For Immediate Release                      Contact:  Jay Midwood
November 26, 2007                                                                      Director of Communications, CSSR
                                                                                                        401-474-0085
                                                                                                        jaymidwood@cssr.us 
                                                                                                 

Breaking Ranks™ 2008 Secondary School Showcase

 Presented by:  The Center for Secondary School Redesign (CSSR) and
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) 

West Warwick, RI – November 26, 2007 – The Center for Secondary School Redesign and The National Association of Secondary School Principals are proud to announce the second annual Breaking Ranks™ Secondary School Showcase, February 4^-5, 2008 at the Town & Country Resort in beautiful San Diego, CA.

The Showcase convenes more than 30 of the most innovative and successful secondary schools and school districts from around the country to share their programs and strategies for success.  “Schools are chosen to present on the basis of their outstanding reputations for quality and innovative practices with challenging populations,” says Joe DiMartino, president of CSSR.  “They share their stories of implementing Breaking Ranks II™ and Breaking Ranks in the Middle™, the guidelines created by the National Association for Secondary School Principals for improving the nation’s schools.” Recommendations and strategies discussed at this year’s Showcase will include dual enrollment, personalization, learning beyond the classroom, advisory programs, project-based learning, site council, professional community, teaming, small learning communities and other school redesign topics. 

Secondary schools scheduled to present include:  Desert Edge High School, AZ; Verrado High School, AZ; Hanover High School, NH; Hope High School, RI; Boston Arts Academy, MA; North Hagerstown High School, MD; South Hagerstown High School, MD; Urban Academy, NY; School of the Future, NY; Napa Vintage High School, CA; JC Harmon High School, KN; Granger High School, WA; Dayton Early College, OH; New Tech High, CA; Kelvyn Park High School, IL; David Douglas High School, OR; Mission High School, CA; Environmental Charter School, CA; Doherty High School, CO; High Tech High, CA;  Bassett High School, CA; Mountain Home High School, AR; Seguin High School, TX; St. Charles East High School, IL; St. Charles North High School, IL; North Lawndale College Prep Charter, IL; Springdale High School, IL; Stanley E. Foster Construction Tech Academy, CA; School of Business – San Diego High Educational Complex, CA; School of International Business – Kearny High Educational Complex, CA; Digital Media & Design – Kearny High Educational Complex, CA; Academy of Information Technology – Hoover High School, CA;  Clear Creek ISD, TX; Hopkins West Junior High School, MN; Thurgood Marshall Middle School, IL; Visitacion Valley Middle School, CA; Freeport Intermediate School, TX; William Thomas Middle School, ID; DePortola Middle School, CA.

The student-based Showcase offers presentations, forums, plenty of team time, and informal discussions that provide participants an opportunity to engage with school representatives, students, and other educators from around the country.  Secondary school administrators are highly encouraged to bring teams of educators from their school to learn new techniques and strategies that will motivate and inspire the redesign process.  Past participants have called the Showcase “powerful,” “incredibly informative,” and “some of the best professional development I’ve ever received.”

Registration is required to attend the Showcase.  To register for the event please visit www.cssr.us.  For registration information or other questions, please contact the CSSR office at 401-828-0077 or via email at info@cssr.us.