A Vision Statement for Mayflower Schools

A Collaborative Partnership for Student Success

            To ensure that the children of this community reap the benefits of an exemplary education, Mayflower School District must have a clear sense of its goals and what must be done to make them a reality. The following vision statement outlines the standards that Mayflower Schools will achieve and maintain.

            A.         Leadership

Exemplary school districts require effective leaders - leaders who are able to build a shared vision that serves as a bridge between the district's present and the future that it desires. In such a district, the leaders:

                        a.         Promote and protect the district's vision on a daily basis.

                        b.         Establish priorities and focus that provide a sense of
                                    direction for the district.

                        c.         Are committed to continuous improvement and providing the ongoing
                                    professional development essential to an improving school.

                        d.         Facilitate teacher participation in the decision-making process.  

                        e.         Facilitate positive relationships between community members,
                                    parents, staff, students, and faculty. 

                        f.          Pursue the district's vision with persistence, tenacity, and
                                    courageous patience.

            B.        Staff

An exemplary school district operates on the premise that a school can only be as good as the personnel that it employs. Therefore, it is committed to recruiting and retaining outstanding educators who can advance the district's vision. In such a district, all staff members:

                        a.         Are guided by shared goals and a sense of common
                                    purpose.

                        b.         Have high expectations for student achievement and                                                            accept responsibility for helping students meet those                                                            expectations. 

                        c.         Collaborate with one another on a regular basis on
                                    curriculum, instruction, individual students, and school improvement
                                    initiatives.

                        d.         Model the importance of life-long learning by their
                                    commitment to their personal professional growth.

            C.        Curriculum and Instruction

An exemplary school district provides a diverse and balanced curriculum. This curriculum includes a core that specifies the knowledge and skills that all students are to attain. The district designs its curriculum and instruction to enable all students to acquire these outcomes through their student educational plan. In such a school district:

                        a.         Curriculum and instruction are guided by specific, clearly                                                    stated, challenging goals for each grade level and course. 

                        b.         The scope (depth and breadth) and sequence (order or flow)
                                    of the curriculum are aligned from grade to grade and subject to subject
                                    so that teachers understand the relationship of their teaching assignment to
                                    the rest of the curriculum.

                        c.        The academic progress of each student is closely monitored
                                    and support is provided to meet each students individual
                                    needs.

                        d.         Instructional strategies recognize individual learning styles,
                                   result in students who are actively engaged for the full class
                                    period, and promote independent learning. 

                        e.         Systematic processes of analysis, goal setting, and                                                                implementation are in place to demonstrate the district's                                                       commitment to continuous improvement.

            D.        School Climate

An exemplary school district ensures that all of its schools provide an orderly yet inviting climate that is conducive to learning and protects instructional time. In the schools of such a district:

                        a.         Relationships are based upon mutual respect and
                                   consideration.

                        b.         There is a commitment to providing an emotionally and
                                    physically safe, supportive environment.

                        c.         School rules are based upon fundamental principles that
                                    provide clear guidelines for student behavior.

                        d.         The entire staff helps students understand the                                                                       importance of the school rules by consistently                                                                       enforcing those rules 

                        e.         There is a conscious effort to recognize and celebrate                                                           the efforts and achievements of students and staff. 

              E.        Community Support

An exemplary school district has created an effective partnership with its community. The district is committed to addressing the educational needs of the community and establishes effective two-way communication to keep residents informed of district policies and initiatives. The community provides the district with the support that is essential to an improving district.

                        a.         The community has helped to develop and has                                                                      endorsed the district's vision of the schools it strives to                                                        provide. 

                        b.         The community provides the resources - personnel,
                                    facilities, materials, equipment, and time - that enable the school district
                                    to offer exemplary programs.

                        c.         The community has ready access to the school's
                                    resources and facilities.

                        d.         Parents play an active role in the education of their
                                    children, monitor their children's academic performance, work with
                                    teachers to emphasize the importance of education, and model a
                                    commitment to lifelong learning.

              F.         Students

In the final analysis, the effectiveness of a school district is determined on the basis of the conduct, character, and achievement of its students. In an exemplary school district students:

                        a.         Accept responsibility for their learning, decisions, and                                                          actions. 

                        b.         Set challenging goals and give their best effort to
                                    achieve them.

                        c.         Believe in themselves and take pride in their                                                                         achievements 

                        d.         Demonstrate a desire to learn. 

                        e.         Become actively involved in school activities. 

                        f.          Conduct themselves in a way that contributes to a safe,                                                        orderly, positive school atmosphere and ensures the rights of others. 

                        g.         Form partnerships with their teachers in working to realize
                                    their full potential.