Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Upson-Lee Middle School takes team time seriously. Grade levels have 90-minute common planning blocks each day. While content teams meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the other two days are dedicated to student advocacy and professional learning.

Schools of Distinction in Action
Teaming

You may also like

“Ask Me Two Questions”
“Ask Me Two Questions”
Schools of Distinction in Action
Classroom Management,
Inquiry-Based Learning,
School Culture/Climate
At Willard Middle School, an eighth-grade science teacher has moved to using the prompt, “Ask Me Two Questions” instead of simply “Does anyone ...
Collective Efficacy: Having a Voice and Choice
Collective Efficacy: Having a Voice and Choice
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
Professional Preparation
At R.L. Stevenson Middle School, administration recognizes that engaged learners at every level are essential to maintaining a harmonious ...
Effective Strategies for Building a Culture of Success
Effective Strategies for Building a Culture of Success
Schools of Distinction in Action
School Culture/Climate,
Student Engagement,
Student Motivation
At JL Simpson Middle School, students can earn spending bucks at “Monty’s Tack Shop” for honorable, engaged, respectful, and determined behavior. ...
Mission Toward Joy and Purpose
Mission Toward Joy and Purpose
Schools of Distinction in Action
School Culture/Climate,
Social Emotional Learning,
Student Motivation
At Readington Middle School, students are asked to participate daily in the RMS mission: to take care of themselves, to take care of others, and ...
Every Moment Matters
Every Moment Matters
Schools of Distinction in Action
Family and Community,
Social Emotional Learning
At Miguel Juarez Middle School, every moment and activity, in and after school, is an opportunity to build belonging. This includes strengthening ...
Tackling Transitions
Tackling Transitions
Schools of Distinction in Action
Transitions to/from Middle School
At McCulloch Intermediate School, a robust transition program led by students helps welcome new students into the community, making them feel at ...
Thinking Globally
Thinking Globally
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
Student Empowerment
At Marietta Sixth Grade Academy, being an IB school means encouraging kids to think globally and to explore interests both in school and through ...
Taking Time for Relationships
Taking Time for Relationships
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
Student Empowerment
At Girls Preparatory School, targeted and relevant professional development supports staff in building relationships with students and, more ...
When We Empower Students, We Unleash Their Potential
When We Empower Students, We Unleash Their Potential
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
Student Empowerment
At Ewa Makai Middle School, a focus on student voice and choice is embedded into the life of the school. Students are offered a wide range of ...
Experiences Kids May Not Have Thought Possible
Experiences Kids May Not Have Thought Possible
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
technology
At Dorseyville Middle School, they prioritize a collaborative, joyous learning environment that aims to introduce kids to new experiences and ...
Strategies for Student Collaboration and Inquiry
Strategies for Student Collaboration and Inquiry
Schools of Distinction in Action
active learning,
Student Empowerment
At Custer Baker Intermediate School, staff recognize that if we want students to think, we need to give them something truly challenging to think ...
Living By the Squires’ Code
Living By the Squires’ Code
Schools of Distinction in Action
School Culture/Climate,
Student Empowerment
At Cave Spring Middle School, the staff aims to foster a uniquely “Cave” experience to support students’ sense of belonging at school. Their PBIS ...
Working Wonders with a Rotating Bell Schedule
Working Wonders with a Rotating Bell Schedule
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
Scheduling
At Crayton Middle School, a rotating bell schedule helps reduce missed instructional time due to late arrivals/early dismissals, allows teachers ...
Middles Helping Littles
Middles Helping Littles
Schools of Distinction in Action
Health/Wellness/Guidance,
Student Empowerment
At Beach Street Middle School, the whole student is the focus of special programming, including the Middles Helping Littles initiative, which ...
Lend Us an EARR
Lend Us an EARR
Schools of Distinction in Action
Advisory/Advocacy
Smart’s Mill Middle School focuses on the needs of each individual student in a holistic way, striving to continually listening to students to ...
Rigor without Relationships is Just Mean
