Berkeley High School Community Members in Support of the ReDesign Plan
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The School Governance Council of Berkeley High School and the Berkeley Board of Education:
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We, the undersigned parents, guardians, teachers, staff members, administrators, and students of Berkeley High School wish to declare our support for the Redesign Plan that was put forward on November 18, 2008, by a representative and highly-qualified group of 19 BHS teachers, with participation from the parent and student community.
We understand that the achievement gap at Berkeley High School, under which many African American and Latino students at BHS are not being provided the structure, support, and resources necessary to academically succeed, is unacceptable, and that the time for bold action is now. The Redesign Plan is intended to address this achievement gap through a number of measures with the ultimate outcome being the academic success of all students at BHS.
In particular, we support the implementation of Advisories which will increase the personalization of the student experience at BHS, and give each student a relationship with an Advisor who will be responsible for mentoring the student, connecting her or him with appropriate resources, and providing access to the crucial information and student support necessary for that student to flourish at BHS.
We also support the implementation of a comprehensive professional development plan for BHS teachers, so that certificated staff are fully trained in how to teach Advisory, effective at teaching in the proposed 90 minute block scheduling, and better understand how to work in classrooms with a diverse group of students.
In summary, we believe that this Redesign Plan is an important step forward for Berkeley High School complying with the spirit and letter of the 2020 Vision that the Berkeley Board of Education and the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved in 2008, because it will allow for:
Personalized Student Support
- Advisory two days a week for 30 minutes each
- Block Schedule (successfully implemented at King and Willard Middle Schools)
- Academic help during the school day
Professional Development for Teachers
- Improved achievement for ALL students.
- Focus on equity
- Ability of teachers to instruct students with different learning styles
- Teachers to have more time to collaborate and share best practices
Accountability
- Program evaluation by independent company
- Goals set for small learning communities
- Student evaluation of teachers
- Administrators to hold teachers accountable for quality instruction & professional growth.
It is time for change at Berkeley High School, and for all students to be provided with what they need to succeed academically. The Redesign Plan moves us, as a school community, forward toward this goal. We look forward to continuing to work together on all the elements of this Redesign Plan so that implementation in September 2009 will be successful.
We understand that the achievement gap at Berkeley High School, under which many African American and Latino students at BHS are not being provided the structure, support, and resources necessary to academically succeed, is unacceptable, and that the time for bold action is now. The Redesign Plan is intended to address this achievement gap through a number of measures with the ultimate outcome being the academic success of all students at BHS.
In particular, we support the implementation of Advisories which will increase the personalization of the student experience at BHS, and give each student a relationship with an Advisor who will be responsible for mentoring the student, connecting her or him with appropriate resources, and providing access to the crucial information and student support necessary for that student to flourish at BHS.
We also support the implementation of a comprehensive professional development plan for BHS teachers, so that certificated staff are fully trained in how to teach Advisory, effective at teaching in the proposed 90 minute block scheduling, and better understand how to work in classrooms with a diverse group of students.
In summary, we believe that this Redesign Plan is an important step forward for Berkeley High School complying with the spirit and letter of the 2020 Vision that the Berkeley Board of Education and the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved in 2008, because it will allow for:
Personalized Student Support
- Advisory two days a week for 30 minutes each
- Block Schedule (successfully implemented at King and Willard Middle Schools)
- Academic help during the school day
Professional Development for Teachers
- Improved achievement for ALL students.
- Focus on equity
- Ability of teachers to instruct students with different learning styles
- Teachers to have more time to collaborate and share best practices
Accountability
- Program evaluation by independent company
- Goals set for small learning communities
- Student evaluation of teachers
- Administrators to hold teachers accountable for quality instruction & professional growth.
It is time for change at Berkeley High School, and for all students to be provided with what they need to succeed academically. The Redesign Plan moves us, as a school community, forward toward this goal. We look forward to continuing to work together on all the elements of this Redesign Plan so that implementation in September 2009 will be successful.
155 Signatures
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Matt Foster
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Ann Callegari
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2009
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Irma Parker
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2009
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Jon Marley
- Comments
- I'm excited about the opportunities this plan lays out for all students to succeed and I'm looking forward to figuring out the logistics of how the Student Support and Community Access Period will be structured so that the time is effectively used.
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2008 & 2010
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Corinne Thompson
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2009
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Morris Callegari
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Deiso Quadir
- Comments
- Middle School Parent
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Janice Moore
- Comments
- Tax Payer
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Basil Parker
- Comments
- Community Member
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kimberly Esclovon
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Liz Fuentes
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Tya Robinson
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Michael D. Miller
- Comments
- We are in critical need of school reform at BHS. This is our best opprotunity for those changes, particularly in light of the 2020 Vision for Berkeley's Chidlren and Youth - a partnership between United In Action, BUSD and the City of Berkeley. UIA is asking all citizens, businesses, churches, educators, etc., to join in the 2020 Vision's Total Community Approach. We need your active involvement!
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Jessica Quindel
- Comments
- Berkeley High School Math Teacher and Math Department Co-Teacher Leader
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Steven Rasmussen
- Comments
- I support the redesign and the 2020 Vision.
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2002, 2005
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Philip Halpern
- Comments
- The Redesign Plan has the potential to make BHS a more equitable school in which ALL students can succeed. It is as exciting as it is overdue!
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Nathaniel Lewis
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Amy Crawford
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Sara Mokhtari-Fox
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Mary Patterson
- Comments
- This is long overdue!
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Dana Moran
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2012
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Jaime Knight
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Susannah Bell
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Hasmig Minassian
- Comments
- Let reform happen!!
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Flora Russ
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Annie Johnston
- Comments
- As a teacher and parent of an incoming ninth grader next fall, this proposal has my full support.
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2013
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Gideon Goldman
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Dharini Rasiah
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Amy Burke
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Dan Plonsey
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Eileen Jacobs
- Comments
- Educational Specialist- Academic Choice
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Ray Cagan
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Pedro A. Noguera
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Sherene Randle
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David Stevens
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2021, 2022, and 2024
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A.A. Akom
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Kristin Glenchur
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Ken Stein
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2011
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David Stark
- Comments
- We've been waiting 20 years for this. Thank you.
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2010
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Mary McDonald
- Comments
- Reform at BHS has been underway for several years, and is sorely needed to improve the success of all of our students. It's time to rally behind a plan and do the needed planning to make this happen in an effective way.
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2009
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Teri Goodman
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2010
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Jana Luft
- Comments
- I support the proposal because it would allow us to more effectively meet the unique needs of all students.
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Sade Bonilla
- Comments
- CAS & BHS '04, Brown '08 & '10
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- В
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Kate Trimlett
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Angela Dean
- Comments
- I especially support block schedule- I have had great success with it in the past. It provides for more depth, truly valuable mathematics, and more focused prep time for teachers.
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lacie lessard
- Comments
- go team!
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Marissa Saunders
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2009
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Shirley Fogarino
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Karen Obidah
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2009
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Steven Sutcher
- If BHS parent or guardian, what is student's graduation year (e.g., 2009, 2010). If more than one BHS student, list all grad years:
- 2011, 2007
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155
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