Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District

The District of Holistic Growth and Excellence

Cultivating a Thriving Learning Environment Through Academic Vision and Community Partnership

 

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District stands as a shining example of educational leadership. Over the years, the district has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in nurturing student potential and promoting continuous growth.

However, the district also bears an unparalleled dedication to its staff, maintaining an exceptional staff retention rate of over 91% and achieving the impressive feat of starting schools fully staffed for three consecutive years.

Governed by a nine-member Board of Education, the district uses a “governance team” approach.

Here, trust and shared purpose complement annual strategy documents and clearly prioritized goals, driving the district’s direction and decision-making.

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District’s remarkable impact is also a result of several meticulously orchestrated initiatives that boldly embrace innovation. One initiative, in particular, explores the realm of artificial intelligence, with a dedicated steering committee and external partnerships already in place.

Concurrently, the district’s ambitious expansion of its Center for Advanced Professional Studies at Middleton High School, which has already tripled in enrollment, is set to provide more career-based learning opportunities in fields such as graphic design and medicine.

These initiatives are designed to create outcomes that align with the comprehensive “Cardinal’s Journey” future preparedness framework that the district uses to define student success beyond traditional metrics.

This inclusive model not only ensures that policies and educational directions are developed collaboratively, but also that they are done with a more holistic picture of development in mind.

This approach, underpinned by the fiscal responsibility demonstrated in a successful operational referendum, creates powerful synergy.

The ultimate triumph for the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is its perpetually thriving ecosystem that seamlessly blends compassionate care, academic oversight, and a profound sense of purpose and belonging. 

With the strides that it has made, it’s clear that this district’s legacy stands as a national model for transforming public education.

Cultivating District-Wide Well-Being

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District’s unique strategy pairs academic rigor with a strong emphasis on “whole child” development.

“We have a whole child approach in our district. Not only do we want our schools to focus on academic excellence, but we also really do a lot of work in the areas of belonging and well-being,” says Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue.

Naturally, the district’s rigorous five-year curriculum renewal cycle closely considers the integrated development of each student.

“We look at all of the different subjects that our students learn throughout their time in K through 12 and make sure that we’re taking time each of those five years to really pause and think about what standards are being reflected,” says Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jan Chynoweth.

The key question answered during this process is: “Does this work for our students?” Dr. Chynoweth explains.

One notable success of this review process is the recent implementation of a new K-8 literacy curriculum, which has been well-received within the district’s schools.

According to Dr. Chynoweth, principals and instructional coaches alike, who have been key to the curriculum’s success, share a mutual degree of excitement for what the second year of implementation will look like.

Considering the district’s beautifully diverse student body,  which includes families speaking over 60 different languages and approximately 12-13% of students with Individual Education Plans, this review process is essential.

“We have a lot of support personnel in place to make sure that students get what they need and have access to all of the wonderful curriculum resources that we have, and I think that’s a differentiator for us. We meet kids where they’re at and we move them forward. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what needs you’re showing up with, we’re here for it,” Dr. Monogue expresses.

By considering both the development of the collective student body and that of individual students, the district has expanded its definition of success beyond traditional grades.

The district has named this dual approach the “Cardinal’s Journey,” a framework for future preparedness.

This framework, developed through broad stakeholder collaboration, identifies eight key competencies that will guide student development, signaling a promising practice with wide-ranging, positive impacts for the system.

This comprehensive approach, set to be fully implemented next year, ensures students are prepared not just academically, but also as well-rounded individuals ready for future challenges.

Prioritizing Community Engagement and Staff Recruitment and Retention

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District’s careful considerations also extend to its staff and the broader community. Every year, the district conducts between 50 and 70 community engagement sessions.

These sessions include events such as the annual Community Connections Breakfasts, which bring together local businesses and industry leaders; realtor breakfasts, held in collaboration with the local Realtors Association; and diverse advisory committees.

“We also send mailers to our community members. We send two magazines and multiple postcards that provide them with information about what’s happening in the district. And we also offer a media breakfast. We have really good connections with our local newspaper and media, so we’re constantly pumping out content because there are a lot of awards and recognition that our students and staff receive,” says Director of Information and Public Relations Shannon Valladolid.

