Mountain Brook

Strategic Goals

The purpose of Mountain Brook Schools is to provide an effective, challenging, and engaging education for every one of our students.

Desired Results
- Empowered Students
  - All school district activity is focused on students and on the work provided to students. To ensure that students are provided with work that is purposeful and meaningful, structures are in place to ensure that student voice is considered and incorporated into ongoing conversations about student work. Indeed, as part of the conversation, students are involved in setting learning goals, and in doing so, are learning to advocate for themselves.
- Engaging Instruction
  - Learning spaces are organized to support student work. Students are talking to other students as well as teachers and administrators about their work. Students are learning what parents, and the community at large, expect them to learn. This includes entrepreneurship, problem solving, and leadership.
- Meaningful Feedback
  - Processes for gathering feedback, especially from students, provide for transparency and ensure that data collected are meaningful and useful.
Desired Results

The culture of the school district is open and inclusive. Purposeful efforts are made to earn commitment from students, staff and community. Recruitment and induction processes are in place to help all groups understand their role and how their role contributes to ensuring a focus on students. It is not difficult for anyone, even someone new to the district, to access the information and resources they seek. The district is easy to navigate. All the components of the system complement each other. It is a school system as opposed to a collection of silos operating independently.
Desired Results

The school district communication plan calls for the use of a variety of mediums (social media and other) in communicating with internal and external audiences. The district is adept at connecting with both specific and universal audiences and at using a variety of strategies to gather and assess feedback.
Desired Results

Students, staff, parents, and visitors report that our schools and classrooms are physically and psychologically safe. There is evidence of mutual respect among students and staff. Students and staff find value in each other and feel they can openly express ideas and opinions. Students and staff are encouraged to show respect and honor toward others.

District Values

The Board of Education has established values that guide our work as a school system. These are:

Respect for others
Caring environment
Trust
Focus on students
Effective communication
Learning
Shared decision-making
Innovation, creativity, risk-taking
Evaluation based on performance
Excellence
Expertise of staff
Community involvement

Cultural Practices

Since 1992, the Board of Education has had a strategic plan that is reviewed and updated annually. Early strategic plan goals have become cultural practices. Our cultural practices are as follows:

Develop and implement an effective, challenging, and engaging curriculum which promotes the highest level of academic excellence and personal growth for each student.
Ensure that each individual is prepared to become a independent, lifelong learner.
Effectively integrate the use of technology into all instructional and support programs.
Assist our students in gaining admission into the college of their choice.
Promote an environment free of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Provide a climate that recognizes diversity and encourages respect for all persons.
Recruit, hire, and retain the most effective personnel.
Design, implement, and support an exemplary professional development program for all staff.
Design, implement, and support an exemplary performance evaluation program for all staff.
Empower all staff as leaders, enhancing site-based and shared decision-making.
Communicate effectively and efficiently with parents, students, community, and school personnel.
Effectively interface with governments at all levels.
Secure financial resources necessary to achieve our goals and use the best management information practices to ensure fiscal responsibility.
Build, operate, and maintain facilities which will accommodate all programs and curricula of the school system.

11 Things We Want People to Say

Mountain Brook Schools makes decisions that are student-centered.
Mountain Brook Schools is committed to every student and customizes learning experiences in order to help all students reach their full potential.
Mountain Brook Schools seeks to communicate effectively with all stakeholders.
Mountain Brook Schools encourages hiring the best, most talented associates and fosters their continuous growth.
Mountain Brook Schools pursues a deep, rigorous, and relevant curriculum.
Mountain Brook Schools provides and maintains safe, state of the art facilities that meet students’ needs.
Mountain Brook Schools is a wise manager and steward of the system’s finances and other resources.
Mountain Brook Schools embraces creativity, innovation, and technology.
Mountain Brook Schools is a friendly, welcoming, and respectful community that develops caring and well-rounded students.
Mountain Brook Schools practices excellence in all areas/aspects.
Mountain Brook Schools prepares students to flourish now, in college, and in careers.