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At the start of the 2021-2022 school year, York School District One launched our Strategic Change Agenda to begin our journey to become a learning organization. Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, defines learning organizations as “places where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning how to learn together.” The initiation of this work served as a catalyst for change in the way our system conducts its’ core business of teaching and learning.
Our Strategic Change Agenda outlines three bold goals. Those goals are:- Create a challenging and supportive educational environment that ensures readiness for all students.
- Create quality opportunities for ongoing learning for students and staff in order to promote innovation and flexibility.
- Build capacity and leadership at every level of the organization.
Our teachers are working diligently to improve students’ knowledge, skills, and mastery of content standards in the four core academic areas. Our line worker program is producing career ready and equipped with the skills they need to make a livable wage upon exiting high school. Our professional development regimen has been cited by the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Personalized Learning for our commitment to student-centered teaching. We have worked to develop additional opportunities for our students to explore advanced studies pathways, including AP, Dual Enrollment, school-to-work apprentices, and work-based learning opportunities. As a result, 66% of our students exit high school and career and technology education completers, earning a certificate or industry credential. Our fine arts programs have been expanded with the addition of an art and music teacher in each elementary and intermediate school.
Our 2021-2022 Overall Report Card ratings serve as evidence that we are progressing toward our goal of successfully becoming a learning organization.
While we are proud of our overall ratings and progress toward excellence, we recognize that there is still work to be done. We are committed to providing an educational experience for our students that ensures they are ready for college, career, the military, or whatever path they may choose when they exit our school district.
Our mission remains unchanged: to cultivate a service-oriented community of learners who strive for personal growth and excellence as communicators, collaborators, creators, and critical thinkers. Our people make the difference!
