Amy Schlessman, PhD, has dedicated her professional and personal life to education and human services. Dr. Schlessman’s research and professional interests include alternative school accountability and the development of creative and innovative intelligence in learners of all ages from diverse cultural backgrounds and socio-economic levels. Fortune 500 companies, as well as not-for-profit organizations including schools and community collaboratives, have benefitted from her contributions to their programs. Her publications and presentations illustrate a range of contributions from theory to practice. Amy’s recent research, policy analysis, and advocacy focus on alternative education.
Dr. Schlessman’s peers have elected her to leadership positions internationally, nationally, and at the state level. She has served as President of an international education association, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); Chair of Research and Evaluation with the American Educational Research Association; founding President, Arizona Alternative Education Consortium; and most recently Board member of the National Alternative Education Association.
AAPF18 Sessions:
The Art of Accountable Readiness: College/Postsecondary Education & Career/Workforce for Opportunity Youth
Arizona’s Framework for Alternative High School Accountability puts strong emphasis, 35%, on College (post-secondary education) and Career (workforce) Readiness for alternative education students. This session reviews the Arizona Alternative High School framework and provides detail of how Arizona is customizing College and Career Readiness for opportunity youth. How do schools get their targeted student population “ready” when the school’s primary responsibility is academic coursework, coursework needed to earn credit toward graduation? The Rose Operating System for Education has developed a fun, engaging yet rigorous signature program. The “Art of Learning”, Shu-Ha-Ri, uses a game, simulation, to motivate students. Students learn to better articulate their hopes and dreams. Students develop advanced communication skills and self-accountability as future contributing citizens, even entrepreneurs, in our democracy. Young people take pride in tangible accomplishments and develop authentic lifelong planning and thinking patterns. Comparative data show increases in school attendance and credit earning. Qualitative feedback illustrates family and student enthusiasm.
Past AAPF Sessions:
Trends and Opportunities in Statewide Accountability for Youth in Alternative Schools under ESSA
This session will feature a panel of experts focused on understanding how states across the country are considering the unique characteristics of alternative options schools in the state school accountability plans. The implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to articulate how they are incorporating alternative options schools in the over-arching design of state school accountability systems. This process is opening the door for education leaders to reexamine the role that alternative options schools play in ensuring that all students have an effective pathway to college- and career-readiness. Panelists will examine how states are defining alternative schools, how states are approaching the overall design of alternative accountability systems, and specific indicators of continuous improvement. In addition, panelists will discuss how some states are building policy consensus on accountability approaches that balance the need for common measures, with the need for customization and innovative program design.
Orchestrating a Continuum of Partnership Voices so ALL Students Succeed Engagement to re-engagement is a continuum from dropout prevention to dropout recovery. From sound bites to sticky stories, learn to advocate by sharing student successes and accountability data that leads to effective policy and equitable funding. Join us as we share the National Alternative Education Association’s (NAEA) and RAPSA’s letters to US DoE about the proposed ESSA regulations. “Translations” of research data from previous AAPFs and national legal policy conferences illustrate how to communicate effectively our message to state boards of education, legislators, and other policy makers. Bring your own effective advocacy piece to share during this interactive session.
