• Category 1

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: 9 - 12
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 19,655
    Student Enrollment: 59
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 1.7%
    White/Caucasian: 79.7%
    Hispanic: 10.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 8.4%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:8
    % Reduced Lunch: 52.5%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1999
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Mike Swan
  • CONTACT:
    850 Dome Loop Road
    Sheridan, WY 82801
    307-673-8730
    mike.swan@scsd2.com
John C. Schiffer Collaborative School
Sheridan, WY
Professional learning communities are a driving force of learning for Schiffer teachers.
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
John C. Schiffer Collaborative School is a community committed to ensuring the learning and graduation of all students. For the 2021-2022 academic year, John C. Schiffer was designated “Meeting Alternative School Expectations” on the WAEA School Performance Level. In 2022-2023, Schiffer was designated “Exceeding Alternative School Expectations”, surpassing the cut score of 2.3. For the same two years, Schiffer demonstrated improvement in the “Growth” indicator by moving from a “below average” score of 37.7 to an “Average” score of 48.7 52.5% of students at JCSCS qualify for free or reduced lunch, qualifying the school as Title I. When compared to the state average for alternative high school graduation rates, Schiffer continues to exceed the state average. In 2022, the Wyoming alternative school graduation average was 59%, while Schiffer’s graduation rate was just over 63%.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
John C. Schiffer Collaborative School has initiated several strategies with the explicit intention of improvement. First, graduation rate is a primary area monitored by staff. Schiffer teachers and staff understand that student dropout rate is not a number. Because our staff understands the critical importance of graduating, they emphasize staying in school from the very first day. Students engage in learning soft skills, developing success plans and exploring potential careers, and cultivating relationship skills that will ultimately lead to success. The Graduation Coach at Schiffer works closely with students and families of at-risk youth to support students and overcome obstacles. The school counselor and Multiple Pathways Coordinator assist students in exploring opportunities available and connect students with valuable resources. In connection, the staff at Schiffer focus on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports with a specific lens on attendance.

3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
The use of Title I funds at John C. Schiffer Collaborative School is prioritized to impact student learning. Specifically, the majority of Title I funds are utilized to provide additional teachers who are highly trained to provide targeted instruction. Schiffer staff realize that effective teachers have a far greater impact on student learning than programs or materials and, as a result, use their funds for that purpose. The result of the utilization of funds includes smaller learning cohorts, more opportunities for intervention and support, and teacher collaboration around student needs.

The remainder of funds are allocated to student and family engagement, which we use to connect families to the community. JCS has taken the opportunity to creatively combine their Title I events with Family Engagement Nights, providing opportunities to engage the community in student learning and achievement.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Staff at John C. Schiffer Collaborative School prioritize their own learning because they understand that student learning is directly impacted by teacher efficacy. As part of their ongoing professional development plan, the staff at Schiffer have engaged in two years of ongoing professional development to design meaningful success criteria for each course. The collaborative process of developing and refining success criteria has been a major contributor to the success of our students, allowing them to see how skills and content learned are applicable to a variety of purposes.
Professional learning communities are a driving force of learning for Schiffer teachers. Teachers at Schiffer do not plan, analyze data, or develop intervention plans in a silo. Instead, they value collaboration and have built structures to ensure their own professional development is embedded and sustained through the PLC model.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Discovery is foundational at Schiffer. The creator of Discovery, Eric Larsen, says, “Discovery is a culture based on skills acquisition wherein the environment polishes the behavior.” Therefore, Schiffer cultivates Discovery skills to ensure all students acquire the knowledge, actionable skills, and attitudes essential for achieving their full potential and becoming productive citizens. The objectives include developing a strong sense of community and establishing positive support systems for all students; teaching, practicing, and providing feedback on positive social skills; and reinforcing the culture of the classroom and school to ensure all students realize what is expected of them and what they can expect from the staff. To make this expectation more concrete, the staff of JCS participate in Discovery training for one week every summer.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Title I Family STEAM & Community Resource Night
At Family STEAM & Community Resource Night the Schiffer staff hold information stations throughout the school for families to learn specific academic content, discover community resources, and engage in academic overviews for courses. This gives students the opportunity to share what they have recently learned or show completed projects while connecting staff and parents outside of quarterly conferences.

Title I Family Night: Cross-Collaborative Courses & Art Expo
John C. Schiffer’s Title I Collaborative Courses & Art Expo Night is a unique opportunity for families and community partners to see how we are taking cross collaboration to the next level.
Community partners: Sheridan College, Center for a Vital Community, leaders in the community participate in one on one mentoring and mock interviews.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: 9 - 12
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 19,655
    Student Enrollment: 59
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 1.7%
    White/Caucasian: 79.7%
    Hispanic: 10.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 8.4%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:8
    % Reduced Lunch: 52.5%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1999
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Mike Swan
  • CONTACT:
    850 Dome Loop Road
    Sheridan, WY 82801
    307-673-8730
    mike.swan@scsd2.com