No action was taken.

Heidi shared the following highlights from the month of November: 

• Staff Introductions: Welcomed Heather Ferenc, the new Director of Education, and highlighted Chelsea King, Heidi’s coach for her credential program.
• Student Engagement: Celebrated the success of the Student Council’s fundraisers, which helped develop life skills for students under the guidance of their advisor, Annie Mun.
• Leadership Development: Shared the outcomes of the first part of the Admin Summit, which included a department-level SWOT analysis to identify opportunities and pain points, with plans to continue this work in January.
• Academic and Special Education Updates: Highlighted ongoing efforts in analyzing data to improve learning outcomes and celebrated the recognition of the school’s special education team as one of the strongest in non-classroom-based education.
• Conference Achievements: Recognized the team’s presentations at the APLUS+ Conference, including sessions on MTSS and LGBTQ+. Noted the honor of having multiple sessions accepted, which reflects the staff’s expertise and innovation.
• Excel Entrepreneur Expo: Showcased the success of this hands-on event, held in four locations, where students planned, created, and sold goods. The event integrated math and life skills, fostered community connections, and even attracted a new family to enroll.
• Parent Education: Discussed the success of the Parent Power Up event, which included sessions on writing, FAFSA, and a parent panel to support family engagement.
• Staff Highlights: Recognized Leah, the Assistant Director of Special Education, for her dedication, humor, and exceptional contributions to the school, emphasizing her strong partnership with the Director of Special Education, Lara.
• Professional Development: Reviewed the numerous conferences, webinars, and training sessions attended by staff across departments during October and November, showcasing the school’s commitment to growth and learning.

Tamara presented an overview of the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and intervention programs, emphasizing personalized learning and collaboration.

Key Highlights:

• WIN Program: Supports 240 students in math and 290 in reading with asynchronous learning, progress monitoring, and tailored adjustments. Virtual small-group classes provide 100 minutes of weekly instruction, focusing heavily on early grades (1-2) to close gaps early.
• English Learner Development (ELD): Serves 60 TK-12 English learners with 100 weekly minutes of instruction, smaller class sizes, and targeted preparation for the ELPAC. Reclassification rates have risen from 32% to 45% over two years.
• Additional Supports: Book clubs, read-aloud sessions, and collaboration across tiers ensure students receive the services they need, including resources for homeless and foster families through SEL initiatives like Care Solace.

The board expressed gratitude and admiration for the staff and leadership at Excel Academy, highlighting key accomplishments and the positive culture of the school.

Key Comments:

• Acknowledgments: The board praised the staff for their presentation at the APLUS+ conference, noting the difficulty and significance of such an achievement. Lara was commended for her leadership in guiding specialists, especially in navigating challenging legal and compliance requirements.
• Leadership: Heidi’s leadership and the collective efforts of the staff were celebrated for fostering motivation, collaboration, and exceptional results. The board highlighted the dedication and professionalism of the entire team, including teachers, parents, and students.
• Reports and Data: Members appreciated the clarity, organization, and efficiency of the presentations, emphasizing the effort and teamwork required to produce meaningful data and reports. They recognized that this reflects the strong behaviors and systems in place.
• Finance: Steve and the finance team were applauded for their excellent financial management, ensuring the school remains in a strong position despite challenges.
• Community and Positivity: The board acknowledged the unseen contributions of many behind-the-scenes staff and emphasized the positive and collaborative atmosphere of the school.

Heidi expressed gratitude to the board and staff, emphasizing the collective effort that leads to the success of Excel Academy. She described board meetings as a “finale” that showcases the hard work and collaboration of the entire team. Heidi acknowledged Megan’s significant contributions and praised the dynamic and dedicated staff.

She highlighted the "12 Days of Gratitude" initiative as a way to ensure every team member felt seen and valued across all departments, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their impact at every level. Heidi thanked the board for their support, which enables the school to continue thriving.