Turtle Lake-Mercer High School

School Strategy Map

Map Name: 2025 - 2026 Turtle Lake - Mercer High School Continuous Improvement Plan - Copy
Time Period: 6/1/2025 - 5/31/2026
Vision

We will create a community of lifelong learners in collaboration with the school, parents and community.  In a safe and caring environment, we will engage students in meaningful and relevant educational experiences.  Graduates will be critical thinkers who can solve problems and effectively...

Mission

To provide students a learning opportunity in a safe environment, to become productive citizens.

Beliefs

Where excellence is expected:  Growth, Responsibility, Respect, Commitment

Data Literacy
If we want students to meet grade-level outcomes, then we need to consistently review student-performance data and respond collaboratively and systematically.
Aca Instructional Prac.
If we want students to possess essential skills, then staff need to employ the best-practice strategies to ensure students are cognitively engaged in learning.
School Culture & Climate
If we want to have a safe and supportive school climate and culture that fosters a sense of belonging, then we need to engage in deliberate community-building school-wide.
Objectives
  • Ensure that every learner is continually afforded an effective instructional match verified by on-going, relevant data.
Objectives
  • Foster faculty professional growth to engage every learner, in every classroom, every day.
Objectives
  • Ensure that every learner is connected to at least one adult, activity, and peer in the building.
Critical Initiative
  • 3 Data Days, annually, for K - 8 reading and math
  • Establish protocols for consistent communication to occur amongst classroom teachers, Reading Strategist, Title I, and Special Education Services.
  • Provide opportunities for teachers to expand their knowledge of reading instruction through various PD offerings (ex. Supporting Secondary Struggling Readers, Foundations of Reading, LETRS)
Critical Initiative
  • ELEOT Observations on student engagement to be completed by Academic Instructional Practices team and administration. Goals is one observation per teacher, per semester.
  • Ensure compliance with all legislative updates in regard to Foundations of Reading and Math Instruction.
  • Foster an environment where faculty are encouraged to consistently share strategies to improve engagement in the classroom.
  • Review and reinforce expectations for use of student engagement strategies.
  • With assistance from CREA, implement a curriculum mapping plan in the area of 7-12 math instruction.
Critical Initiative
  • Establish and implement structured strategies to foster strong, positive relationships between staff and students, among students, and among staff members.
  • Harvard Relationship Mapping - student mapping and adult mapping
  • Prioritize the consistent use of 'Make IT Count' postcards to recognize and celebrate students who successfully complete their weekly missions, reinforcing positive behavior and student achievement.
  • Staff will engage in Crucial Conversations training led by NDCEL in fall of 2025.
Key Measures
  • Classroom Observation
  • DIBELS Assessment
  • DIBELS Data
  • ND A+ Testing
  • STAR Assessment
  • Student and teacher feedback
  • Teacher Evaluation
  • Walkthrough
Key Measures
  • Behavior Log Entry Data
  • Classroom Observation
  • Completed Strategy Map
  • DIBELS Assessment
  • DIBELS Data
  • ELEOT Data
  • ND A+ Testing
  • STAR Assessment
  • Student and teacher feedback
  • Teacher Evaluation
  • Walkthrough
Key Measures
  • Attendance
  • Behavior Log Entry Data
  • Classroom Observation
  • Postcard data
  • Student Engagement Survey
  • Survey Data
Comm. & Family Engagement
If we want to have positive relationships with families and community partners then we need to inform, involve, and engage families and community partners.
Objectives
  • Engage every family so that we can engage every learner, in every classroom, every day.
Critical Initiative
  • "October 13th, 2025 and March 23rd, 2026 Parent-Teacher Conferences to include ""student showcase"". "
  • Plan one Family Engagement Event per semester for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Re-establish expectations for use of Apptegy Rooms and redefine what Academic Engagement Posts should consist of.
Key Measures
  • Climate and Culture Survey Data
  • Parent-teacher conferences participation nubmers
  • Survey Data
  • Survey Results
The Strategy Map has been created in collaboration with The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and Cognia™.

All schools in North Dakota participate in a Continuous Improvement process. Continuous Improvement means examining a school’s current reality including demographics, culture, technology, finances, and academic progress, among many other factors. In addition, Continuous Improvement means looking into the future and predicting what may change – what will be different a year from now, or 10 years from now.

 

During the 2018-2019 school year, all schools in North Dakota participated in this Continuous Improvement journey. School personnel participated in training and collaborated with diverse stakeholders such as community members, teachers, parents and students to map out what the school’s priorities are, what the school’s objectives are and what critical initiatives needed to be implemented to achieve those objectives. This planning process resulted in a Strategy Map – a 3 to 5-year plan for the school.

 

It is important to note that the Strategy Map is a snapshot in time. It is documentation of what the school’s priorities were the past school year. In this case the Strategy Map below was captured and submitted on May 1, 2019. It is equally important to note that the Strategy Map below may have changed since its submittal. This is because priorities may have changed quickly depending on numerous factors. Factors can include, but are not limited to, a natural disaster, a high staff turn-over rate, or an influx or decrease of students. To obtain a copy of this schools current and update Strategy Map, please contact the local school administrator.



Please contact North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction with any questions and feedback via email to the following address: dpidashboard@nd.gov