With the Sonoma Valley Unified School District 100 percent behind her, Karla Conroy has given summer school a lively new twist. As the principal of Adele Harrison, a former middle school teacher and the person in charge of summer school this year, Conroy knows first hand how to engage students. And that’s just what she has set out to do.
“Our vision is to offer something different to students this year. We want summer school to be full of first hand experiences. This is not a remedial program but one that seeks to expose students to rich new experiences and, in the process, engage them in learning,” said Conroy.
That includes a completely revamped attitude on the parts of teachers, staff and students. Rather than requiring students to attend – a punitive approach according to Conroy – she and program coordinator and Adele teacher, Lyndsey Munn, sent invitations. That’s right. Students who met the criteria were invited to attend summer school this year.
Invitations were mailed towards the end of the school year and Conroy and Munn spent time visiting each school site, meeting the students and giving an overview of the punched up program. Gone are the seemingly endless hours of classroom time and catch-up work, replaced by a research project that each student will complete, based around their first hand experiences gleaned from a series of study trips, work with technology and core science and social studies curriculum.
Conroy’s goal – 90 students in each grade level, which brings up another profound difference. Cuts earlier this year eliminated 30 percent of the budget for summer school. The pared down program at the middle school level includes instruction for only those at risk students entering either sixth or ninth grades. At the high school level, credit recovery for 200 students will take place as well as the new Jumpstart kindergarten program at all five elementary schools.
Core funding for the program came through the district office but the study trips, which engage the students in the curriculum and provide first-hand experiences, were paid for with donations through Sonoma Valley Fund from Exchange Bank, the Sonoma Valley Rotary Club, a private foundation, and several individuals. “Sonoma has stepped up to the plate with $26,000 in backing for this program. We are tracking it’s success and will have data to prove that it is a sound program,” said Conroy.
Conroy almost reached her target enrolling the full 90 students at the incoming sixth-grade level and 77 students at the ninth grade level. What they were most excited about – the study trips which range from a day at Point Reyes for ocean investigation to a trip to the Asian Art Museum and Chinatown in San Francisco. Also on the list, a study of immigration at Angel Island and a tour of the State Capitol in Sacramento, among other destinations.
“I am thrilled that students are stepping up and taking responsibility for their education in accepting the school district’s offer to participate in our summer school program. Karla Conroy has done a phenomenal job in pulling together programs that are focused, engaging and enriching for our students who need additional learning time. I’m thankful that our community also understands this need and contributes generously to make this program a reality. We are looking forward to the success of our summer school students in this coming school year,” said Louann Carlomagno, Sonoma Valley Unified School District superintendent.
“The students are all very excited about coming to summer school. We’ve got the library open and they’re checking out books. And watching them during our first study trip to Point Reyes was amazing. Some of these kids have never been to the beach, never felt sand. For them to be able to experience this and then use the information for a research project is invaluable,” said Conroy.
