Clark Street Community School

VISION AND MISSION

Tobealeaderindemocratic, place-basedandpersonalized education,facilitating inspirationalandauthentic learningexperiencesthat engagestudents,families, educators,andthecommunity.

OUR VISION: OUR MISSION:

Todemocraticallycultivatea communityofengagedlearners, serveasaresourcefor educators,andserveasa catalystforreformin educationthroughoutour regionandournation.

It was an uncomfortable year.

And, as I like to say, “If you are comfortable, you are probably not learning or growing.” As I reflect on the year, it is clear that it has offered us some tremendous opportunities to get greater clarity on who we are as a Clark Street Community It has also provided us with excellent information about the challenges we face as we seek to lead in the world of re-imagining the school experience.

Moving into the newly remodeled high school building opened up access to some amazing facilities and we have loved the opportunities we have had to learn in the absolutely beautiful Library Media Center, to create in the Black Box Theater, and to strengthen and center in the yoga studio.

The move has also highlighted the fact that what we do and how we do it is very different. Being different is always a challenge. Being different as a teenager in the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District is very challenging We felt that a lot this year

And….as we look back at the year, we can also celebrate a tremendous amount of evidence that highlights the fact that we are different because we have chosen to do things differently. We have chosen to redesign the school experience in a way that truly can engage all learners, that fosters relationships, that connects learning to the things that matter most, and that focuses on the process and the struggle. We are choosing to share what we have learned with others so they can help us deepen our understanding and widen our perspective.

Yes, we are different, and yes, that made for a very uncomfortable year It also made for an incredibly rich learning experience which highlights the resilience of this community and the strength of our model.

We enter the 23-24 school year stronger, smarter, and more committed than ever to democratically cultivating a community of engaged learners, serving as a resource for educators, and a catalyst for reform in education throughout our region and our nation.

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by discomforts." Arnold Bennett

EXEMPLAR INTERDISCIPLINARY, PLACE BASED SEMINARS

WORD PLAY

WORD STUDIED: WATER

Thisamazingpartnership withthewastewater treatmentcenterandtheir teamhadourstudentsusing theirdesignexpertisetohelp createpublicartwhichwould inspirepeopletothinkmore aboutwherewastegoesafter weflushandtoencourages otherstoaswell!

COURSESTUDY

A Thank You note to the toilet

Water Vessel Challenge Continent Project

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Reading Lit

EXEMPLAR INTERDISCIPLINARY, PLACE BASED SEMINARS

ClarkTankpartnerswithlocal entrepreneurstobuilda foundationof understanding theentrepreneur’sjourney, whichleadstostudents ultimatelypitchingtheirown product,ideaordesign. Selectstudentsmoveonto thePitchContest,hostedby MadisonCollege.

PITCHFINALISTS

RoseHulsey:Communicards

AmalieHarrisLasecki:YarnIt

RaelynnLi:SchgoogleMaps

JordanBrown:MentalHealthOwl

AdrianaWilliams-Olsen:SunnyPots

KEYPARTNERS

Maggie Ginsberg, associate editor at Madison Magazine

Jamie Perez, owner at Beyond Words Media and Production

Ben Miller, owner at Kwik Drip

Michael Wood, market strategist and owner at 747 Insights

CLARK TANK

EXEMPLAR INTERDISCIPLINARY, PLACE BASED SEMINARS

WEAVING OUR STORIES

Inthefirstiterationofthis seminar,studentsdoveinto thestoriesofculturesboth nearandfarfromusasthey createdtheirownstories throughquilting.Students hadtheopportunityto researchatopicaround textileart,createtheirown quiltedpieceandlookatthe mathematicalconnections within.

DISTRICTEXPOSURE

Student creations were used at the annual retirement dinner as center pieces and decoration through out the hall.

SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS AND A CATALYST FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM

22-23ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Launch of MCER

Developed menu of offerings and structured visit protocol, along with pay structure

Hosted 8 site visits for visiting schools from WI and IL

“Thank you so much for hosting us It was very helpful to see CSCS in action & being able to talk to students about their experiences. It helps me visualize what we are working towards.”

Sharing the CSCS way through the Midwest Center for Educational Redesign.

SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS AND A CATALYST FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM

VISITORS

MMSD: Shabazz and West

Barrington School District, IL

Compass Academy; St Charles

School District, IL

Sun Prairie School District: Prairie

Phoenix Academy

Soar Middle School: Land O’ Lakes School District

Central Sands Community High School, Amherst, WI

Students were fantastic and open to conversation.

I appreciated staff being open and willing to share time, resources and knowledge. The energy and welcome in the building is evident from the time you step in the door.

SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS AND A CATALYST FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM

Clark Street Community School is honored to have the opportunity to share what we have learned with others through this recently published book.

Schools of Opportunity

10 Research-Based Models of Equity in Action

This new book tells the stories of exemplary public high schools that are using research-based practices for closing opportunity gaps in student learning. The extraordinary work done by these schools can, the book explains, become ordinary –but only if the nation changes the way that excellent schools are recognized and built,

We continue to present at the WMC Annual Conference. Beth and Mary Lee presented three sessions:

10 MORE Equitable Practices for your Everyday Classroom

What if ? Using Math Modeling for Summative Assessment You Really Don’t Have Any Grades?

