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TSI Letter 24 25
12/10/2024
Dear Parent/Guardian:
I hope the school year has started successfully for all of you. As a parent/guardian of a student in Governor’s Village
STEM Academy - Upper, I am writing this letter to let you know that Governor’s Village STEM Academy - Upper, has
been designated as a Targeted Support & Improvement Additional Targeted Support (TSI-AT) school by the North
Carolina State Board of Education. ESSA Section 1111(d)(2) stated that North Carolina had to identify schools for
targeted support and improvement. TSI-AT schools in North Carolina are those that have a subgroup that is
underperforming. This opportunity intends to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps,
increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction.
As a TSI-AT school, Governor’s Village STEM Academy - Upper, is required to develop a comprehensive plan that
specifically addresses how the school will improve student achievement. The plan will also include how our district will
support us and monitor our school's progress. The comprehensive plan will address the following areas:
● Classroom Management
● Standards-aligned Instruction
● Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
● Instructional Leadership
● Recruitment & Retention of Effective Teachers
● Support for Grade-to-Grade Transitions
● Implementation of a Tiered Instructional System
● Data-Driven Decision Making
● Student Support Services
● Family and Community Engagement
We have set the following goals for Governor’s Village STEM Academy - Upper, this year:
● The percent of students scoring College and Career Ready (CCR) on reading End of Grade assessments in grades
3-8 will increase from 24.6% in SY2023-24 to 35% in SY2024-25. (Aligns to A2.04 and B3.03 and CMS Goal 2)
● The percent of students scoring College and Career Ready (CCR) on Math 1 assessments will increase from 22.9
% in SY2023-24 to 100% in SY2024-25. (Aligns to A2.04 and B3.03 and CMS Goal 3)
● The percent of Black and Hispanics students scoring Grade Level Proficient (GLP), on math End of Grade
assessments in grades 3-8 will increase from 48.6% in SY 2023-24 to 55% in SY 2024-25. (Aligns to A4.01, B3.03,
D1.02 and CMS Guardrail 1)
● The percent of OSS/ISS incidents will decrease from 18% in SY 2023-24 to 14% in SY 2024-25. (Aligns to A1.07,
A4.06 and CMS Guardrail 2)
● The percentage of chronic absenteeism will decrease from 25.13 % to 18% by EOY 2024-2025. (Aligns to A1.07,
A4.06, and CMS Guardrail 3)
● The school will retain 80% of highly effective licensed classroom teachers throughout the 2024-25. (Aligns to
A1.07, A4.06, and CMS Guardrail 3)
● Duty-free planning: Provide a duty-free instructional planning time for every teacher under G.S.115C-105.27 and
-301.1, with the goal of proving an average of at least five hours of planning time per week, with the maximum
extent that the safety and proper supervision of students may allow during regular student contact hours. (Aligns
to A2.04)
● Duty Free Lunch: To provide a duty-free lunch period for every teacher on a daily basis. (Aligns to A4.06)
● Bullying Prevention: Provide a positive school climate, under CMS regulation JICK-R, by promoting a safe
learning environment free of bullying and harassing behaviors. (Aligns to A4.06)
● The percent of students scoring College and Career Ready (CCR) on Science End of Grade assessments in grade
5 will increase from 61.4% in SY2023-24 to 70% in SY2024-25. (Aligns to A2.04 and B3.03)
Our students need to experience higher achievement levels, but it will require hard work on the part of staff, students and
families. Here are some strategies Governor’s Village STEM Academy - Upper, will be implementing:
● Collaborative PLCs during which rigorous lessons and highly engaging and effective instructional strategies
are modeled
● differentiation and scaffolds are intentionally planned and practiced
● student work and assessment data are analyzed to create intentionally differentiated flexible small groups
● Strengthening our MTSS Instructional Framework and Team to include structured weekly meetings
● provide tiered interventions in both academics and behaviors, and assess the effectiveness of the
interventions.
Parent engagement is at the heart of our school improvement efforts. Here are some ways we can work together:
● Make sure that both you and your student are aware of academic expectations set for your student this school year.
A list of learning objectives in student-friendly language is available from your student’s teacher(s).
● Make sure that your student is prepared and attends school each day.
● Monitor your student’s homework.
● Monitor the progress your student is making and attend meetings with your student’s teacher(s).
● Keep track of our website and social media sites at:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Governors-Village-STEM-Academy/61550274883939/ & at GVSA’s website:
https://www.cmsk12.org/johnmotleymoreheadMS
● Volunteer.
Sounds like a lot but preparing our students so that they can succeed is not easy and is a group effort. Here are some
resources available to help:
● Governor’s Village STEM Academy Upper Campus (980) 343 - 5775
● Graduation requirements: www.ncpublicschools.org/gradrequirements/
● K-12 standards in academic subjects: www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/
● State student achievement test results: www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/
● N.C. School Report Cards: https://ncreportcards.ondemand.sas.com/src
We’re excited about this school year and are working to make it a success for your student. Already, we have:
● Led our Curriculum Night & Annual Title 1 night in September 2024
● Led our Fall STEM Night in November 2024
● Led our Literacy Night in November 2024
● Led our ML Family Empowerment Networking Events in September, October and November 2024
● Celebrated our scholars academic & behavioral success at our 1st quarter awards ceremony
● Formed partnerships with ShermCo to support parent & family engagement
If you have questions about the content of this letter, please contact our Upper Campus Assistant Principal, Kelvin Rattley
at (980) 343 - 5775 or email at kelvint.rattley@cms.k12.nc.us, if you have questions or concerns about your student or to
set up an appointment to meet with a school staff member who will be working with your student.
Sincerely,
Principal Jeffrey Cook
