School of Leadership for Public Service

At The School of Leadership for Public Service, students don’t just learn the core subjects. They see right away how people use these skills each day.

Purpose

Demanding academics are the foundation for careers in public service and public safety. An interdisciplinary academic approach is combined with practical application in a school that is of the community and in the community. 

As students learn to read and write, calculate mathematics, comprehend science and gain technology skills, they work alongside public servants who use these skills each day (see careers). Students demonstrate mastery in a variety of ways, including traditional exams, written reports, portfolio assessments, presentations and products.

State academic standards drive grade-level expectations at The School of Leadership for Public Service. Student mastery is monitored through both formal and informal assessments. Data-driven decision making is central to the school’s mission to ensure every student meets or exceeds grade-level standards and expectations. 

Vision

We are a community where students and families have meaningful connections with the people and organizations that work to make our city and region a safe, responsive and thriving environment. Through these connections our students develop leadership, communication skills, and the necessary academic knowledge to carve a successful path toward career and life fulfillment and service to the community.

Core values that drive our vision: 

• Safety – we need to feel safe physically and emotionally.

• Mentorship – we look out for others and proactively support and nurture individual growth.

• Accountability – we build community best when we are all accountable for our actions and words.

• Respect – we respect individual differences, embrace diversity, and honor different pathways toward personal fulfillment. 

•  Community – we are bound together by our commitment to building a safe community and a sense of public service. 

Mission

We empower educators, public service and safety employees and leaders, parents, and students to collaborate in building and implementing a unique learning program where students develop a sense of community service and carve a path toward career and life fulfillment through meaningful connections and engagements with public service leaders, employees, and organizations and through the foundational scholarly pursuits of knowledge and the practical experiences gained by service to the community. 

These key principles drive our work:

• We are responsive to our community.

• Our school community goes beyond our walls into the community, has essential partnerships with public service employees and agencies, and is not bound by the traditional hours of a school day.

• Foundational knowledge and building skills through practical experiences are essential and equal components of our learning program.

• All students have mentors, all students are mentors.

• We strive to have a staff that is reflective of our community.

• Our teachers are leaders and mentors.

• We always stay focused on our mission. Our charter school contractual goals are the means by which we measure our mission fulfillment.

• A positive culture is essential to all we do. We focus on building positive thought patterns, positive mindsets, and positive problem solving. We always focus on assets, not deficits.

• Our parents and families are the bedrock of our community. We work with them as partners to help students succeed.