Muhlenberg School District

The most important initiative our district has undertaken over this time has been Mental Health.  This initiative is critical to our success because it is essential at every stage of life, from childhood to adolescence through adulthood.  It includes emotional, psychological and social well-being.  It affects how we think, feel, and act.  It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. 

We have also spent a considerable amount of our professional learning time to develop and grow as 21st century educators over the past seven years.   Moving beyond the transmission model of teaching (basic skill sets, memorization, and computation) to teaching higher order thinking skills will prepare students for the future.  Skills such as problem-solving, leadership, flexibility, analyzing, and interpreting are the cornerstones for life, work, and citizenship in the 21st century.  Constructing opportunities and authentic experiences for our students to apply their critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills has allowed our district to make significant improvements in the areas of Literacy and STEM.   

Seven years ago we established our Engaged Classroom Initiative to create the proper conditions necessary for our students to thrive in a 21st century learning environment.  Today,  all students in grades 3 to 9 will be using Chromebooks in the one-to-one model.  All of our students in Kdg to 2nd grade will be using iPads in the one-to-one model.  All of our teachers benefit from our five 21st Century Teaching and Learning Coaches.  Our Coaches provide focused and meaningful professional development on a frequent basis to teachers that allows them to have an even greater impact on student learning.   

As we continue to emerge with 21st Century Teaching and Learning methods and strategies, we continually analyze the effectiveness of our programs and resources to ensure we are effectively meeting the needs of all our children.  MSD has made tremendous strides with equipping our staff and students with the most appropriate resources, cutting edge technology, rigorous curriculum, and meaningful professional development.  Those resources have allowed MSD to make significant improvements in the areas of Literacy and STEM, garnering national recognition and attention.