Brawley Middle School Schools to Watch 2005   Brawley Middle School 664 Brawley School Road Mooresville, NC 28117 (704)664-4430 (704)664-9846 FAX   Principal: Jimmie Dancy   Website: http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/brawley/   Introduction: Brawley Middle School is located near Lake Norman in Mooresville, North Carolina. Its community is comprised of parents who work in the area and many who commute to Charlotte. Brawley has done an outstanding job of instilling school spirit and a high level of ownership among students, parents, and community. While the school has a uniform, it has also mobilized parents in the school community to design a number of uniform-appropriate shirts, sweats, and T's with the school's name or logo, and Brawley Middle School shirts are even sold in the neighboring strip mall. Academics are in the forefront at Brawley, but there is such a sense of community that there is no sense of "pressure" to succeed-although students certainly do! Brawley also has one of the most effective middle school guidance programs we have ever seen. There are over a dozen support groups for students that are utilized by over 110 students. In addition, the Student Assistance Team is highly effective in staffing and referring students. Here are some of the things that make Brawley Middle School a School to Watch.   Evidence of Academic Excellence All students are expected to achieve at their highest level. Every EC student made a Level III on the state test last year Student-led conferences are attended by well over 90% of the parent population A plethora of instructional strategies are used and a wide variety of assessments gauge student understanding In addition to time for remediation during and after school, Brawley holds an "Early Extended Day" program starting at 7:00 a.m. Faculty and staff are undergoing Baldridge Training and are examining student work on a regular basis Evidence of Meeting Students' Needs School has a warm and inviting atmosphere that is receptive to all The school runs on flexible scheduling and the coursework drives the schedule instead of the schedule dictating the coursework "Discovery Time" is after lunch, and offers a broad variety of high interest enrichment activities, and additional time for remediation when needed Student voice is heard loud and clear. Each room has a "Parking Lot" for post-its students can use to discuss important issues. In addition, Plus-Deltas are prevalent, and each room has a discrete folder where students can get referral slips for academic or guidance help Parents and families are clearly a part of the "Brawley Family." The PTSO is very active, and many parents drop in on a regular basis In addition to regular sports and clubs, there are academic competitions, Women in Science, book clubs, and other activities   Evidence of Social Equity Students understand what high quality work looks like, and are expected to produce it The school calendar is flexible, and changes to meet students' needs All students clearly have access to valued knowledge There are over a dozen support groups on-campus, and a tremendous support system in guidance Suspension rate is low, and teachers clearly go the extra mile to prevent students from getting deeply in trouble Evidence of Organizational Structures & Processes The administrative team provides strong leadership, and fosters the development of strong teacher leaders and committees-all focused on the mission of the school The Student Assistance Program provides tremendous coordination between students, families, and services Families are part of the school infrastructure-even serving on the Student Assistance Team When mold problems became evident, the school and district administration insisted on pursuing it, and once the problem was found, they completely re-vamped the schedule and moved classrooms during the school year to allow for corrective action to be taken immediately There is a clear and definite commitment on the part of everyone in the building to do whatever is necessary to provide a first-rate education for EVERY child Professional development is part of the culture, and the school is a community of practice   Closing Comments Brawley Middle School is an exceptional school that meets the needs of all of its students in a warm an inviting climate that also has high expectations and great academic rigor. The consistency of the staff (very low turnover) and the stability of the administrative team have led to the establishment of a high-performing middle school. There is much that others may learn from this school, particularly in the area of meeting the needs of its student population. E-Mail Home | About NCMSA | Conferences | Membership | Schools to Watch | Regions | Publications Last Updated March 3, 2007 © 1999-2007 North Carolina Middle School Association National Forum logo, graphics, and criteria used with permission.