WELCOME TO UNIVERSAL AMERICAN SCHOOL - The Universal American School is a private, college-preparatory, N-12 school serving a multinational student body from the diverse populations residing in Kuwait.

Our School

 

Superintendent's Action Plan for 2011-12


School Objectives:

1.  The School shall have a clear mission statement, philosophy, vision, established policies, and annual objectives appropriate for students communicated and shared with staff.

  • Timeline:  Throughout the school year, communicated with all staff;
  • Responsibility: Superintendent and Administrative Team;

2.  The current organizational chart will be reviewed and communicated amongst staff, and the chain of command respected and followed by all. The School Superintendent, though accountable to the school director/owner, shall be the responsible leader of the school with authority to make day to day decisions regarding the operations of the school. There will be a clearly defined fair and appropriate evaluation process for the Superintendent.

  • Timeline:  August - September 2011 for organizational chart/chain of command;  Evaluation instruments reviewed in  December and January; 
  • Responsibility:  Owner, Superintendent, Principals;

3.  A 5-Year Strategic Plan will be developed, which will address all aspects of the school and its growth and development, focusing primarily on the instructional program.  We will begin with the big picture – where do we want to be in five years – and then work out the details of how we are going to reach our vision in a series of one-two year plans.

  • Timeline:  September – May 2012
  • Responsibility:  Superintendent, Principals, Owner;

4.  In coordination with the recently established instructional technology coordinator position, a 5-Year technology plan for integrating technology tools and techniques into teaching and a projected schedule of annual technology purchases for K-12 grade levels will be outlined.

  • Timeline:  September – January 2012
  • Responsibility:  Instructional Technology Coordinator, Superintendent, Owner, IT Department

 
5.  The school budget shall be understood by the Business Manager, Superintendent, Owner, Principals and relevant others as needed.  The financial resources of the school shall be capable of sustaining a sound educational program, consistent with mission, philosophy, objectives, and adequate to  provide long term stability.  A review of salaries and extra-duty stipends will occur to continue being competitive with other schools in Kuwait.

  • Timeline: Preliminary Budget in November and December 2011, including review of 2010-11 budget;  Completed budget for 2012-13 to be presented in February 2012;
  • Responsibility: Business Manager, Superintendent, Principals, Department Leaders, Curriculum Coordinators, School Owner;

6.  The school shall hire sufficient numbers of qualified staff to carry out the school's mission and objectives, foster co-operative and positive working relationships among all staff, students, and parents.  Staff shall be persons genuinely interested in their work and who have positive qualities of character and personality to make them desirable role models for young people.  Concerted efforts will be made to create compelling incentives to continue to attract and retain and outstanding faculty, administration, and support staff from diverse backgrounds.  A goal of retaining ten percent more returning staff members than the previous school term is targeted. 

  • Timeline:  January – July 2012 and on-going as staffing needs dictate;
  • Responsibility: School Consultant, Superintendent, Business Manager, Director of Human Resources and Owner;

7.  All staff shall have written contracts and there shall be a clearly defined and effective system of assessment of staff, based on predetermined and explicit criteria.  Staff members shall have an opportunity to appeal any aspects of their appraisal to their supervisor, the superintendent, or owner.

  • Timeline: Initial formative appraisal by January 2011, with final summative evaluation completed by May 15;
  • Responsibility: All who evaluate other staff members;

8.  The curriculum of the school will be reviewed and updated regularly, evidenced through standards, quarterly pacing guides, and assessments of student achievement established in a variety of methods, with results recorded, documented, and communicated to parents.

  • Timeline:  Standards for elementary and middle grades will be correlated with SAT 10 achievement testing, and standards will be segmented into nine-week "Pacing Guides," and assessed through quarterly pre and post assessments that are aligned to the pacing guides.
  • Standards for high school courses will be segmented into nine- week "Pacing Guides," and have summative exams aligned to subject specific standards and pacing guides.
  • Responsibility : Principals, teachers, intervention specialists, and Curriculum Committee members;

9.  Pre and Post assessment results will be analyzed by teachers, administration, and published by grade, subject area, and teacher.  Results will be shared with students and parents.

