Leadership and Vision – Background Information / Documents
Continuous Improvement:
The district utilizes a shared leadership committee to evaluate the progress of on the strategic priorities and system supports on a monthly basis. This committee is made up of school leaders and teachers.
- Priority 1 – Foster a Positive, Inclusive Environment
- Priority 2 – Enhance Professional Communications and Collaboration
- Priority 3 – Establish and Implement an Aligned Curriculum That Optimizes Instruction and Ensures Student Learning
- Priority 4 – Engage Stakeholders as Partners in the Success of Every Student
Communication:
The Holyoke School District utilizes a district website and social media pages to regularly communicate with the community. At the elementary school, a monthly newsletter is published, and individual classes use Class Dojo to stay in touch with families. At the Jr./Sr. High School, teachers use Google Classroom, emails, and phone calls to communicate with families. Infinite Campus messaging is also used district-wide to communicate pertinent information. Additionally, multiple in-person events are planned to bring families into the district, including ESL night, Literacy night, and Parent-Teacher conferences.
Vision:
The Holyoke School District SCAP strategic priorities were created using input from the school board, administration, department heads, and district-wide Shared Leadership Committees (DAC, Budget & Facility, Superintendent Advisory, Technology & Security, Standards of Excellence/Leadership). Over the past seven years, these strategic priorities have been evaluated and measured. In the 2025-2026 school year, an SCAP Committee, in conjunction with the Holyoke School Board and the rest of the Shared Leadership Committees, will determine which strategic priorities will be kept, adjusted, and/or which new priorities will be added for the future growth of the district.
Board Leadership:
The Holyoke School Board and district administration use the district’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities when budgeting, hiring, implementing grants, and adding or reducing course offerings through decision-making and policy-making, both short-term and long-term.
Staff and teacher turnover:
The district hopes that budgeting for retention and recruiting bonus will positively influence these numbers.
EASI Grant Information:
The Holyoke Elementary School conducted a diagnostic review using the four domains of rapid school improvement: leadership, talent management, instructional transformation, and culture and climate shift. We identified our primary need as focusing on instructional transformation. This included the elementary staff working on communicating the importance of assessments and having teachers conduct peer visits throughout the year. The bulk of the work involved digging into the ELA needs while collaborating with Kristy Khoury Consulting throughout the 2024-2025 school year.