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12 Years of Excellence and Innovation

The success of Northwestern programs is well documented. We are emulated by several regional school districts and followed closely by numerous Ohio businesses. We continue progressing in our PBL (Project-Based Learning) for growth and continued excellence K-16 - including foundational reading and math throughout STEM areas, core subjects, electives, and fine arts courses.

We are especially proud of our innovative project-based learning environment, required 12th & 8th Grade Career Capstone Courses, Agri-Science Programs, STEM programs, Husky Huddle Advisor-Advisee, internships, 7-12 Career Pathways, job-shadowing, as well as Innovation Station” District STEM Lab.

Summary of Northwestern, Innovation, Initiatives & Student Opportunities:

· 2005 implemented all-day, every-day Kindergarten

· 2005 membership in SREB (Southern Regional Education Board), HSTW (High Schools that

Work), and MMGW (Making Middle Grades Work)

· 2005 introduction of High School “Husky Huddle” student-teacher mentor program

· 2006 Strategic Plan and Planning year for incorporating STEM and project-based learning

· 2006 Introduction of Senior Seminar Capstone course requirement

· 2007 4-course Biomedical PLTW STEM program initiated

· 2007 4-course biomedical PLTW STEM program initiated

· 2007 middle school Gateway to Technology PLTW STEM courses added

· Attainment of 50 credit hours of dual college coursework available on Northwestern campus

· 2008 Membership in Northeast Ohio BioScience Consortium

· 2006 introduction of middle school “Husky Huddle” student-teacher mentor program

· 2009 Membership in BioOhio

· 2009 Awarded K-8 “Program of Excellence” STEM Grant

· 2010 Goal Benchmark: 1st of 6 consecutive years >70% of 8th Gr. students completing Algebra I

· 2010 Competitive after school Robotics Club formed

· 2010 High School 4-year Biomedical program earns national accreditation

· 2010 High School 4-year Engineering program earns national accreditation

· 2011 Pilot and initial year of our Middle School Medical Detectives Biomedical course

· 2012 Introduction of 8th Grade Career Capstone course requirement

· 2013 inclusion of smart phone “Application Design” within computer networking class

· 2013-2015 transitioning our Tech I course from high school to middle school

· 2014 (spring) Northwestern Middle School named by OSLN (Ohio STEM Learning Network)

“Ohio STEM Designated School” (1 of only 25 schools in Ohio)

· 2014 (spring) Northwestern High School named OSLN (Ohio STEM Learning Network) “Ohio

STEM Designated School” (1 of 25 schools in Ohio)

· 2014 Sitting member of the Wayne County Economic Development WIN (Regional Workforce

Innovations Network) Committee and active in Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce

· 2014 $10,000 Martha Holden Jennings Ohio Superintendent Outstanding performance Award

· 2014 “Inspiration Station District/Community STEM Lab” dedication (includes 3 helicopter

drones, 4 3-D printers, more than $10,000 in robotics equipment, laser engraver, 2 ShopBot

tabletop CNC routers & industrial CNC machine, desktops, laptops, action cameras, etc.).

Husky

· 2014 (fall) Full-Time middle school STEM Teacher employed (quadrupled STEM courses – we

now offer more than 10 Middle School STEM courses including: Design & Modeling,

Environmental Design, Smart Historians & Architecture, Science in Technology, Electricity,

Scientific Inventions, Agricultural Science, Green architecture, Agri-STEM, Automation &

Robotics). We offer 30+ electives for students to explore and pursue potential careers!

· 2014 (fall) Robotics transforms from a club to a high school course.

· 2014 (winter) Ohio ILN Membership (Innovation Lab Network) 1 of only 16 member districts.

· 2014-2015 SY Project-Based Learning teacher professional development throughout year.

· 2015 (spring) Membership in Ohio Blended Learning Network.

· 2015 (winter) K-5 elementary PLTW Launch STEM programs pilot – one teacher per grade.

· 2015 (fall) Full implementation of K-5 PLTW Launch (Engineering, Robotics, Biology/Science).

· 2015 (fall) Established high school Clean/Renewable Energy SREB (Southern Regional

Education Board) 4-course STEM program/career pathway.

