March 2019 | Around the District
Progress on State Report CardThe Department of Curriculum and Instruction briefed the Board of Education of progress on the
State Report Card and other District initiatives at the Board’s February 26 work session. Dr. Terri Breeden, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, delivered a detailed review of school performance “behind the letter grades,” which documented continued positive trends in academic achievement by Shaker students.
Review the presentation here.
High School Principal Search Update: District Appoints Project Manager and Selects Search Firm
The District has appointed Dr. Erin Herbruck as the District’s High School Principal Search Project Manager and selected Finding Leaders, Inc., as the search firm. Together they will oversee the efforts to identify top candidates for consideration by the District to serve as the permanent principal of Shaker Heights High School. Read more about Dr. Herbruck, Finding Leaders and the High School Principal Search. Stay up-to-date on the search at the District’s High School Principal Search section of shaker.org.
Also, the District invites all those interested to complete this Principal Search Survey to share your input on what skill sets the next High School principal should have, as well as
Stay Up-to-Date on the Superintendent Search
Visit our special Superintendent Search section of the District website to learn more about the Board of Education’s search for our next superintendent. The section includes information on:
Read the Board’s most recent Superintendent Search Update, from February 22, 2019.
Tips from ITFor many families, managing a child’s use of technology at home can be a challenge. The task becomes even more difficult when children visit sites that adults believe have child-appropriate content, but don’t. We encourage all parents/guardians to speak with children about online safety and to visit resources like
Common Sense Media for tips on parental controls, privacy, smart usernames, appropriate sharing and more.
Community Engagement: Community MealsShaker Heights Schools Family and Community Engagement Center has partnered with Heights Christian Church, Shaker Heights Police Department, Shaker Library and SAMS to offer free Community Meals one Saturday each month. The program seeks to blur the line between host and guest and aims to build community one meal at a time. Shaker Heights Schools families are invited to participate and volunteer. The next Community Meal is on Saturday, March 10, from noon-2 p.m. For more information, contact
Keith Langford, 216-295-6268.
St. Baldricks Events in March
Shaker Heights Schools students from all levels will participate at two St. Baldrick’s events this month. St. Baldrick’s is a non-profit that hosts head-shaving events to raise money to cure childhood cancers. Support your Shaker Heights Schools shavee at one of these two events:
- The class of 2021 will host a St. Baldrick's event on Friday, March 15, in the High School's multi-purpose room from 3-5 p.m. If you are interested in participating or donating, please click here or contact High School Individuals & Societies teacher Brian Berger.
- Teams from Shaker Heights Middle School, Boulevard, Fernway, Onaway and Woodbury will participate in the Eighth Annual Cleveland Heights Head Shaving Event on Sunday, March 17, from noon-3 p.m. at the Cleveland Heights Community Center. Learn more about this event and support your Shaker Heights Schools student!
Board Approves Academic Calendars Through 2021-2022 School YearThe Board of Education has approved the academic year calendars for the next three school years, 2019-2020, 2020-21 and 2021-22. Families can view and download these calendars online at on the
Calendars & Bell Schedules page.
Kindergarten Kickoff is Saturday, April 27Join us for Shaker Heights Schools District-wide Kindergarten Kickoff on April 27, 2019, from 1-3 p.m., at Onaway Elementary School, 3115 Woodbury Road. Bring your incoming kindergartner and learn more about the District including registration, transportation, food service, health and immunization information, communications, special education supports and more. Also meet all of our K-4 building principals and PTO volunteers!
Please fill out our registration form to attend.
Summer Exploration Learning and Fun (SELF) Registration is OpenOnline registration for Shaker Heights Schools Summer Exploration, Learning and Fun (SELF) summer programs for any Shaker Heights resident student is open! SELF provides an array of summer program options for all students in the District. SELF addresses barriers that currently exist and focus on equity, excellence and exploration by providing differentiated services and enrichment opportunities for all Shaker students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Programs will have a focus on the arts, STEM, global languages, skill, career and personal development. All of our programs offer a robust curriculum that includes a focus on the Literacy and Math standards.
Register today for one of our SELF programs!
Board Approves Union ContractsLast month, the Board of Education approved a new three-year contract with the SEIU Local 200 (which includes custodians, grounds staff and bus drivers). The contract is effective through June 30, 2021. This school year, the Board also approved three-year contracts for OAPSE Local 149 (which includes the District’s secretarial and clerical workers) and OAPSE Local 153 (which includes the District’s paraprofessionals).
Did You Know: Principal and Student Welcome at Board MeetingsAt each monthly Board of Education meeting, one school principal is joined by students from his/her building to share welcome remarks and provide a brief presentation about recent news/events at the school. Last month, Nathan Bordeaux and Zoie Durham, both fourth-grade students from Mercer Elementary School shared the welcome, followed by brief remarks from Mercer Principal J. Lindsay Florence.
Joint Facilities Task Force Speaker Panel at Shaker Heights High SchoolThe City of Shaker Heights has partnered with the Shaker Heights Public Library and Shaker Heights Schools to begin conversations on how all three entities can collaborate on sharing facilities in the future. This speaker panel begins at 7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium and members of the public are invited to join. Stay tuned to shaker.org for more details on the speaker panel.