Inland Lakes Schools Home of the Bulldogs

Inland Lakes High School in Indian River, Michigan faculty started an
on going conversation about three years ago. The conversation centers
around three questions.
Question #1: What do we want students to learn?

Question #2: How will we know when they have learned it?

Question #3: What do we do when they are not learning it?

Faculty meets on a regular basis in Professional Learning Communities
asking themselves these three questions. The questions resulted in
more action than mere talk. Those actions include development of
curriculum and instructional strategies, creation of assessments, and
interventions to meet the needs of our students and supporting them
as learners.

During this same time Inland Lakes High School had been tracking
student performance in terms of academic achievement, attendance, and
behavior. A number of policy/guideline changes were enacted (exams,
summer school, and attendance), ILHS continued to refine final exams
and other assessments, and implement interventions (Success Coach,
mentoring, guided academics, learning lab, parent meetings, and
extended day/year programs).

The results improved academics (a direct comparison from fall 06 to
07 shows 50% less students failed a core academic class), improved
daily attendance (approaching mid 90% daily), and improved behavior
(discipline referrals are down approximately 1/3). Don Killingbeck,
High School Principal said, “this year our student achievement,
attendance, and behavior have all improved”, he went on to praise
the teaching faculty and staff for keeping the focus on supporting
students as learners.

If you would like more information about this or other positive
happenings at Inland Lakes Schools visit us on the web:
www.inlandlakes.org or give us a call (231) 238-6868.
Contact Person(s): Don Killingbeck, HS Principal, Erika Jarema, HS
Counselor, or Jessica Mills, Success Coach