SEL & PRIDE at Distinctive Schools
Guest post by Sarah Gaw, SEL Network Coordinator for Distinctive Schools. Sarah works to support positive student behaviors, social-emotional learning, and coaching teachers across the Distinctive Schools network. Her work ensures that the PRIDE framework is aligned with PBIS and integrates SEL competencies into the school culture in order to support broad student growth and development.
PRIDE at Distinctive Schools
PRIDE at Distinctive Schools stands for: Problem Solving – Responsibility – Integrity – Drive – and Empathy, all traits we look to instill in our students. Problem Solving: Student ability to plan, strategize, and implement complex tasks. Responsibility: Student disposition and ability to reliably meet commitments and fulfill obligation of challenging roles. Integrity: Student quality of being honest and exhibiting strong moral principles. Drive: Student capacity to take action, sustain motivation, and persevere through challenges toward an identified goal. Empathy: Student ability to relate to others with acceptance, understanding, and sensitivity to their diverse perspectives and experiences.
At the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, Distinctive Schools welcomed new members to our community, the PRIDE Mascots! These characters shared the PRIDE characteristics with our youngest scholars. To help celebrate their arrival to the Distinctive Schools family, the PRIDE Mascots hosted a design contest for all students. Students were encouraged to write a story, song, comic strip, movie, (anything!) that shared the story of one or more of the PRIDE Mascots as they demonstrated the characteristics of PRIDE. Three submissions were chosen as winners and I had the pleasure of interviewing their creators.
Students Edwin, Giovanni, and Isabella, from the 3rd and 4th grade Team Ohana at CICS West Belden submitted a booklet of cartoons.
When you heard about the design challenge, what were you most excited about? ​
Isabella: I was excited when I heard about problem solving because I always problem solve in the classroom. I had the perfect idea for the challenge!
Edwin: Me and another friend are always talking about cartoons, so I was ready for it.
How did you decide or come up with your comic strip? The story?
Isabella: I had different ideas in my mind, like using the different mascots. I was like, why don't I do problem solving, because it's kind of like drive at the same time.
Edwin: I did drive because you go above and beyond what is usual.
Giovanni: I always lose my stuff, then I clean up and then I find it. So, I used a personal example. ​
What do you want other students to know about PRIDE or the PRIDE Mascots?
Isabella: They should start showing PRIDE and should do it everywhere, not just in the school, but at home or outside.
Giovanni: Respect the PRIDE mascots, always do what they do and keep working hard. ​
What was a lesson you learned because of the PRIDE Mascot Design Challenge?
Edwin: I learned that I wasn't really looking for the award, I was just looking forward to drawing. I know that you don't always win.
Isabella: I didn't think that I would really win, but I put in lots of effort and believed in myself.
Giovanni: I enjoy coloring and making comics, because it's my favorite thing to do. I learned to always keep your things neat and organized.
In addition to the 3rd and 4th graders in Team Ohana at CICS West Belden, CICS Irving Park 3rd grader Sophia won for an individual submission. I sat down with Sophia as she shared her design process with me:
Sophia, you are a very talented artist. What were you most excited about when you heard about the contest?
Sophia: I knew I was going to do it because I was really good at drawing pandas and I knew a problem solving situation already, and so when I got home, I told my Mom about it and I got my markers ready, and got started on it. ​
Where did the idea for your story come from? What was your inspiration?
Sophia: I was jump roping with friends. My friend Ava was in line for the jump rope and she found a cool hula hoop and she played with it, but when she came back she wanted to have her spot back in line, and she had a conflict with a person in the line already. They came up with the idea of doing rock paper scissors, and that's how they decided who would go first in line. ​
Which is your favorite PRIDE mascot? Why?
Sophia: The problem solving panda because I am a problem solver and I like problem solving and I like pandas, and so I like Problem Solving Panda because she likes to problem solve and I like to problem solve in class.
Sophia: I would like students to know that even when the teacher isn't looking, you can still show PRIDE. We should show PRIDE so that we can show our classmates that we care about them. You can show PRIDE not just at school, but anywhere.
Can you share something that you learned as a result of the design challenge?
Sophia: I learned that I can be a drawer even though I thought that I was not good at drawing when I was younger. It taught me that I can be confident in my drawing and it also helped to teach me about PRIDE through my story. People in the world can show PRIDE in the world to strangers, but if someone needs help you should be an upstander, and if they take it offensively, you can say sorry, but you should be an upstander to your community, to your teachers, and your friends.
