How Do We Set The Course

How Do We Set The Course

We set the course by taking action.

Rationale
The Adventist EDGE is about innovative change that will result in measurable school improvement. To do this the Southern Union has implemented a comprehensive improvement initiative of Adventist education PreK-12 and has set the course for excellence in all areas. This initiative is aligned with the North American Division's Journey to Excellence and focuses on the essential core elements that identify the high expectation of what students should know and be able to do, as well as the preferred practices that support an effective ongoing school improvement process.


The vision of Adventist educators in the Southern Union is to graduate students who excel in faith, learning and service; restore the Southern Union constituents’ confidence, commitment, and passion for Adventist Education, and increase student enrollment by delivering GREAT education that is:

G od-centered 
R esults-oriented 
E nvironment that is safe and nurturing 
A ligned with Adventist and National Standards 
T eam effort

We set this course by incorporating the following:

Masterful instruction
We set the course through professional development which is an essential, ongoing process that creates a collaborative school environment to foster student achievement. Teachers and administrators participate in professional growth activities at regular intervals throughout the school year and intentionally provide adequate time for planning, implementing and participating in these activities.

On-going assessment

Student's success is measured with traditional methods along with diverse forms of assessment such as demonstrations, portfolios, projects, self-assessments and conferences.

Outstanding customer service

Communication between teachers and parents is timely and constructive.  The school atmosphere is friendly and inviting.

Qualified school-board members

School board members meet the professional written guidelines developed by the Southern Union Office of Education.

Differentiated instruction, curriculum and assessment
We set the course in order to make a clear and planned change where teachers intentionally move from the old model of instruction to new models. This involves using authentic strategies that are meaningful to students and relevant to their daily lives thereby transforming students from passive recipients of information to active participants in the learning process. No longer will they teach “to the middle”, but actively find ways to honor individual differences with lessons that are appropriate for all learners.

By integrating strong Christian principles and GREAT education, we deliver results as we set on this course and journey to excellence.

This is an overview of how the Adventist EDGE is setting the course. For a detailed explanation of how to implement the Adventist EDGE, go to www.adventistedge.org to purchase Adventist EDGE Handbook.