When it comes to staff, Middleton-Cross Plains offers a supportive and competitive work environment, making it a “destination district” for educators.

“We were fortunate enough to be named one of the top workplaces in Dane County. That’s done by a survey that is given to us, and our staff are the ones who fill out the survey while a third-party determines the results,” says Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jerrud Rossing.

Those survey results absolutely align with the district’s reality, as it proactively addresses staff needs through innovative benefits.

One great example of this is the establishment of a wellness clinic at one of its sites.

“So, we have a wellness clinic at one of our sites that is literally a mini clinic that any of our staff members that’s on our health insurance and their dependents or spouses are able to go to,” Rossing explains.

The clinic also offers specialized services, such as dermatology days, and partners with schools for physicals.

Given its proximity to 15 other school districts, Middleton-Cross Plains also champions transparency in compensation. The district openly shares benchmarking data with staff and is aiming to be in the “top quartile in Dane County” for salaries and benefits.

Collaborative committees, such as the district’s handbook committee and compensation committees for both teachers and support staff, ensure direct staff input in policy development.

Beyond traditional benefits, unique offerings like pet insurance resonate deeply with staff. Additionally, the move to replace traditional sick and personal days with “general leave” offers greater flexibility and trust to employees.

These initiatives, coupled with a robust HR department that hosts well-attended open interview evenings, completely explain the district’s retention rates—over 91% last year—and the impressive achievement of starting the school year fully staffed for three consecutive years in an industry facing widespread shortages.

Simply put, Middleton-Cross Plains creates a culture where people genuinely want to work.

Making Strides in Technology and Towards the Future

When it comes to technology, the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District navigates the evolving landscape with a balanced and purposeful approach, integrating innovations while safeguarding core educational principles.

The district is actively engaging with the future of learning through a partnership with Advanced Learning Partnerships, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A district committee is examining the implications, tools, and responsible implementation of AI to prepare both staff and students for this rapidly changing and evolving world.

Conversely, the district also maintains a thoughtful approach to screen time and device usage. While students have access to Chromebooks, there is a conscious effort to ensure that technology serves learning without creating distractions.

For example, restricting cell phone use during class is one of the more challenging but ultimately effective initiatives that have been implemented at the middle and high school levels.

On the operational front, investments have been made in cybersecurity to protect sensitive staff and student data, while maintaining resilient network infrastructure with redundancy.

The district also systematically evaluates equipment needs, ensuring the right equipment is provided for specific grade levels and programs.

“It’s easy to buy equipment, but what’s the right equipment for our students and staff? One way we will determine this is by creating a systematic approach that involves walkthroughs and audits in each of our classrooms to ensure we meet that need,” Rossing says.

However, apart from the iPads, Chromebooks, and high-level laptops used by the students, the district’s technology extends to every facet of operations.

From HVAC control to door security and bus GPS systems, the district’s technology is a powerful enabler, enhancing both learning and operational efficiency, without overwhelming the fundamental student experience.

Overall, the future of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is characterized by a palpable sense of excitement.

“I feel like we have tremendous momentum as an organization right now in all aspects of operation, whether that be teaching and learning, operations, communications, elevating student voice, or athletics,” Dr. Monogue comments, highlighting the district’s five state championship teams last year.

According to Dr. Monogue, a significant goal for the next two to five years is to foster deeper innovation that helps educators think differently about education.

Naturally, the Cardinal’s Journey framework will serve as a unifying force behind these efforts, aligning all efforts towards a shared vision for student development.

“I can see how it will really help students with their identity and sense of purpose. I think it will especially help them have a sense of belonging here as well as in their future. So, it feels like momentum is on our side for where we can go within public education,” Dr. Chynoweth expresses.

The widespread adoption of the “Cardinal’s Journey” as a guiding principle throughout the district signifies its profound influence and the collective excitement for its potential to deepen the student experience beyond the school system.

The prevailing sentiment is that if transformative educational progress can occur anywhere, it will happen here, driven by strong leadership, a committed staff, and deeply engaged students.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD)

What: A leading school district that exemplifies a progressive and holistic model for public education

Where: Located in Dane County, Wisconsin

Website: www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us