The Indiana Middle Level Education Association (IMLEA), state office for Schools to Watch, and the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, are proud to announce that Riverside Intermediate School, Plymouth, IN, has been Re-designated as an Indiana “School to Watch.”
Riverside Intermediate is one of 10 other Indiana “Schools to Watch” who have received this national recognition and 1 of 4 who have been-re-designated in Indiana. Nationally they join over 350 middle level designated “Schools to Watch.” This Re-designation requires a year long process of completing the application and meeting all 4 of the “Schools to Watch” criteria of Academic Excellence, Developmental Responsiveness, Social Equity, and Organizational Support with supporting evidence from their curriculum and schedule.
In addition these schools are mentor schools state-wide and nationally for any middle level schools, grades 5 – 9, who are seeking help as a school or in any particular area of the criteria. These schools are all prepared for visits and networking of any kind. IMLEA has trained over 60 administrators and teachers in Indiana in the STW criteria so that they are prepared to review applications, participate in site visits, and mentor other IN middle schools. All “Schools to Watch” must go through re-designation every 3 years to ensure the continued validity of the designation.
Teams from Re-designated schools will attend the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform’s Summer Conference in June of 2015 in Washington D.C. They will present a session highlighting a program or practice at their school for attendees; spend an hour with an IN legislator on the “Hill” advocating for middle school best practices; attend the sessions presented by other national STW, and attend a Special Luncheon to publicly receive their Re-Designation Award.
Community members and parents are invited to attend a celebration on Monday, March 2, at 2:00 p.m. Shirley Wright, executive director will be on site to present the honor. Mr. Daniel Tyree, Superintendent of Plymouth Schools and other dignitaries will be present as well.
For more information about the Schools to Watch program and application, go to the STW page on www.imlea.org or call the IMLEA office at 317-894-2937 or email imlea@iasp.org.
