OHS principal, Mark Hanson, was one of the presenters at a recent meeting of superintendents and board members entitled, "Promising Practices," sponsored by the Urban Education Network. The Urban Education Network consists of Iowa's 20 largest school districts. The event coincides with the annual Iowa School Board Association conference.
Hanson, along with Superintendent Davis Eidahl, presented "Creating a Culture of Achievement." Presenters were set up around the room to allow small groups of participants to view each display, listen to a brief presentation, and ask questions.
A culture of achievement has been created through developing rigorous academic standards, implementing engaging instructional practices, and creating a sense of belonging for each and every student. Professional development has focused on "Growth versus Fixed Mind Set," building agency in students through "Choice Words," and through the implementation of the "Gradual Release of Responsibility" model.
As a result of these and other efforts, the district's achievement and culture has been transformed. Hanson shared the following statistics:
- Graduation rates over the last four years have gone from 74% to 89%
- The district is the first school to be named a District of Character by Character Counts of Iowa
- The district is the only large Iowa school to be Safe School Certified
- 51% of graduates last year had college credit on their transcript.
