Each year our enrollment grows and welcomes new students from a variety of backgrounds. Because we are committed to helping all students succeed – regardless of background – we want to empower our administrators, teachers and staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively educate our newest residents.
Perry Township Schools is proud to team with Olivet Nazarene University, an accredited Christian, liberal arts school, to help our employees continue their education and earn a Master of Arts in education. The partnership is designed to develop our school leaders into local leaders and prepare those who teach students who are diverse in culture and language. The initiative will offer the Ethical Building Leadership Program and the English Language Learners Program.
The leadership program will help meet the needs of 21st century educators and those seeking to advance into these positions. The initiative prepares future school leaders through educational leadership lessons and real-life experiences. Our scholars will be able to apply what they have learned from the courses in professional seminars.
The learners program is intended to help teachers work more effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse students. This year 16,299 students are enrolled in our district. Of that amount, 47 percent are white, 27 percent Asian, 14 percent Hispanic, 7 percent black, 5 percent multicultural.
Approximately 20 percent of our students receive services in the English learning program to acquire language skills necessary for full transition into a regular academic program and participation in the total school community.
Learning about cultural nuances and sensitivities is not an exercise that happens once or twice for our teachers, administrators and staff.
To best serve our students, training efforts must be ongoing. Our English Learning Department hosts lunch-and-learn events to teach our employees how to be welcoming and respectful to all cultures that call Perry Township home. These groups represent our district in large numbers, and their experiences often differ from our customs and expectations.
Accommodating these differences is a critical component of our inclusion efforts. We want every student to receive the best possible education, and we are committed to investing in our employees to achieve this goal.