The New York State's Essential Elements: Schools-To-Watch (EE:STW) program began in 2004 to promote school improvement and identify and recognize middle schools/programs that are academically excellent, developmentally appropriate, social equitable and organized to ensure continuous improvement.

Oliver Middle School began researching the EE:STW program during the 2015-16 school year. The school and district agreed the benefits of the program were significant and submitted a 200-page application to the state in 2018. The district incurred no cost to participate in the process.

Oliver's application had sufficient documentation to support a visit from a team of middle level experts on December 2 and 3. OMS is one of six schools granted a visit and the only school in Monroe County.

The visitation team will gather and document evidence that affirms that Oliver is worthy of being recognized as a Schools-to-Watch school.

OMS Principal Melody Martinez-Davis is excited about the program and stated, "the process is more important than the designation." She and her team explained at a recent board meeting that the process has encouraged the school to look at every aspect of their programs and policies. Their teacher leaders with building administrators and other members of their staff were engaged in identifying strengths and areas in need of improvement. Working together, they have created a well-developed, research-grounded, school-based improvement plan.

The site visit team will make one of the following recommendations to the State Director:

• designate an Essential Elements School to Watch
• designate a Rising School to Watch
• do not designate

We are very proud of OMS for the hard work they have put into this process and look forward to seeing the outcome.

Reprinted from November 2019 Connections Newsletter.

• Presentation made to the Board of Education
• A video was shared with our OMS students and staff on November 25 to announce and communicate our Schools to Watch visit.

Brockport Central School District is proud to announce that A.D. Oliver Middle School (OMS) has been designated by the New York State Education Department as a 2020 Essential Elements School to Watch. The New York State Middle School Association and the Essential Elements Schools to Watch leadership team chose OMS in recognition of the continued commitment to enhancing the school program and practices.

According to the NYS Education Department, the educational program developed by OMS is considered a "model program" that is consistent with the Regents Policy Statement on Middle Level Education, the Essential Elements of a Standards Focused Middle Level School and the National Forum's Schools to Watch criteria.

“This process has allowed us to explore all that we offer in our school so that we can continue to provide the best opportunities and programs,” said OMS Acting Principal Jerrod Roberts. “Our students, staff and community should be very proud of this designation as it was a true collaboration and demonstrates Oliver Middle School’s dedication to excellence and continuous improvement.”

OMS will be formally recognized and honored as a State and National School to Watch at the NYS Middle School Association conference in Albany and the National Schools to Watch Conference in Washington, DC.