File:  ADA - School District Beliefs, Values, and Commitments

We are guided by both the moral imperative and the fundamental belief that through our persistent focused work as educators, every child can and will learn at high levels.  We believe our individual and collective endeavors will result in the academic, social and emotional growth of all learners.  We accept that this takes commitment and hard work by every teacher and staff member in our district.

Beliefs:

1.  We believe that a high quality education is essential for the public good.

2.  We believe students need to experience rigorous engagement in instructional experiences that are intentionally made relevant to their current and future life experiences.

3.  We believe that results-oriented collaboration, focused on teaching for learning, is vital for success.

4.  We believe a standards-based, K-12 aligned curriculum, delivered through a continuous cycle of teaching and learning, is critical for the success of our students.

5.  We believe positive and meaningful relationships among staff, students, families, and the community will support high levels of student achievement for every child.

6.  We believe that time is a precious resource and must be used consciously and strategically to accelerate the learning of every student, every day, in every classroom.  (e.g., intentional teaching, bell-to-bell instruction, meaningful and engaging instruction, etc.)

7.  We believe in individual and collective accountability.

Values:

1.  We value distributing leadership capacity across learning communities, including the Board of Education, District Administrative Team, District Leadership Team, Building Leadership Teams, and the Teaching/Learning Cadre.

2.  We value individuals who seek to understand and support the forward movement of our schools to ensure all students attain high levels of academic growth and achievement.

3.  We value engagement with families and community.

Commitments:

1.  We will provide students and staff with a safe environment in which to learn and work.

2.  We will guide instruction through the district's Teaching/Learning Cycle.

3.  We will teach our district curriculum to every student, in every classroom, throughout every day using effective and engaging high-impact strategies.

4.  We will provide multiple and varied opportunities to students for students to learn.

5.  We will use a variety of data to continuously monitor student achievement and modify instruction.

6.  We will provide job-embedded professional development opportunities for staff and support them with the implementation of effective professional practices.

7.  We will support the appropriate use of technology to engage learners and empower inquiry-based learning.

8.  We will confront challenges together.

9.  We will hire our new administrative and instructional staff contingent upon their commitment to fully engage in our district's agreed-upon values, beliefs, and professional practices.

10.  We will retain those educators who demonstrate growth over time in their implementation of our district's agreed-upon professional practices.

Adopted September 8, 1992

Revised August 13, 2012

LEGAL REFS.:  C.R.S. 22-2-117

C.R.S. 22-53-207

1 CCR 301-1, Rules 2202-R-3.07 et seq.

CROSS REFS.:  IA, Instructional Goals and Learning Objectives

AD, District Mission and Vision Statements