High-leverage practices guide our work

The following high-leverage practices are the cornerstone of the work of our talented and dedicated faculty and staff:

1. Persistent Attention on Equity as a Measure of Impact
2. Student Supports By Name, Strength and Need
3. Powerful Team Culture in Professional Learning Communities
4. Leveraging Technology for Deep Learning
5. Embracing Data to Eliminate Gaps
6. Alliance with Middle Schools to Meet Student Needs Early
7. Exceptional Professional Growth Programs
8. Reflective Evaluation that Supports Continuous Improvement

Persistent Attention on Equity as a Measure of Impact

• Evaluate and measure our successes through the lens of equity and inclusion
• Engage in conversation, reflection and collaboration in order to ensure equitable practices for every student

Student Supports By Name, Strength, and Need

• Multi-tiered System of Support built around the Glenbard classroom intervention process
• Formative assessment practices that ask students to reflect on their learning progress
• Targeted student support resource centers for math, writing, AP study groups and homework help
• Professional development to support teacher growth in the areas of Multi-tiered System of Support, social emotional learning and differentiated instruction

Powerful Team Culture in Professional Learning Communities

• Teams with a clear focus on the four Professional Learning Community questions
• Data reviews of student progress paired with aligning classroom interventions
• Common grading parameters annually reviewed in each Professional Learning Community
• Teams that engage in professional growth programs and share their learning

Leveraging Technology for Deep Learning

• Student-centered learning focused on the 4Cs and enhanced by technology
• Robust professional development programs to support teachers in integrating technology into the creation of student-centered deep learning experiences
• Growing library of exemplar lesson plans that leverage instructional technology
• Learning management system used in all classes to enhance communication to families and student reflection on learning

 Embracing Data to Eliminate Gaps

• Individualized review to ensure a course sequence that readies every student for college and career
• High fidelity implementation of the Equal Opportunity Schools model to close enrollment gaps in AP courses by race and income
• Utilization of SAT suite data to track student progress toward their personal best SAT score
• No cost SAT prep course for all juniors to help them meet the threshold of college

Alliance with Middle Schools to Meet Student Needs Early

• Leader-to-leader discussion of students by name and need for early intervention
• Annual fall partnering meeting to plan collaboration for each academic year
• Annual winter Achievement Summit to align our early intervention work
• Partnerships with 8th grade liaison teams to match students with summer bridge courses

Exceptional Professional Growth Programs

• Reflective professional development programs with application in class and review of impact
• Excellent program design and delivery, usually by our own Glenbard instructional leaders
• Clear expectations for licensed staff participation within three focus strands
• Programs aligned to the Danielson Framework for Teaching, providing choice for staff to identify areas of growth

Reflective Evaluation that Supports Continuous Improvement

• Model that sets a high standard for proficient and excellent through a clear focus on Danielson critical attributes
• Process that emphasizes reflective conversations between teacher and evaluator guided by pre-conference questions
• Multiple class visits emphasize reflection growth over time
• Areas of growth paired with professional growth programs to support improvement