The Charles H. Walsh Sr. Academy & Career Tech High School, formerly Jen School, strives strive to provide authentic human learning experiences through an instructor mediated experiential learning process. We believe experiential learning occurs through a mediated process of doing a concrete activity, reflecting upon the experience and developing a new understanding that can be transferred to other life experiences. We believe to affect change a student must be exposed to mediated learning experiences in which what you did (behavior) is purposefully connected with why you did it (emotion) and who it affected (reciprocity between self and community).
Walsh Academy espouses the Jen virtue in Confucian teaching, embracing respect for all people, benevolence, openness, lifelong learning as the world is always changing and humanness, and instilling the value of self and importance of relationships for happiness and success in life. Jen encourages people to remain open to new experiences and ideas to continue to grow throughout their lives. This is a method of learning and teaching that started at the Maryville Jen School and will continue at Walsh Academy.
PROGRAM’S IMPACT/ MEASUREMENT OF SUCCESS
Continuing the rich and nurturing tradition of Jen School, Walsh Academy students will benefit the most. In keeping with the philosophy of Jen, nothing is taught in isolation at Walsh Academy. Our focus is to remind our students of their value and worth. We do this by utilizing a Trauma Informed Care approach in everything we do. Jen School, and now Walsh Academy, has utilized this approach from our beginnings. Our approach offers students a safe and nurturing environment where students feel safe to take risks in terms of learning. School districts, faculty, parents and families are also impacted by our students’ successes.
Success is measured in both objective and subjective means.
- Student progress towards IEP goals is tracked, monitored and reported quarterly.
- Student behaviors are tracked, monitored and reported at least quarterly; incident reports weekly.
- MAP testing is administered in fall and spring of each year, or when a student enrolls, in Math, Science and Reading.
- Attendance trends are monitored and reported quarterly.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Walsh Academy offers rigorous course work toward graduation requirements while simultaneously meeting students’ academic needs as shown by student grade progression and progress towards academic IEP goals at 90% or higher on quarterly IEP updates.
Through the implementation of Walsh Academy’s CorePro SEL curriculum and push-in model, Walsh Academy provides students with tools to solve/explore unstructured real-world problems that require teamwork and thus increase their employability and essential skills appropriate for their age as measured by attendance rates (85% or better schoolwide), progress towards SEL goals (90% of students or more making expected progress), and decreased behavior reports (10% decrease by 2022-2024 program renewal cycle). It is expected that 90% of the students will either meet graduation requirements or begin the reintegration process to their home school district within two years.
Walsh Academy’s CTE programming provides employment support and direction to each student in their desired career pathway through participation in monthly transition surveys, pathway-related coursework and enrollment in an Employability Skills course (schoolwide).
