Strategic schools plan focuses on well-being of students

WESTPORT — Socialemotional well-being and collaborative problem solving are just two topics that may be implemented within the Westport school district this fall.

This is all part of the strategic plan discussed by the Board of Education earlier this month.

The goal of the plan is “to foster the development of well-adjusted students who can work together to solve complex problems.” Action plans beginning in the 20222023 school year will be implemented from preschool through high school.

Central themes of the plan will prioritize students feeling safe, connected and valued; amplify student voices and allow for joy in learning, high engagement and having fun in school.

“I think it’s really, really important that kids have fun in school,” Superintendent Thomas Scarice said. “That doesn’t soften education. Our achievement levels will not drop if we have opportunities for kids to engage in different activities.”

Scarice said the need for social-emotional well-being is due to the conditions faced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two categories within social-emotional well-being that will be emphasized are leadership development and a growth mindset.

Scarice said that leadership training is typically done at the collegiate level or within independent or private schools. However, he said that the Westport schools have plenty of opportunities for student leaders, and waiting until higher education misses a window to develop those skills.

He emphasized viewing leadership as a verb, not a title or position.

Scarice also proposed an area of the Westport Public Schools called the Center for Leadership Development. He said there would be training, guest speakers and experts, a library with resources and training materials and age-appropriate training for all students, among other aspects.

He said that this center would be a physical location, whether a separate building or on campus, within five years.

“We have just tons of leaders in our community,” Scarice said. “Our kids are gonna go off into the world, in general, with great opportunities to be leaders.”

“Why don’t we take advantage of that and develop leadership skills while they’re with us for 13 years?” he asked.

A growth mindset “is marked by individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies and feedback from performance and others),” according to the meeting memo.

Scarice said in the meeting that it is the belief that intelligence can be developed. Students with a growth mindset will understand that they can get smarter through help from others when needed, hard work and use of effective strategies.

This is in contrast to a fixed mindset, where people believe that intelligence is fixed at birth.

“This is really problematic for a generation that’s perceived as fragile,” Scarice said. “That when they meet with failure, how do they push through that — how do they develop resiliency?”

Growth mindset can be achieved through multiple means, such as direct instruction, teaching students that the brain is malleable, teaching effort-based ability and examining current policies the district has in place.

Scarice also clarified that these topics are already in place within the Westport School District and are not brand new.

“Do we have a systemic approach to foster this in kids?” he asked. “Not quite yet.”

Collaborative problem solving is another topic that will be implemented in school. According to the meeting memo, it is achieved by “fostering critical and creative thinking, and collaborative problem solving through a robust curriculum delivered by engaging and dedicated educators.”

There are short-term goals —18 months — in place within collaborative problem solving, which refers to educators as “lead learners.”

During the meeting, members also proposed some specifics of the action plans, but Scarice said they want to leave it up to the individual school principals and teachers within each school.

“This is a very exciting endeavor for the district,” Scarice said in a statement, “with a bold vision for some powerful programs that can position our students to thrive in the years after they graduate for our schools.”

He said the Board of Education will return in the fall with an update to the community.