Cultivating Unity: Weaving Traits Into Collaborative Success
Regina Marquez-Martinez • Cahn Fellow 2022
Benjamin Franklin High School began to re-invent itself in 2015. Three new programs emerged: Dual Language Magnet grade 6-12, Inclusion Program for Students with Disabilities and a School for Advanced Studies Program for our identified Gifted and Talented students. These new programs added to a very successful STEM Magnet program that has existed at the school since 1982. Because we offered “choice”, pathways and /or inclusive opportunities that naturally clustered students, we were intentional in making sure our students and staff felt connected to Franklin and not just the program. The term “ONE Franklin” emerged. It was my way to bring our stakeholders into a space of unity, shared accountability, trust and data driven decision making.
“ONE Franklin” began to see results in all areas. Our STEM Magnet received the Magnet Schools for Excellence in 2016 and for Distinction in 2018, 2019. Our Students with Disabilities were scoring higher than the District and State Average! Our Dual Language Magnet continued to grow yearly. Our School for Advanced Studies was granted the opportunity to offer AP Capstone on our campus. Most remarkable was that our school began to climb in the rankings of US World Report within LAUSD and public schools in the State and Nation!
Then came March of 2020. The world stopped. The school morphed. The cohesiveness and synergy that was felt in the school building prior to March 2020, was altered!
The goal for our project is to get the synergy back into the school building . Back to the “ONE Franklin” we knew pre-pandemic. It is our belief that by understanding our personality profile and those of whom we work with, we will gain an understanding of our unique character traits and thus, will work in ways that nurture support, trust, responsibility, and acceptance. Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) such as Dept. Meetings, School Meetings, Instructional Leadership meetings, (ILT) will become more collaborative and we will cultivate a culture of continuous improvement.