Rigor without Relationships is Just Mean
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
Middle School Concept
At Seaman Middle School, the importance of relationships is a cultural foundation that extends from the deliberate interactions during both ...
Courageous Middle School Leadership
Courageous Middle School Leadership
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership
At Ridgeview Charter Middle School, distributed leadership means The instructional leadership team honors and asks for teacher and staff voices ...
A WIN for Students
A WIN for Students
Schools of Distinction in Action
Advisory/Advocacy
One way Lee County Middle School West strives to meet the needs of students is through its WIN program. WIN stands for What I Need and is a daily ...
Daily, Tiered Advisory Supports Students No Matter their Needs
Daily, Tiered Advisory Supports Students No Matter their Needs
Schools of Distinction in Action
Advisory/Advocacy
At Douglas Middle School, every day starts with advisory. But it doesn’t stop there. Students who need a tier 2 support for certain skills attend ...
A Mindful Middle School
A Mindful Middle School
Schools of Distinction in Action
Health/Wellness/Guidance,
School Culture/Climate
At Laveen Elementary School, their signature mindfulness program helps students show up as the “best version of themselves” each day. Before and ...
Parents as Partners
Parents as Partners
Schools of Distinction in Action
Family and Community
Lee County Middle School East strives to continually partner with and educate parents with opportunities like quarterly Parent Universities, ...
The Master Schedule is a Reflection of Values
The Master Schedule is a Reflection of Values
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership,
Scheduling
River Bend Middle School Principal Dave Shaffer has prioritized building leadership capacity for the staff of River Bend Middle School. This ...
Kamehameha Video
A Hawai’ian Appraoch to the Whole Child Concept
Schools of Distinction in Action
Family and Community,
School Culture/Climate
At Kamehameha Schools, their Hawai’ian Culture-Based Education approach demonstrates how embracing a school’s local community and culture can ...
Mayfield Video
Instead of a Bell Schedule, What if We Gave Teachers Time?
Schools of Distinction in Action
PLCs,
Scheduling,
Teaming
At Mayfield Middle School, teachers are encouraged to “flex” the traditional schedule within interdisciplinary instructional time to have blocks ...
Everyone is a Leader at Mattawan Middle
Everyone is a Leader at Mattawan Middle
Schools of Distinction in Action
Leadership
Everyone is a mentor and mentee at Mattawan Middle School, where a shared vision focuses on what is most important in the lives of their students ...
South Orangetown Video
Empowering Students through Student-Centered Structures
Schools of Distinction in Action
Counseling,
Health/Wellness/Guidance,
Student Empowerment,
Student Voice
At South Orangetown Middle School, the school support team, counseling program, and student voice opportunities ensure student empowerment is ...
South View Video
Unit Guides that Develop Independent Learners
Schools of Distinction in Action
Student Engagement
At South View Middle School, unit guides help students develop executive functioning skills, demonstrate their learning, and own their learning ...
Gilbert Video
Alignment throughout the Student Experience
Schools of Distinction in Action
Assessment,
Middle School Concept,
Teaming
As a school founded on the middle school model, Gilbert Middle School takes middle grades best practice seriously. One way they do that is ...
Farmwell Station Video
Middle School Students as Community Contributors
Schools of Distinction in Action
Family and Community,
School Culture/Climate,
Student Engagement
As a core value, Farmwell Station Middle School is committed to empowering students to make meaningful contributions to the world. They act on ...
Brambleton Video
Making a Large School Feel Small
Schools of Distinction in Action
Advisory/Advocacy,
Middle School Concept,
Teaming
With more than 1,600 students, it’s important to the team at Brambleton Middle School to make each student feel seen and connected to the school ...
Oceanside Video
A Unique Approach to the Student-Counselor Relationship
Schools of Distinction in Action
Counseling,
Health/Wellness/Guidance
At Oceanside Middle School, students meet with their counselor in small groups every six days for Group Guidance where they engage in a ...
Winston Campus Jr High Video
A Place Where Students Belong and Become
Schools of Distinction in Action
Family and Community,
Student Engagement,
Student Leadership
At Winston Campus Jr. High School, students are at the center of the student experiences. Throughout the year, you’ll see a variety of ...