BHS receives 'Model School' status

Brockport High School shared some of the school's successful practices at the 2004 Model Schools Conference in Washington, D.C.

BHS is one of two high schools in New York state to receive Model School status. Staff from the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) spent two days at the high school in February gathering information about how the school provides all students with a rigorous and relevant education. Faculty, staff, students and parents were surveyed as part of the research. Criteria for selection as a model high school include a learning environment that promotes high achievement, use of data to make instructional decisions, a rigorous and relevant curriculum, professional development for instructional staff members, parental involvement, community support and increased student learning time. Project Lead the Way, whose pre-engineering program has been implemented at the high school, identified Brockport for inclusion in the project for its innovative thinking and best practices.

The case study written by the ICLE, described BHS as a "showcase of examples demonstrating how a very large high school can personalize the education experience of each student ... there is a strong sense of community that everyone does belong and there is acceptance of diversity of opinion and thought. Nobody is anonymous," ICLE researchers wrote. The case study is available on the district's web site at www.Brockport.k12.ny.us.

George Burnett, assistant principal; Jack Casement, English teacher and Brett Handley, Project Lead the Way teacher, presented at the conference attended by over 1,500 educational leaders from across the country. "It was a great honor for our school to be chosen and to have a chance to present to people from every state," said Burnett. "It gave us a chance to not only showcase what we are doing here in Brockport, but to find out what others are doing as well." The presenters addressed the importance of combining innovation, empowerment, personalization and support to create an effective school that promotes success and achievement by all.

"Our block scheduling program of 85-minute classes really opened the flood gates for innovation," Burnett said. "We became a leader and developed a schedule that is very successful." Other innovations at Brockport include adding a fifth period (optional after school) so students can take an extra subject or get help with an existing one; offering evening hours for the library, new business and technology courses and a variety of clubs and programs for students, workshops for paraprofessionals and professional development. "The personalization is very important," Burnett said. "The 85-minute classes, extra one-on-one time with teachers, and the clubs and activities really let students and teachers get to know each other."

The presentation was accompanied by a four-minute video called "A Student's View of Brockport" produced by students in Gordon DiBasttisto's AV Club. "We are all very proud of this distinct honor," said Principal Dr. Gary Levandowski. "The data we received and the process itself encourages formal reflection and interaction in our school community, which will be of tremendous value in many ways."