Finally, our grand prize winning submission was awarded to Ms. Gupton's first grade class at Distinctive College Prep: Redford! The first graders shared a compilation of skits that incorporated the PRIDE Mascots helping students display each of the characteristics. I had the pleasure of interviewing three of the actors, Maliyah, Aiden, and Jo'Lla.
Thinking back to when Ms. Gupton explained the design contest, what were you most excited about?
Maliyah:I was excited when we got to work on Integrity.
Jo'Lla: I was excited about everything, and we never gave up. I liked the part that I was in.
Which is your favorite PRIDE mascot? ​
Aiden: Integrity because when you have to do the right thing when the teacher isn't looking.
Maliyah: Problem Solving Panda because he solves problems and you help people when they are having problems.
Jo'Lla: I want students to know about integrity because it's my favorite and I want them to know that it's important to do right even when the teacher isn't looking.
Aiden: I want them to always listen to the teacher- you can always listen, you just have to try every time.
Maliyah: I want students to make good choices and to listen.
The design challenge was a big project. What was something that you learned?
Aiden: We learned more about PRIDE.
Jo'Lla: I learned that we can always listen and you can always show the PRIDE characteristics. I really love this school because it's like a friend to me. My school is the best ever!
This year, we were so proud to welcome the PRIDE Mascots into our communities. Students spent the year thinking about the PRIDE Mascots and encouraging PRIDE behavior in each other. The PRIDE Mascots look forward to next school year and continuing to celebrate each student and the PRIDE they show every day! ​
–Sarah Gaw, Distinctive Schools SEL Network Coordinator
Plymouth Educational Center Names Distinctive Schools New Charter Management Organization
The Plymouth Educational Center (PEC) Governing Board is thrilled to name Distinctive Schools as the Charter Management Organization (CMO) for PEC. Distinctive Schools is a 501(c3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and accelerating the work of charter schools. Distinctive Schools provides intensive supports that accelerate achievement, performance, and college-preparedness. Through their innovative personalized learning model, coupled with dedicated social-emotional learning coaching and development, Distinctive Schools has a proven record of highly successful schools in both Metro-Detroit and Chicago.
"The Plymouth Educational Center (PEC) Governing Board reviewed a number of Charter Operators. After a rigorous interview process, we are excited to share that Distinctive Schools was selected as the CMO for PEC," stated Darwyn Fair, President of the PEC Governing Board. "We are confident that Distinctive Schools is the best choice for our PEC students, and look forward to a strong partnership and successful future for our school community."
Under the leadership of The PEC Governing Board, in partnership with Distinctive Schools, Central Michigan University plans to present a reauthorization plan for PEC with their board of trustees. Since 1995, Plymouth Educational Center has been a pillar of the community, developing rich traditions and a legacy that will continue to support students and families long into the future. The board, in partnership with CMU, has worked to ensure the longtime legacy of PEC continues through reauthorization and the new partnership with a full-service charter management organization.
"This is an exciting opportunity as we look to the future of PEC, and positively impacting families in Detroit, Michigan, into the future," said Scott Frauenheim, Chief Executive Officer of Distinctive Schools. "We are committed to closing the opportunity gap by providing access to rich personalized learning experiences for students and families."
Distinctive Schools is proud to announce that Mrs. Schranda Battle has been selected as the school principal for the campus. Battle is a graduate of Wayne State University and Detroit Public Schools. Her school restart work has a proven track record of improved culture, climate, and increased academic gains. She has served as an English teacher, Special Education teacher, Special Education Director and School Principal over the course of 19 years in education.
"It is an honor to be part of the PEC and Distinctive Schools' family," stated Battle. "I'm excited to work side-by-side with the PEC staff, board, students, and families to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education. PEC will offer unparalleled services for our students and families academically, socially, and emotionally."
PEC will serve students in K-8 for the 2019-20 school year and is currently accepting applications. Visit www.PlymouthEd.org for more information about enrollment. PEC is the third Distinctive Schools managed campus in the metro-Detroit area, Distinctive College Prep – Harper Woods opened in Fall of 2017 and Distinctive College Prep – Redford opened in Fall of 2018. All three campuses are free, not for profit, charter schools.
For more information on employment opportunities or how to enroll your child at Plymouth Educational Center, visit http://www.PlymouthEd.org.
About Distinctive Schools
Distinctive Schools is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and accelerating the work of charter schools. The team includes passionate educators and determined leaders who innovate, trailblaze and collaboratively lead a public education transformation, as well as ensure that each and every one of Distinctive Schools students thrive in college, career, and life.