Setting and Context

EDUC 350
Summer 2014
Naomi S. Forster


Located in Northern Colorados Larimer, Weld and Boulder Counties, Thompson School
Districts mission is Empower to Learn, Challenge to Achieve and Inspire to Excel.
The district serves the cities of Berthoud, Loveland and southern Fort Collins and is
home to just over 16,000 primarily Caucasian (75.3%) students with Hispanic comprising
nearly 20% of the student population.

The districts motto is honored with the implementation of multiple programs that
provide alternative ways of learning. Some examples are focused curriculums such as
International Baccalaureate, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Core
Knowledge and Integrated School of Arts. The success of these programs has helped
contribute to consistently above state average standardized test scores across the
district.

Another distinctive component to Thompsons success is the development of a strategic
plan titled Vision 2020. This long-range plan is meant to guide the entire districts goal
of meeting its overall goals and objectives which include implementing meaningful
change in the methods used to educate and a prepare learners to be successful adult
contributors to society.

One of the tools used to assist the districts goal of achieving individual student success is
to offer choices by Empowering Through Recognizing, Honoring and Respecting
Differences. An example of recognizing differences is the choice campus at Ferguson
High School where they employ the E3 philosophy of personal learning with
exploring, expanding and engaging. Much of this philosophy is explained in their
mission statement that seeks to foster a diverse learning community, honor and hone
personal potential and support and practice responsible citizenship.

It is one of five high schools in the district and students must complete an application for
admission and participate in an interview process to determine their suitability. The
minimum grade for acceptance is sophomore standing and many of the students who
attend Ferguson have been referred by their neighborhood home school for behavioral
reasons in addition to academic deficiencies. These are learners who may have
attendance issues, significant life events which altered their ability to be successful in a
traditional school or who experienced other barriers to learning. A notable portion of the
population suffer from mental illness, drug addiction and criminal histories.

In order to meet the needs of these struggling students, the curriculum is structured with
several program offerings (SOARS, Phoenix, LEAPS, PLATO) and enrichment
opportunities which allow students who have been previously unsuccessful in traditional
school settings the ability to make up coursework, attend classes online and even the
opportunity to return to their home high school to graduate. For students who have
mastered specific coursework the ability to test out is an option in order to increase
commitment and contribute to the continued growth of the learner.

The individual classroom experience for my summer session has reflected many of these
creative approaches with its offerings to students. With a comic book theme, the staff is
able to present content (literacy skills, various historical events like the Civil War and
post 9/11 policies) in a context that is accessible and meaningful to learners who may not
currently possess the needed comprehension skills to fully engage with the information if
delivered in a traditional way. The classroom staff have also made concerted efforts to
engage with the students on a personal level by building relationships, creating trust and
having clear expectations for self respect and respect of the classroom by asking for
regular attendance and completion of assignments.

Many of the students enrolled in this class possess the characteristics typical of a
Ferguson citizen. They suffer from homelessness, struggle with drug or alcohol
addictions, and work hard to make up for lost time by committing themselves to this
learning environment where they are given choices and maybe for the first time, an
opportunity to succeed.