During the month of October, the Reimagining Middle Schools Committee continued its work to envision a middle school model that supports the learning and growth of each and every student. During this phase of their work, the RMS committee created multiple pathways for stakeholder engagement. The committee hoped to not only learn about the needs and desires of the community but also the successes that take place in our middle schools each day.
Surveys and School Visits Spark Stakeholder Engagement
Current middle school families, along with high school families who recently had a student attend a Bellevue School District middle school, were given an opportunity to complete a brief survey reflecting on their experiences. In addition, steering committee members visited each of the five comprehensive middle schools and provided staff with an opportunity to share the strengths of their current programs and identify areas that could be reimagined. Similarly, steering committee members went to each middle school to hear directly from students about their experience and changes they hoped could be incorporated into a new design.
Next, district research staff will comb through the nearly 900 completed surveys, summarize data collected from staff and students, and identify themes and ideas from across the spectrum of stakeholders. Utilizing the equity design process, the committee will move from the “define and prioritize” phase to the first ideation phase where they will explore possible solutions.
90-Seconds with Teaching and Learning Director, Dr. Melisa Macias
The work of the 35-member RMS steering committee is guided by Dr. Melisa Macias, one of the directors for the BSD Teaching and Learning department. Dr. Macias believes that the middle school experience represents a unique opportunity in the lives of students. During the middle school years students develop their voice, discover their interests and opportunities, and begin to develop long-standing relationships. It is through this lens that she views the opportunity to reimage the middle school experience.