A Comprehensive Plan for the Digital Renaissance and Academic Enhancement of our Pleasure Island Schools

1. Island SchoolsLearning for Life Project A Comprehensive Plan for theDigital Renaissanceand Academic Enhancement of our Pleasure Island Schools

2. Island SchoolsLearning for Life Project • Dr. Ernie Rosado Principal, Gulf Shores High School • Mr. Phillip Fountain Principal, Gulf Shores Middle School • Mrs. Julie Pierce Principal, Gulf Shores Elementary School • Mr. Jonathan Ellis Principal, Orange Beach Elementary • Mrs. Angie Swiger President, District 5 Representative • Baldwin County Board of Education Brought to you through the efforts of our Learning For Life Leadership Team

3. We’re doing great things! Best teachers and principals in the county! In the state! Millions of dollars in scholarship money!Great school environment! Kids are safe Teachers are passionate about education and care about our kids Schools are clean, maintained, and well kept Lots of school pride and Marlin/Dolphin Spirit! Great coaches, sports programs, and facilitiesGreat community support from cities, parents, and local organizations

4. Kids go to college (or enter the workforce) clueless about what Career Opportunities exist-Not enough exposure to different career choices Drop out rates too high (One is too many!)-Kids lose interest by middle school Foreign language is just a requirement - Graduates should be fluent in a language Personal Finance -Graduates need basic knowledge of household budgets, bank accounts, debt and credit perils.

5. Need for stronger bonds between schools, communities, businesses, and local higher learning-Provide students with networking opportunities Collaborative work was discouraged in past Collaborative skills #1 characteristic employers seek today! Kids lose interest due to a lack of technology –unless we teach on their terms!

6. What can we do?

7. “Learning For Life”Part IIsland Schools Digital Renaissance • 1:1 Macbooks for all students grades 4-12 • Project based and collaborative learning • Wireless schools • Internet based learning opens the world to students • Paperless learning environment-no textbooks • Challenging learning environment available to ALL students on ALL levels, not just a few. • ALL STUDENTS EXCEL! ALL STUDENTS ENGAGED!

8. “Learning For Life”Part IIIsland Schools Academic Enhancement

9. “Learning For Life”Part IIIsland Schools Academic Enhancement “Learning For Life” Career Academies A career academy includes the following essential elements: A small learning community A college-prep/career prep curriculum with a career theme Partnerships with employers, the community, and higher education By design, these three central elements of a career academy lead to a school that is rigorous, relevant, and relational. (5)

11. Proposed Career Academies Conducive to our Area Health & Marine Sciences Law and Education Engineering Business & Finance Hospitality & Tourism Information Technology Architecture and Construction

12. What does a typical Career Academy Track look like?

13. Anatomy Classes Academy of Health and Marine Sciences • Marine ScienceClasses • Biology Classes Forensics

14. Academy of Hospitality and Tourism • Business • Accounting • CulinaryArts

15. Academy of Construction and Architecture

16. Students Eligible for Any College or University through Rigorous and Challenging Curriculum Students Prepared for Work Force through technical certification and skills knowledge • 11th and 12th GradeCareer Specific Core classes, Electives, and Internship Opportunities

17. What do we need?

18. #1 Wireless Infrastructure GSES- Complete! BCBE fundedOBES- Complete! Private donor fundedGSHS- Complete! BCBE fundedGSMS- Complete March 1! BCBE funded (10)

19. #2 Macs for Students and Teachers BCBE voted unanimously on Jan. 19 to provide Macs to every GSHS student grades 9-12 in Fall 2012! Through private donations, we were able to purchase a Mac for every teacher on the island. 115 Macs- all 4 island schools!

20. #3 Teacher Units Schools don’t teach children, PEOPLE DO! GSMS Art Teacher (BCBE funded) GSHS Academy CoordinatorGSHS Technology Coordinator (Funded by private donations) 8th Grade Spanish Teacher needed Additional AP Teachers needed Teachers getting additional certifications! Using Resources! GSES: #4 Programs Rosetta Stone Foreign Language Programs grades K-7

21. #5 Professional Development and Training Mooresville, NC Digital Renaissance Training Apple Training Teachers Helping Teachers! FREE AND PRICELESS!

22. InternshipsLearning OpportunitiesFunding BCBE Cities Community(Citizens and Businesses) #6 PARTNERSHIPS! #6 PARTNERSHIPS!

23. How can I help? • Be a VOICE for our children. Tell your Legislators, your County government, and your Local government that you support education. • It’s an election year! Support candidates who support our children! Our children don’t have a vote, but WE DO! • Volunteer to help with school fundraisers • Volunteer and support CBEE fundraisers • Ask your local businesses to support the program through donations, internship opportunities, speaking opportunities, and field trips to their business • Individuals and businesses can “sponsor a Mac”!

24. Learning 4 Life Partnerships!

25. What is the Benefit to our Local Area and our Local Businesses? • Closer Relationships between Students/Schools and Local Businesses • College Grads and Skilled Professionals who return to the Island and raise their families in our community • Businesses have a better educated work force • New Families Attracted to the Island because of our Educational Opportunities • Gulf Shores/Orange Beach an attraction to other schools who want to implement our plan

26. The world is constantly changing! If we’re not changing with it, we’re falling behind! It’s necessary to reinvent ourselves from time to time!

27. Let’s Get Started!LEARNING for LIFE! Angie SwigerSwigerRep@yahoo.com