Editor’s Note – June 3, 2019 – The Bailey, Twin Creeks and Dueitt middle school parent meetings are being rescheduled for August. Please watch for dates to be announced.
HOUSTON – May 21, 2019 – Spring ISD is hosting a series of parent meetings at each of its six comprehensive middle schools as part of a plan to transform and strengthen each campus to better meet the unique needs of 6th-, 7th- and 8th-graders.
“We’ve been talking about our middle schools all year long, starting this past fall, when we first sought feedback from our parents,” said Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Rodney Watson. “As we prepare for the 2019-20 school year, we are now ready to implement our plan to strengthen our six comprehensive middle schools.”
Known as Lift 6, this transformation plan will use strategies and best practices found at successful schools across the country to improve the district’s middle schools. Specifically, the strategies of Lift 6 include:
- A culture of high expectations
- Effective principals and teachers in every school
- Maximized learning time
- Data-driven instruction
- High-dosage tutoring
- And safe and secure learning environments.
Watson said the district’s approach will be laser-focused on improving outcomes for middle school students, as they transition out of middle school and prepare for high school. Parents will learn more about each specific strategy at the upcoming meetings.
“We’ve heard from parents that our students need more support in these middle years and that’s what we intend to bring with Lift 6,” Watson said. “We’re hoping to see all of our middle school parents at these meetings so we can discuss what that means for the upcoming school year.”
Ahead of the planned meetings with parents, Watson – together with other senior administrators – has been visiting with staff at middle schools across the district, briefing teachers on the details of the plan and what it will mean for them in their classrooms and on their campuses.
“We’re raising expectations,” Watson said during his visit to Twin Creeks Middle School, “for our students, our parents and our staff.”
Twin Creeks Middle School Principal Kenisha Williams said that she and her staff were excited to accept the superintendent’s challenge and start putting the plan into action at the campus. She said that parents are looking to see renewed efforts from the district to improve students’ middle school experience, and that Lift 6 will answer that call by emphasizing a culture of high expectations for all.
“I think that parents should be hearing that our superintendent and our district are listening to their concerns, and that they’re reacting to those concerns,” Williams said. “I think it’s powerful that it’s coming not only from the principal or the administrative team on the campus, but that it’s coming from the district leaders. We’re a team.”
She emphasized that the district’s comprehensive middle schools, too, must work together as a team in order to ensure that parents and students see every Spring ISD school as a place to receive a quality education.
“That way, parents have that assurance that no matter where their child goes in Spring ISD, there are going to be the same expectations and standards,” Williams said. “Accountability and setting the standard – I think that’s the key.”
The dates and times of the meetings are below. Parents are asked to attend the meeting at the school their child will be attending in the fall.
- May 28 – Bammel Middle School at 6 p.m.
- May 30 – Wells Middle School at 6 p.m.
- June 3 – Claughton Middle School at 6 p.m.