· 2015 (fall) Associates Degree/High School BiScience Diploma - NC State College articulation.

· 2015-2016 SY Intensive Project-Based Learning teacher professional development.

· 2016-2017 SY Initiating high school Computer Sciences PLTW STEM program (4-year phase-in

of 6 program 8-12 grade course).

· 2016 1-1 ratio of student-device (Chrome Books, Ipads, laptops, desktops) Gr. 5-12. 90% K-12.

· 2016-2017 SY Collaborator in 5-district Battelle-led $1,000,000 “Straight ‘A’ Grant” for

professional development & STEM Problem-Based Learning/Blended Learning Lesson creation.

· 2016 (fall) Purchase of Lincoln Electric “Virtual Welder” to enhance student welding skills.

· 2016 (fall) Begin Construction of 30 X 100 Ft. Greenhouse with Botanic & Hydroponics areas.

· 2016-2017 SY Northwestern is Lead of 5-district $680,000 PBL/LDC “Straight ‘A’ Grant” for

professional development Northwestern and 4 adjacent low wealth rural districts reaching 6 counties. Includes conversion of 30X100Ft Greenhouse to include Clean Energy Lab infrastructure: Geothermal, Solar array, Biodiesel plant, wind turbine, monitoring equipment.

Upcoming Initiatives:

· Expansion of student internships

· Expansion of student earned industry credentials

· Expansion of student professional organizations from two pathways to all 7 pathways

· Expansion of Agri. Business and Production to additional Agri. Science pathways

· Pursue matching funds for adding sorely needed lab additions for high school STEM programs

· Pursue construction of a barn and adjacent farm for Agri. Science programs and experimentation

· Exploring possible “Universal Kindergarten”

· Convert Libraries into Multimedia Makerspace and Distance Learning Innovation Labs

Awards/Accomplishments:

ü 2015 SREB Southern Regional Education Board Nation recognition:

“Outstanding School District Award”!

ü Northwestern MS and Northwestern HS each approved as “OSLN Ohio STEM Schools”.

We are in our 3rd year with this STEM School Designation! Note: Elementary Schools are not considered by Ohio STEM Learning Network.

ü Over 6.5 million in scholarships over the past five graduating classes (doubling prior five years)

ü “Excellent” Ohio Dept. of Education rating – nine consecutive years and 10 of last 11 years prior

to 15-16 changes.

ü HS – State Superintendent “School of Honor” (2014).

ü HS – National SREB “Gold High School Award” (2014).

ü HS – State Superintendent “School of Promise” (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).

ü MS – SREB National Math Rigor and Improvement Award (2014).

ü SREB National Depth of Implementation Award (2013).

ü Lighthouse District: innovative administrators & teachers present regionally, state-wide, nationally on a continuous basis.

ü Prestigious Thomas Edison Science Award (2013).

ü Incoming Open enrollment has surpassed 220 students over the past three consecutive years – increasing each year over the past 12 years to the current 230 incoming open enrolled students at the start of this 2016 SY. This represents more than 16% of our 1400 students enrolled.

ü Northwestern was the first Public School District to become a Special Needs Peterson. Scholarship Provider for incoming students with special needs beginning with the 2012-2013 School Year.

ü Northwestern received just over $1,000,000 in grants and contributions for various programs and initiatives from August, 2015-August 2016!

ü Northwestern Teachers & Administrators welcome visitors – school representatives, community members, public officials, legislators, business representatives, and post-secondary institutions.

ü NWHS and NWMS have been repeatedly been recognized as High Schools that Work (HSTW) and Making Middle Grades Work (MMGW) sites that met or exceeded all sites nationally based on HSTW/MMGW Teacher and Student Surveys. Below is the 2016 summary:

v NWHS student responses met or exceeded all sites nationally in 6 of 12 categories, and teacher responses in Continuous Improvement.

v NWMS student responses met or exceeded all sites nationally in 5 of 14 categories, and teacher responses in Continuous Improvement.

v This data indicates that students are having experiences that align with research-based proven best practices that often result in higher student achievement that prepare students for high school/college and careers.

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