We continue to partner with institutions of higher education to further the work of reimagining education

Data

CSCS students continue to outpace the state average on ACT and our literacy practices continue to help students develop as strong readers, writers, and communicators.

QUALTRIC COMPARISONS

The research is clear that we do our best learning in environments in which we have strong relationship, are comfortable being our authentic selves, and have the support we need to engage in productive struggle. We make this a priority at CSCS and the data indicates that this continues to be an area of strength.

The classes at CSCS have renewed my love of learning and allowed me to learn typical school subjects through the lens of my interests and I have gotten so many amazing opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise gotten.

LEAPS SURVEY

The Leaps survey asks students...

Percent agree or strongly agree

At my school we spend time learning outside the school building

At school I get to develop my own ideas

At school we have time to explain our ideas

At school we use our thinking skills, rather than just memorizing things

Adults at my school respect my ideas and suggestions

In school, it feels like I am expected-and supported-to learn a ton

Clark Street has opened a lot of doors for me that were never opened in traditional schooling and I've actually been able to enjoy my learning without the crushing pressure of getting A's or taking a test.

CLARK STREET GRADS CLARK STREET GRADS

A FEW GRADUATE HIGHLIGHTS

Attending UW-Madison to pursue elementary education

Amanda Meyers

Graduated a term early with a job offer at Rock Solid Mountain Bike Trails

Attending St. Olaf University, received early acceptance into their nursing program

Not Pictured: Avery Wells

Julies Hunter-Skeans

The Mastery Transcript Consortium

This partnership ensures our learners can tell their story in the admissions process, while deepening their understanding of self and having great success with college admissions.

My favorite part of the mastery transcript is that it gives me the ability to add my work for admissions to see Seeing just the classes you take doesn't give you a great look into who you are as a student. If people can see the work you are producing, it is a lot more meaningful. It's a lot more about who you are, what kind of work you produce, and what you like to do.

-Jackson Heil 2023 graduate

We were honored to be invited to share our experiences at MTC's Annual International Symposium.

Jill was a member of the MTC Symposium Panel on Reimaging Assessment

Kim was a member of the MTC Symposium Panel with Higher Ed Reps Discussing the Role of Competency Based Records in Admissions.

MTC is grateful for and honored to work with Clark Street Community School Not only has Clark Street served as a role model for schools around the country, but Jill Gurtner and Kim Gauen in particular remain dedicated mentors and partners for school leaders across the MTC national network. By attending routine virtual gatherings, speaking at MTC conferences, and offering regular feedback on MTC's tools and programs, the Clark Street educators and students lead, inspire, and therefore are improving schools and future opportunities for youth both in and also well beyond Middleton, WI

Mike Flanagan, CEO Mastery Transcript Consortium

CLARK STREET ALUM CLARK STREET ALUM

ZOEWEI WYSE ('19)

Just finished photography school is Paris!

[ClarkStreettaughtme]Thereisnoone pathforward,youcanseekoutthe opportunitiesandexperiencesthatwill besthelpyouthrive.

EMILY SHEAHAN (THORSON) (’14)

Emily has returned to MCPASD as a teacher at Elm Lawn Elementary School

IcametoCSCSasaveryinsecure teenagerandthecommunityatthe schoolhelpedmeblossomanddevelopa senseofselfconfidencethatI'vecarried withmetothisday.Ialsolearnedthat learningdoesn'talwayslookthesamefor everyoneandthathashelpedme tremendouslywhenworkingwith childrenineducation.

JADA CURRIE ('22)

CNA on a Med/Surg Unit at Meriter Hospital, plans to continue with her pre-nursing program at Madison College.

Thequalityofinformationinmyclasses[atClark Streetservesmewellnow].AllofmyclassesItook overmyfreshmanyearofcollege,IfoundIalready knewoverhalfoftheinformation.

MORGAN CUTLER ('16)

Graduated from Madison College with an associates' in early childhood education. Works at the Red Caboose in Madison.

Asidefrommypublicspeakingskillsmy writingskillsarebetterthantheywere before.IgotreallygoodgradesallfouryearsI wasatcollegethankstoClarkStreet.

JAKE SHRAITH ('15)

TV Broadcast engineer, working with a company that covers half of professional sports. CSCStaughtmehowtofindmyselfandandexpress myknowledgethroughmypassions.Iwasableto createeducationalvideostoexpressmylearning, whichleadtogreatermediaproductioninthereal world.Goingoutandnetworkingwithlocal businesses,tiedwithpersonalizedlearning,was thekeytomysuccesstoday.

THE NEXT STEP IN OUR JOURNEY

Focus on restoring and improving our climate and culture for the 23-24 school year by utilizing our professional learning communities as focus groups

Deepen our students' abilities to successfully design and engage in authentic learning experiences connected to their personal interests and passions.

Strengthening our partnership with other schools and organizations working to transform education

Nurture 22-23 visitor cohort through conference calls and one in-person meet up

Utilize both organic and traditional marketing strategies to increase the reach of MCER

Continue to showcase CSCS through articles, both locally and nationally (Aurora Institute article out late summer/early fall)