GCSSA provides in-service opportunities for the professional growth of superintendents and provides opportunities for social interaction of members. Superintendents from Northeastern Ohio School Districts have organized to secure the benefits of working together to improve their professional effectiveness.
GCSSA was created in 1966 as a 501(c)(3) organization. There are currently 92 regular members, 51 retired members, 20 Associate and 10 Institutional members.
Something Good is Happening in Our Schools
As part of its mission, the Greater Cleveland School Superintendents’ Association features the accomplishments of a member’s school district in its monthly newsletter under the heading, “Something Good Is Happening In Our Schools”. This short article of approximately three hundred words highlights recent accomplishments of the school district and is shared with 273 school districts throughout the state.
January 2012 Article
Something Good is Happening In Our Schools
By: Dave Dunn,
Superintendent, Norton City Schools
The Norton City Schools’ district and building teams discovered many things about the district as we collaborated on our Ohio Improvement Plans. We realized we had rich academic data that our staff used daily to reach the goal of becoming an Excellent district for seven years in a row. However, it also became evident that our district needed to develop a consistent program to support positive student behavior. We needed to educate our staff, students and community on defining and understanding appropriate behavior, communication and social skills.
Norton City Schools has adopted the program, “No Bullies! No Victims!” (developed by Susan I Tucker, MSW, LISW). The Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant provided materials and substitute teachers to implement this program. Our administrators, staff members, students and parents have received training during the first two months of school. This training has defined aggressive behavior, provided effective protocols for managing aggression and support strategies for the target and the bully.
Teachers are conducting morning meetings with their students. These meetings focus on specific topics or incidents and help students learn how to work out conflicts independently. By focusing on specific pro social skills during the morning meetings, buildings have been successful in their quest to create a tolerant and peaceful school climate. Our middle school teachers and students have also created videos that help students respond to various types of difficult situations.
Parent meetings and resources are also being shared to give parents the tools to teach their child the skills they need to handle or prevent these types of situations from occurring.
Our goal is to impact all of our students in a positive way. We hope to help students develop the communication and problem solving skills they need to succeed and stay engaged in school. We feel this program, “No Bullies! No Victims!” has already made an impact on creating a positive climate in all of Norton City Schools’ buildings.
January 4, 2012 issue of OSC & GCSSA News, Notes & Notices
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