Winterboro+School

= = =Winterboro School=

Talladega County Schools has created a new model for learning at Winterboro, Alabama. The first of its kind in the state, Winterboro High School, using cross-disciplinary team teaching and project-based learning, will facilitate and evaluate students in the use of the skills most valued by employers: professionalism, work ethic, teamwork, collaboration, oral and written communication, critical thinking, and problem solving. The curriculum redesign will be based on the Framework for 21st Century Learning from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

Winterboro School is located in rural Talladega County ten miles south of the city of Talladega. In 1935, the people of the community came together to build a "school for the children." As the new school was erected, citizens from the surrounding communities brought wagons and teams to haul rock from a local farm and the surrounding hills, resulting in the current stone structure and making "the little rock school" a landmark of Talladega County. Today, the 28 member faculty serves approximately 330 students in grades 5-12. Of the 57% African American and 43% Caucasian students, over 80% qualify for free or reduced lunch status. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has earned a place on the State of Alabama's Register of Historic Places. For over a year, Talladega County Schools has researched countless high school reform models to determine the most effective and appropriate model not only for Winterboro but for all Talladega County Schools. The need to reform education in our county, state, and country is in direct relation to several important studies revealing startling facts: Business and industry surveys reveal that 84% of employers believe that schools are not preparing students for the workplace ([|www.nam.org]). Nearly 40% of high school graduates feel unprepared for college or work ([|www.achieve.org/node/604]). Only 7% of economically disadvantaged high school students earn college degrees (//Results Now//, Mike Schmoker). One third of America’s high school students fail to graduate with their class ([|www.silentepidemic.org]). The primary goal of the Winterboro 21st Century Skills Inititative is to prepare students for the world of advanced technology and 21st century skills necessary for successful performance in a business or college environment. Winterboro will produce students who are experts in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, citizenship and ethics, and advanced technology. By designing a program based on 21st century skills learned in an environment with 100% project-based learning, the school will produce a more skilled and dynamic workforce. As the program becomes more established, Winterboro will become a model for the Talladega County School System and the State of Alabama, and hopefully others will work to emulate and adopt this educational philosophy and train their staffs in 21st century learning skills, team teaching, and project-based learning.