Opening August, 2019

Curriculum, Classroom, Coaching, Community, and Culture

Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School will transform teaching and learning, demonstrating methods and techniques that will be replicated in high quality public high schools across the state and the nation.

MISSION

Patel High School will educate, inspire, and empower students by integrating 21st century knowledge and skills with personalized, innovative instruction, school/community partnerships, and a focus on social responsibility and leadership.

Patel High School will embed skills essential to 21st century learning – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity – into the context of core subjects and interdisciplinary themes that challenge students to excel..

Inquiry and problem-based approaches to instruction will immerse Patel High School students in real-world problems and solutions, cultivating a profound understanding of their civic and leadership responsibilities, both locally and globally. Patel High School will lay the groundwork for students to become college and career ready lifelong learners.

WORLD CLASS FACILITIES

Successful learning occurs in physical spaces specifically designed with an eye toward flexibility and the promotion of creativity and collaboration. The Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School will incorporate:

Wow Space – common room for formal and informal gatherings.
Studios – Space for gatherings, working groups, and presentations.
Neighborhoods – Communities for integrated curriculum delivery.
Movable Walls – Creating flexible space between teachers & classrooms.
Venues – Providing opportunity to display and exhibit student work.

The entire campus of Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School will be a learning tool and community asset. Architecture, school grounds, and landscaping all contribute to a rich learning environment.

TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION

PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School is that a teacher’s purpose is far greater than to simply deliver information. Traditional secondary education models are often “transactional” in that they rely on transmission of knowledge from teacher to student, and anticipate that students will assimilate and synthesize new knowledge on their own, either in real time or in review. In contrast, Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School will server more as facilitators of learning rather than simply transmitters.

SHARED VISION

A shared vision is an idea or statement that describes for students what the class, students, and teacher should aim to achieve over the course of a quarter or semester. It serves as an internal compass that helps both the students and the instructor organize their time, priorities, and expectations.

MODELING & MASTERY

A transformational teacher serves in the role of a coach when he or she provides modeling and mastery experiences that promote learning, and transform students’ attitudes, values, and beliefs. Like coaches, teachers possess information about a variety of strategies and skills, and their goal is to train students to apply those strategies and skills effectively. At Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School, community-based mentors as well as teachers and counselors will serve in this type of coaching role.

CHALLENGE & ENCOURAGE

In a transformational model, intellectually challenging and encouraging students isn’t done simply to promote learning; rather, it is a tool for transforming their attitudes, values, and beliefs. This can be accomplished is by framing discussion in terms of students’ current level of understanding and by presenting problems that are of appropriate difficulty, given students’ prior knowledge and current skill levels.

PERSONALIZE ATTENTION & FEEDBACK

Instruction and feedback can be personalized in many ways, but to be effective it must be accurate and “true.” Teachers must have at least a general sense of their students’ current ability levels. Implementation of “Power Hour” in the daily schedule is an effective tool Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School will use to foster teacher/student connections. Counselors and teachers will work with students to identify a person vision for the future, a summary of current strengths and weaknesses, a learning plan to help them attain their learning goals, and a set of exercises or activities designed to foster new ways of thinking and behaving.

CREATE EXPERIENTIAL LESSONS

Experiential lessons immerse students in a topic, and often extend beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Project-based learning forms the foundation of much of the educational program at Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School. Whether guided by the classroom teachers or community volunteers through project-based mentoring, experiential learning will provide an opportunity for our students to experience concepts hands-on and to become active members of the community in the process.

PROMOTE PREFLECTION & REFLECTION

Preflection and reflection are defining characteristics of transformational teaching, resulting in meaningful and sustainable change within our students. Preflection takes place before an assignment or activity begins. Students are guided through a process of critiquing their own assumptions about an idea or problem-solving approach before they begin an activity. In contrast, reflection takes place once the assignment or activity is completed.