A Rigorous
In educational terms, rigor amounts to students’ being able to apply knowledge to solve problems and draw conclusions. This amounts to high levels of expectation for student learning, as application of knowledge must transcend rote memorization. Many of the expectations encountered by previous generations stopped at memorizing multiplication facts, states and capitals, or even bones of the body. But consider how fast our world is changing; the first iPhone was introduced in only 2007! What will their world be like in 30 years? Rigor is necessary for us to teach them to adapt to an ever-changing landscape of opportunities that have not yet been invented.
Standards-Based
The idea behind a standards-based education is to ensure every student receives a defined educational experience. What a student is expected to learn and be able to do should not be subject to chance of what classroom s/he is assigned. An Indian Valley education guarantees a common set of expectations for every student. Our teachers collaborate to make this a reality.
Learning describes the focus of our teachers in the classroom. Attention cannot be given solely to the fact of whether or not certain material was taught, rather attention is given to whether or not the student learned that material. If the material was not learned, the teaching was for not. At Indian Valley Local Schools, our focus is on what our students are learning.
As we progress further into the 21st century, it is clear that today’s learners respond best to an engaging learning environment. Passively taking notes cannot be the sum total of a student’s experience, but a student must have the opportunity to interact with the facts, ideas, and concepts to be learned. We are committed to continually improving the engaging learning experience through the use of technology as a tool and the study of effective instructional strategies.
I hope this analysis of our mission statement has helped you discover the heart of Indian Valley Local Schools. It is our desire to make our community proud by developing scholars and leaders ready to pursue their goals and dreams anywhere in the world! Please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you.
Go Braves,
Dr. Ira Wentworth
Superintendent
Indian Valley Local Schools