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Last week, new Mastery Schools teachers gathered in South Philadelphia for the Mastery Staff Institute (MSI) to gain invaluable insights into the Mastery mission, vision and values and help them thrive during their first year as Mastery teachers. MSI highlights the importance of providing quality education to all students, setting a high bar, implementing strategic supports, working together as One Team and partnering with families and the community. We are wishing a warm welcome to all our new teachers and looking forward to supporting them during this school year and beyond.

Mastery Schools

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Earlier this month, we were thrilled to host over 50 new leaders for intensive training, where they took a deep dive into our mission, vision, and values, affirming their commitment to each. Together, they identified the most critical work needed to meet goals and collaborated on key strategies to help improve positive student outcomes. We are #OneTeam, committed to ensuring all students learn the academic and personal skills they need to truly be successful after graduation and pursue their dreams.

Mastery Schools

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Mastery Schools is proud to announce the graduation of 750 seniors in its Class of 2024. Despite entering high school amid a global pandemic that disproportionately impacted their communities, our graduates set ambitious goals, persevered, and let nothing stand in the way of their progress. With their sights set on diverse postsecondary pathways, the Class of 2024 exemplifies Mastery’s mission to provide all students with the personal and academic skills they need to pursue their dreams and succeed after high school. Boasting impressive plans for the future, about 63% of Mastery graduates will matriculate to two- and four-year colleges and universities. Roughly 37% of graduates have chosen equally commendable paths, planning to attend technical trade schools, serve in the United States armed forces, or directly enter the workforce thanks to dual enrollment and training they received as part of their curriculum. These results further demonstrate the breadth of opportunities that Mastery students are prepared to accept as a result of rigorous academic instruction and personalized support that led to positive student outcomes. The Class of 2024’s achievements highlight the power of determination and showcase the benefit of a Mastery education. As they walk through the world, now alumni of Mastery Schools, they carry with them the skills they’ve learned and the Mastery values they’ve come to embody.

Mastery Schools

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Some may shudder when they recall conversations with their high school principal. Just such a conversation occurred about three years ago between Mastery High School Principal Andrew Anderson and first-generation American and then-Mastery High School freshman Alexis Sanchez. However, for these two, it is a conversation they remember fondly. “Alexis said to me, ‘I am going to be your valedictorian when I graduate,’ ” Anderson told TAPinto Camden. While some may think that was a bold assumption, Sanchez said it seemed appropriate given his family’s background. “My parents grew up in a very disadvantaged area in Mexico,” Sanchez explained in an interview. “So, I am doing the most I can with what they have given me in this country.” Sanchez kept his word, according to Anderson. As a result, he wore a valedictorian sash over his cap and gown during the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 5, in the school’s auditorium. In addition, like many of the school’s 156 other seniors who graduated as part of Mastery High School’s sixth graduating class, he will continue his education, according to Anderson.

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Supported by a 3.7 million dollar Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Mastery Schools is set to launch an effort this summer to transform classroom libraries in Philadelphia and Camden to enhance literacy and foster a lifelong love of reading among K-3 students. The initiative will kick off in school year 2024-2025, with three Mastery elementary schools, Clymer, Douglass, and McGraw, receiving $24,000 worth of books for their K-3 classroom libraries and resources to support multilingual learners, teacher and leader training, and family engagement. The new books will cater to students’ diverse needs and reading levels, with culturally rich and varied collections that encompass a wide range of genres, ensuring every child finds something engaging to read. Additionally, schools with identified needs will have access to Spanish-title libraries, further enhancing inclusivity and accessibility in literacy. To maximize the impact of this initiative, Mastery’s academic team will dedicate the summer months to categorizing and labeling libraries, empowering students to independently choose books that intrigue them throughout the school year.

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More than 200 seniors and alums of several Mastery Charter Schools got the opportunity to explore dozens of jobs and opportunities at a career fair at the African American Museum of Philadelphia in Center City. Cristina Juarbe Santaliz, Mastery Charter Schools director of workforce development, said the school wants to ensure that students succeed after graduation, whether they attend college, seek apprenticeships or internships, or go into the workforce. “We have a multiple pathways approach, and we want to support them in any post-secondary decision that they make, so we want to provide them with access to opportunities for employment before they graduate,” Santiliz said. Based in Philadelphia, Mastery Charter Schools operates 24 charter schools in the city and Camden, serving about 14,000 students. According to the recruiters, opportunities are plentiful.

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Students whose primary language is Spanish were not always encouraged to speak that language in the classroom, a scenario that Sandra Dominguez, a bilingual teacher at Mastery’s Molina Elementary School in Camden said she knows all too well. “I did not have the opportunity to really express myself in my native language and grow in both (Spanish and English) during my K-12 journey,” Dominguez said. “At one point, I did not want to speak Spanish anymore because doing so made me feel isolated.” That was then, and this is now. In the fall of 2024, Mastery Schools of Camden will expand its bilingual offerings for native Spanish-speaking students. Building on the success of a pioneering bilingual program at Molina Elementary, one-way dual language immersion programs will be launched at Cramer Hill Elementary, McGraw Elementary, and Molina Elementary for incoming multilingual kindergarten students.

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Mastery Schools is proud to announce increased starting salaries for new teachers for school 2024-2025. Thanks to a 9% increase, teachers will be offered $60k to teach at Mastery at the entry level, significantly more than most neighboring districts. “Teachers are underpaid,” said Serena Amos, Mastery’s human resources chief. “We’ll never be able to pay teachers what they deserve, but it is really important that we demonstrate that we value them in whatever way we can,” Amos said. “With the job becoming more challenging every day, we know that the only way to stay competitive is to stay a little bit above the curve.” Check out this The Philadelphia Inquirer article to learn more about how Mastery is leading the way in prioritizing fair and competitive teacher compensation: https://bit.ly/49J6BWl

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Hardy Williams High has been selected as the launch site for an innovative program co-developed by Mastery Schools and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and supported by a nearly $20 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Career pathways associated with the program include clinical care, hospital operations, and healthcare administration. “Preparing students to pursue their dreams and achieve postsecondary success is core to everything we do at Mastery Schools. By equipping students with the knowledge, experience, and confidence they need to enter the workforce and guaranteeing job placement with one of Philadelphia’s top-ranked employers, this partnership will benefit our students, families, and communities in meaningful ways for years to come. ” – Dr. Joel D. Boyd, CEO of Mastery Schools

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Mastery Schools is proud to introduce Serena Amos as the network’s Chief People Officer (CPO). Serena is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in public education and human resources. She also brings specialized expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to the role. Learn more about it HERE: