Sunman, In. — Sunman Dearborn principal, Matt Maple, and his staff earned their 1st designation as one of 15 other Indiana “Schools to Watch” who have received this state and national recognition as an exemplary middle school. Nationally they join over 450 middle level (grades 5 – 9) designated “Schools to Watch.” This designation requires a year long process of completing the application and meeting all 4 domains of the “Schools to Watch” criteria of Academic Excellence, Developmental Responsiveness, Social Equity, and Organizational Support and Processes with supporting evidence from their curriculum and schedule.
In addition these schools become mentor schools state-wide and nationally for any middle level schools who are seeking help as a school or in any of the domains of criteria. These schools are prepared for visits and networking of any kind. IMLEA has trained over 50 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 new and re-designated schools will attend the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform’s Summer Conference in June of 2018 in Arlington, VA. They will present a session highlighting a program or practice at their school for other states’ 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 gala dinner and brunch to publicly receive their engraved awards..
