions, interact positively with others, and succeed in school and in life.

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Focus Area: Resources

Goal:

To ensure that our staff has the appropriate resources  to create the empowered learner and develop social emotional competencies of our students. 

Theory of Action:

If we provide our staff with the appropriate fiscal resources, then all of our students will be developed to their greatest potential 

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Full Strategic Planning Document

The Bethel Public Schools is committed to continuous improvement. It is our belief that to be an effective and efficient system, we need to create a long-term vision to drive annual Board of Education Goals and district and school improvement plans. We believe this plan creates that vision of focused improvement.

The strategic planning process included the input of multiple stakeholder groups. This group included parents, teachers, administrators, Board of Education Members, community members, legislative representatives, and town officials. The committee developed our core beliefs, revised the vision and mission statements, and developed of a set of goals and strategies based on:

  • an analysis of district qualitative and quantitative data;
  • current research based trends in education;
  • a review of internal and external factors effecting education; and
  • analysis of community factors and needs.

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Strategic Planning Committee

Dave Arre, Supervisor of Technology 

Marc Balanda, Parent

Caitlin Boles, Teacher, Bethel Middle School 

Kristen Brooks, Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Donna Burns, Supervisor of Digital Learning

Christine Carver, Superintendent of Schools 

Danna DeSimone, Applications and Data Specialist 

Liz DiBiase, Supervisor of Special Education

Irene Drake, Bethel Education Association & Rockwell School

Mark Dwinells, Teacher & NJROTC Instructor, Bethel High School 

Leah Esposito, Math Specialist, Bethel Middle School

Bill Foster, Community Member

Dalene Foster, Board of Finance, Town of Bethel 

Thomas Fox, Teacher, Bethel High School

Jessica Galbraith, Social Studies Dept. Head, Bethel High School

Lisa Geist, Parent

Bob Germinaro, Director of Facilities & Security 

Allannah Greco, Teacher, Berry School

Beth Grieco, Instructional Coach, Bethel Middle School/Johnson   School 

James Hancock, Parent

Denise Howe, Parent

Jack Hughes, Parent

Matt Knickerbocker, First Selectman, Town of Bethel

Danielle Legnard, Principal, Berry School

Kim Lemone, Parent

Amy Mannion, School Counselor, Bethel Middle School

Courtney Martin, Bethel Board of Education

Kit Nielsen, Science Instructional Coach, K-8

Melanie O’Brien, Chairman, Bethel Board of Education

Dave Olson, Community Member

Kimberly Romero, Parent

Laila Rudinas, Human Resources Manager

Mickie Rutledge, Director of Teaching and Learning

Kathy Ryter, Teacher, Berry School

Alison Salerno, Principal, Johnson School

Matt Salvestrini, Parent,

John Sarver, Community Member,

Christine Sipala, Director of Special Education and Pupil Services

Trish Soucy, Principal, Rockwell School

Jill Swearingen, Parent

Chris Troetti, Principal, Bethel High School

Jennifer Variale, Teacher, Bethel High School

Terry Walker, Community Member  

Bryan Watson, Principal, Bethel Middle School 

Theresa Yonsky, Director of Fiscal Services 

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