  • Timeline: Pretests administered at the beginning of each quarter and posttests at the conclusion of each quarterly grading period;
  • Responsibility: Principals and teachers;

10.  The CHAMPS Classroom Management system will be implemented in grades K-12 as effectively as feasible.  All new staff members to UAS and their mentors will be engaged in on-going staff development to facilitate implementation of the CHAMPS Program.  The intent is to assist teachers in designing a classroom management plan that will help them to overtly teach students how to behave responsibly.  Teachers will develop methods for clearly communicating and teaching students to meet their expectations.  The objective is to help teachers increase respectful and civil interactions, maximize student on-task behavior, reduce classroom disruptions, and improve overall classroom climate.

  • Timeline:  On-going throughout the school term;
  • Responsibility:  CHAMPS Leadership Team, Principals, Mentors, New Staff

11.  Use of the Six + 1 Traits Writing program will be reinforced with in-service renewal as requested and expanded into additional curricular areas as deemed feasible by principals at all levels.

  • Timeline:  On-going throughout the school term as in-service time permits;
  • Responsibility:  Curriculum Coordinator, Principals, Superintendent;

12.  The school shall review the current program of professional development for staff, and develop relevant staff development practices based on school mission, philosophy, objectives, and staff needs.

  • Timeline:  November - January   2012;
  • Responsibility: Administration, Curriculum Coordinator; Curriculum Committee;

13.  The web page will be updated and revised on a regular basis. Academic standards and Pacing Guides will be included on the revised web site for access by staff, parents, and students.  Each School department will provide needed input for web page material.

  • Timeline: Ongoing, with deadlines coordinated by Bibi Alghanim;
  • Responsibility: Bibi Alghanim, with input and support from the Superintendent, Principals, Librarian, Director of HR, School Owner, and others as designated; 

14. UAS will improve communication accessibility to and from school staff by effectively utilizing Microsoft Outlook during the 2011-12 School Year.

  • Timeline:  On-going
  • Responsibility: Bibi Alghanim, Administration, IT Department, and Teachers;

15.  Teachers and administration will enhance the learning environment by implementing technology as tools to assist teachers to improve their teaching and improve student learning opportunities.

  •             Timeline:  On-going throughout the school year;
  • Responsibility:  Administration, Teachers, and IT Department;

16.  Vocabulary development activities will be incorporated into all subject areas at all grade levels, K-12, to expand the vocabulary program implemented in the elementary during the 2010-11 school term.

  • Timeline:  On-going throughout the school year;
  • Responsibility:  Principals, Team Leaders, Department Chairs, Teachers

17.  The delivery of intervention services and the effectiveness of current instructional practices will be reviewed at all levels.  As student achievement is reviewed throughout the year, teaching strategies, interventions, instructional modifications, and accommodations for students will be reviewed for optimum benefit of students in need of interventions services.

  • Timeline:  On-going throughout the school year;
  • Responsibility:  Principals, Teachers, Counselors, CST Members; 

18.  Review the continuity and connectivity of the three separate educational levels – elementary, middle school and high school – and assess how effectively the levels operate as a cohesive team as opposed to three separate entities.

  • Timeline:  On-going throughout the school year;
  • Responsibility:  Administration, Teachers, Department Chairs and Team Leaders;  

19.  A teacher mentoring manual will be developed which may serve as a reference for new teachers and mentors from year to year.  All new teachers will be paired with a veteran UAS teacher to provide guidance and support so that all teachers develop into highly effective educators.

  • Timeline:  September – May 2012;
  • Responsibility:  Superintendent, Principals, Mentors, Mentees;

20.  A review will be completed regarding the feasibility, benefits, and costs of introducing MAP (Measuring Academic Progress) to measure student achievement, manage data, and guide data driven instruction for UAS.  A report of feasibility and costs will be presented to Administration, Curriculum Committee, Advisory Committee, and Owner.

  • Timeline:  December  - January  2012;
  • Responsibility: Superintendent, Curriculum Coordinator and/or Curriculum Committee, Principals, and Counselors;