Hopper MS hosts vertical alignment sessions

Hopper MS Principal Wendi Witthaus leads a vertical alignment session on Oct. 30 at Hopper MS.

Hopper MS hosted vertical alignment sessions with feeder schools Duryea ES and Cypress Springs HS on Oct. 28-30, with the purpose of creating communication between elementary and secondary schools, while discussing transitional concerns for students struggling "in the middle."

“Through the coordination of campus vertical alignments, all stakeholders can play a significant role in the improvement and quality of student learning at each grade level,” said Charlene Davis-Norris, Hopper academic achievement specialist.

During the half-day sessions, teachers from the feeder schools had the opportunity to observe Hopper teachers with their content area, followed by a Q&A session. During the debrief, teachers engaged in purposeful dialogue and positive collaboration where all involved were able to take away innovative ideas, instructional practices and procedures that could be used in their classrooms and throughout the school.

“The teachers and administration from Duryea, Hopper and Cy Springs all Turned up the Heat and made our second annual vertical alignment a huge success!” Davis-Norris said.

From L-R, Hopper MS staff members Evelyn Shephard, science CCIS; Sonya Clark, language arts CCIS; Charlene Davis-Norris, academic achievement specialist; Angela Panuska, language arts CCIS; Dr. Brenda Brewster, social studies CCIS; and Beverlyn Hurst, academic achievement specialist; enjoy the vertical alignment session.

English teacher Megan Lennon and Hopper MS language arts teacher Summer Francis work together during the vertical alignment session.

Duryea ES instructional specialist Gina Rueter speaks to participants in the vertical alignment session.