ASCD is honored to present Milwaukie High School, located in Milwaukie, Ore., with the 2013 Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award. This special award recognizes schools that move beyond a vision for educating the whole child to actions that result in learners who are knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, civically active, artistically engaged, prepared for economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond formal schooling.
"Milwaukie's staff members work tirelessly to improve their students' academic, social, and emotional growth; expand their educational practices; and sharpen the administration's focus on staff professional development, all to meet the needs of the whole child," said ASCD CEO Dr. Gene R. Carter.
A Focus on Professional Development
The Milwaukie High School educators' dedication to the needs of the whole child was demonstrated by their focus on professional development that supported the concept of equity in action during the 2011–12 school year. School personnel have participated in an equity training program called "Taking It Up," and the school administrative team will attend a five-day equity training event in the coming months.
An instructional leaders team, made up of teacher leaders and administrators, meets regularly to guide training that supports teaching and improving student engagement and individualized instruction.
Providing Student Support
Incoming students' reading and math proficiencies are assessed by trained staff, and supplementary reading and math courses are provided as needed. Teams of staff meet once a week with a group of school counselors, mental and physical health providers, social workers, and administrators to discuss ways to support students identified as being at risk; they then collaborate to build individual intervention plans for these students. Since they have implemented these initiatives, Milwaukie High School's educators have seen improvements in reading and math achievement in participating students, and the school's graduation rate has steadily improved beyond Oregon's state average.
In August, a state-of-the-art health center was opened on campus. To fund this initiative, staff helped raise more than $600,000. The medical sponsor, Outside In, provides physical, emotional, and dental health services free to all students.
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Milwaukie High School is located in Milwaukie, Oregon.
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Milwaukie High School administrators (left to right): Donnie Siel, Dean of Students; Tim Taylor, Assistant Principal; Mark Pinder, Principal; Michael Ralls, Assistant Principal; David Adams, Teacher Leader, English and Language Arts.