The Possibility Fund

SINCE 2017 THE POSSIBILITY FUND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH LEADERS IN THE CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CHESTER, PA. IN ADDITION TO HELPING LEADERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT REALIZE THE DISTRICT MISSION THAT EVERY STUDENT GRADUATES READY FOR COLLEGE OR A CAREER, EVERY STUDENT COMPLETES MIDDLE SCHOOL READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND EVERY STUDENT COMPLETES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL READY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL THE POSSIBILITY FUND HAS WORKED TO HELP ITS PARTNERS INSTILL A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION AND TRUST, INCREASE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND ENABLE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. IN 2021, THE POSSIBILITY FUND FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS ON TOBY FARMS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. WORKING WITH THE PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND 10 KEY STAFF MEMBERS, THE POSSIBILITY FUND CONDUCTED GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS TO DRIVE MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, INSTRUCTION, AND COLLABORATION. THE ACTIVITIES COMPRISED IN THIS INITIATIVE ARE AS FOLLOWS: BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE TEAM MEETINGS: TEAM MEETINGS AIMED AT FOSTERING TEAMWORK, TRUST, COLLABORATION, AND INNOVATION. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS: ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS AIMED AT (1) EXAMINING AND RESHAPING THINKING, AND (2) BUILDING THE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE CHANGE. BREAKTHROUGH MINDSET CURRICULUM: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AIMED AT BUILDING COMPETENCIES IN (1) CONNECTING TO PURPOSE, (2) DEVELOPING NEW THINKING, (3) TEAMWORK, AND (4) EXECUTING BREAKTHROUGH OUTCOMES. THE POSSIBILITY FUND AND LEADERS ACROSS CUSD ARE WORKING WITH A LOCAL CONSULTING FIRM CALLED GAP INTERNATIONAL, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN RESHAPING ORGANIZATIONAL THINKING TO PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE, BREAKTHROUGH RESULTS. THE ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE ARE DESIGNED BY THE POSSIBILITY FUND AND DELIVERED BY GAP INTERNATIONAL'S TRAINED CONSULTANTS. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE POSSIBILITY FUND, GAP INTERNATIONAL, AND CUSD HAS BEEN AGREED UPON WITH THE POSSIBILITY FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CUSD. THE POSSIBILITY FUND MONITORS AND EVALUATES THE PROGRESS OF ITS ACTIVITIES, AND THIS REGULAR EVALUATION DETERMINES THE SCOPE OF ONGOING AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE POSSIBILITY FUND. THE ACTIVITY WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE 2021 CALENDAR YEAR. BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE TEAM MEETINGS AND BREAKTHROUGH CURRICULUM MINDSET TRAINING WERE CONDUCTED TWICE A MONTH. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED ONCE A MONTH.ALL ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED VIA PHONE OR VIDEOCONFERENCE DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.AS PART OF ITS ONGOING ACTIVITY EVALUATION, THE POSSIBILITY FUND ADMINISTERS BI-MONTHLY SURVEYS TO SCHOOL LEADERS TO GAUGE THE DEGREE TO WHICH SCHOOL LEADERS ARE EMBRACING NEW WAYS OF THINKING, COLLABORATING, AND ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS. THESE CAPABILITIES WERE IMPORTANT IN HELPING TEACHERS AND STAFF LEAD THEIR STUDENTS AND EACH OTHER DURING THE PANDEMIC.MUCH OF THE 2021 WORK WITH TOBY FARMS FOCUSED ON (1) MAXIMIZING STUDENT AND PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT IN A REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (2) NAVIGATING A HYBRID LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND (3) MAINTAINING HIGH PERFORMANCE AMIDST THE MANY UNCERTAINTIES THE SCHOOL WAS FACING. NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:> CREATED AND IMPLEMENTED MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO STUDENT, TEACHER AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT. EXAMPLES INCLUDE SCHOOL-WIDE AWARDS CEREMONIES, ZOOM SOCIALIZATION TIME AND PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES.> INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY (FOR EXAMPLE, BOOK CREATOR AND PIXTON SOFTWARE) INTO THE CURRICULUM IN NOVEL WAYS TO SPUR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT>CITIZENSHIP CLUB (FORMED IN 2020) WORKED WITH AMAZON AND UPS TO CONNECT FAMILIES IN NEED WITH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.