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Grads throw caps in front of historic Perkins Hall

Year 1 Report (2022-23)

Message From Our Superintendent

 
I am pleased to report on the significant progress during our first year of implementing RSD’s strategic plan thanks to the hard work of staff and school leadership.  We have pursued our goals and initiatives with fidelity and adapted tasks to the identified opportunities and needs, all the while rethinking and reintroducing the many activities and programs on pause due to the pandemic.
 
This report identifies some of the key accomplishments of the 2022-2023 school year. Of particular note is the work done on the curriculum with literacy and lesson planning, parent engagement and support, community partnerships, and student experience and support. While much work remains, we have a great team and a solid plan that will guide us as we build on the foundation of this first year.
 
Go Wildcats!
 
Antony A.L. McLetchie
Superintendent and CEO
Collage of RSD staff/students with RSD logo and text Year 1 Report 2022-23
Report provided in ASL below.

Goal 1: Student Success & Academic Achievement

 
All learners, no matter the circumstances, are entitled to a challenging and impactful academic program to ready them for college, trade, or career.
 

Year 1 Initiatives

  • Align curriculum and instruction to support student needs. 
  • Utilize data effectively to inform instruction and report achievement.
  • Create and implement professional development that maximizes and supports student growth and meets the needs of all school employees.
  • Provide programming and supports to ensure the success of all students.
 

Key Accomplishments

  • Completed curriculum audit, inventory, and assessment.
  • Researched and adopted a new K-5 English literacy program.
  • Provided professional development to support curriculum mapping, writing, and implementation, with regular release time for shared planning and learning.
  • Revised K-5 report cards to better reflect student achievement and progress.
  • Developed cohesive milestones for early learners in the Early Childhood Center (ECC), as well as adopted a new curriculum to support diversity in literacy.
  • Improved oversight of MAP testing to ensure consistency.
  • Increased high school MAP testing scores by 25% compared to previous years.
  • Redesigned the schedules for modified middle school students to improve academic opportunities and increased time in subject classrooms.
  • Expanded summer internship program with Wilmot Cancer Institute to give students opportunities to explore careers in science and medicine.

Goal 2: Student Experience

Maintain and improve the inclusion of all students by developing each student’s character and well-being in education, athletics, and programs for social and emotional growth.
 
Year 1 Initiatives
  • Provide students with the opportunity for active voice and participation in their school and residential environments.
  • Develop better staff awareness when dealing with emotional/behavioral students.
 
Key Accomplishments
  • Increased secondary students’ participation in their Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings to 80%.
  • Engaged students in planning the next Travel Abroad Program trip, with their advocacy resulting in Egypt as the next destination.
  • Encouraged Student Body Government to further advocate for student priorities.
  • Implemented PBIS throughout the school tailored to each age group, providing training and materials to staff. 
  • Held workshops for students and staff on sexual health and healthy relationships, social media, and other topics.
  • Conducted weekly mental health team meetings to address the needs of students with challenging behaviors and social-emotional needs.
  • Trained staff on Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).

Goal 3: Family & Community Partnerships

Develop and nurture strong relationships with families and community partners to support student success and experiences.
 
Year 1 Initiatives
  • Identify and develop areas where families need and want support, including American Sign Language (ASL).
  • Develop a plan to engage RSD alumni.
 
Key Accomplishments
  • Created a welcoming atmosphere at family events and welcomed families to a wide assortment of activities and student showcases.
  • Surveyed families on programming and communication, and began implementing suggestions, including ECC workshops and parent programs.
  • Explored, implemented, and expanded partnerships with Foodlink, Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester Museum and Science Center, The Strong Museum of Play, Public Market, NTID’s STEM Bus, the Red Wings, the Irondequoit Library, and the UR Wilmot Cancer Institute.
  • Began collaborating with the RSD Alumni Association on the school’s 150th anniversary celebration.

Goal 4: Communication

 
Establish universal communication norms, protocols, and expectations to build an interconnected community that supports student success.
 
Year 1 Initiatives
  • Improve communication among all stakeholders, including administrators, staff, students, families, alumni, and the community.
 
Key Accomplishments
  • Provided families with regular updates through newsletters, emails, and social media.
  • Workshopped with staff to better understand communication needs, challenges, and opportunities to optimize efficiency and engagement.
  • Added staff and board member photos and contact information to the RSD website to build better connections with families.
  • Created a family resource page and added a strategic plan page to the RSD website.
  • Increased engagement and page visits by more than 400% on Facebook, driven by viral videos of students and staff.

Goal 5: Employee Excellence, Engagement & Support

Hire, foster, develop, retain, and support well-trained, engaged, successful, and satisfied employees.
 
Year 1 Initiatives
  • Attract and retain quality employees.
 
Key Accomplishments
  • Assigned mentors to all new teachers and service provider professionals, and expanded the mentorship program to include a second year.
  • Created videos for key procedures and policies to ensure consistency of shared information and that mid-year hires have the appropriate information at orientation. 
  • Conducted exit interviews on a consistent basis.
  • Standardized applicant review and interview procedures for all positions.
  • Advertised instructional positions to colleges and universities, targeting Deaf education programs.
  • Encouraged staff professional learning and networking, with 48 staff members attending job-specific off-site conferences and workshops.

Goal 6: Leadership

Foster a clear understanding of board and administration roles and responsibilities.
 
Year 1 Initiatives
  • Enhance the roles of the school leaders.
  • Enforce ASL communication policy school-wide.
  • Enhance the engagement of the board of directors in the school community. 
 
Key Accomplishments
  • Mentored school leaders by bringing in external, seasoned school leaders to work with individuals and on group collaboration.
  • Added board member photos and contact information to the RSD website.
  • Highlighted board responsibilities and the nature of RSD’s standing as a private state-supported 4201 school on the RSD website.
  • Created and implemented a new board orientation.
  • Connected the Student Body Government with board leadership.
  • Utilized Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) testing for new staff to provide targeted ASL support.
  • Reviewed the ASL communication policy with students and staff at the beginning of the year and encouraged adherence and supported learning throughout the year. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Our focus on DEIB crosses all the goal areas of the strategic plan and is incorporated into every aspect of the school.
 
Key Accomplishments
  • Incorporated new knowledge of different cultures and ways of life through the elementary and ECC holiday events.
  • Focused on visual DEIB representations in classrooms and around the school, leading to more diverse instruction, displays, and experiences. 
  • Began working with a new DEIB consultant group, including a staff climate assessment and leadership training.
  • Provided professional development and curriculum in ECC to support DEIB goals, as well as coded the ECC library books to highlight DEIB-related materials.
  • Worked with families to understand the educational approaches to young children learning about differences.
  • Provided advanced training by the National Student Life for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing organization to dorm staff on LGBTQ issues.
  • Offered DEIB workshops for students led by NTID’s Sunshine 2.0, ASL storyteller Cassie Simmons, and The Protactile Theater.