Page 15 - Paduan Fall/Winter 18-19

best learning conditions for meeting the personalized and indi- vidualized needs of each student and achieving state and local educational goals and objectives.” Last, is the actual development of a continuous school improvement plan.
All of the elements of this process are first reviewed by the superintendent of secondary schools for the Diocese of Cleveland. Once deemed compliant, an external validation team, headed by an administrator from a different Ohio diocese, along with four area school administrators, review the entire plan and process. The external validation team visit occurs in the second year of the cycle. Once the external validation team reviews all of the elements, then make their recommendations, which must
be responded to by the school. The revised plans are then
sent to OCSAA for final review and are either accepted or rejected. Our final school improvement plan for Padua
Franciscan was accepted this past spring and guarantees accreditation through 2024. At that point the process
will begin again.
The Catholicity goal for Padua will focus on environmental stewardship, inspired by our Franciscan charism and by the writings of Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si. It is our
goal to become the most environmentally-friendly school in Northeast Ohio. As a Franciscan school, we feel that it is essential for us to guide the way for our fellow schools as to what it means to be stewards of our earth. The development of awareness along with the reduction of plastics, styrofoam, paper and water will be the focus for the next four years.
Our academic goal will be to increase our students’ depth of knowledge through 21st century skills. Research shows that developing a depth of knowledge through skill sets of reading,
technology and collaboration strengthens not only retention but also understanding. Professional development will begin this school year to develop assessment strategies as well as to utilize formative assessments to provide a level of quality and consistency in the curriculum. Accreditation is a catalyst for growth and change. Early discussions have already spearheaded new initiatives.
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