Chagrin Falls Schools was invited to join the Schlechty Center and become part of the Standard-Bearer School District Network (SBSDN), a prestigious national network of districts committed to designing exceptional and engaging learning experiences for their students. The Board of Education passed a resolution to join Schlechty Center at their January meeting.
“Our journey into the SBSDN is a testament to our unwavering commitment to uphold the highest educational standards,” said Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Penczarski, Chagrin Falls Schools. “As we delved into strategic planning, it became clear that our entire educational community wanted to provide our Chagrin students with a tailored education, one that would nurture their unique needs and aspirations. Joining forces with this esteemed national network of elite educational partners offers us a golden opportunity.”
Through this membership, the District can share and learn best practices in crafting high-quality learning experiences, fostering student engagement, and nurturing leadership qualities among their students. “It's a chance to collaborate, innovate, and elevate the education we provide each one of our Chagrin students, making it even more remarkable and forward-thinking,” said Penczarski.
The Schlechty Center provides strategic support to educators across the country, connecting some of the highest achieving districts in the country to collaborate and create engaging and authentic learning experiences for their students.
Already, staff are beginning to work with the Schlechty Center. Katie Gill, the District’s K-12 Literacy Coach says, “I am halfway through the Coaching to Increase Engagement course from The Schlechty Center. It has made me look closely at my approach to coaching as well as leadership. Something that has really resonated with me is… ‘Listen to understand, not just reply or fix.’ The practice that we have done with paraphrasing and practicing coaching scenarios has already changed the way that I coach teachers. I am much better equipped with strategies to help teachers dig deeper into their thinking and develop solutions for themselves. I am looking forward to the second half of the class.”
“We are excited to partner with an organization dedicated to promoting student engagement,” says Director of Technology and Innovation Mike Daugherty. “The Schlechty meetings are providing us with collaborative conversations, innovative ideas, and new approaches to designing lessons that truly connect with our students. The emphasis on internal motivation should help us push the district forward by reaching the goals we outlined in the strategic planning process.”