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Anna Gail Beard
Community Mapping
General Information
This semester I completed my clinical work at Joseph W. Grier Academy in
Charlotte, NC. It is located in the northeastern region of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
district. It is located about 10 minutes from the University of North Carolina at
Charlotte campus. It is not located within a neighborhood, but it is surrounded by a few,
in addition to the Reedy Creek Park and Hodges Family Farm. In addition to those
areas, the Charlotte Fire Station 34 is down the street. The neighborhoods that surround
the area are not large developments, but they still do have quite a few houses within
them. Because there are a large number of schools within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
district, especially concentrated near the University Area, students come from a smaller
area surrounding the school, south of UNC-Charlotte.
Most students arrive at school by bus or car. In the afternoon, the car rider line is
often filled up by 3 and cleared out by 3:15. The school is located close to the street, so
the school has an efficient car rider line that snakes its way through the front parking
lot, while the buses are located in the back of the school.
Joseph Grier is a traditional public school, not falling into the magnet, STEM, or
Charter categories. It services grades Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade. The principal
is Bridget Wilson, and the assistant principal is Mark Maleck. The school is
departmentalized with one teacher being responsible for English/language arts and the
other with math, science, and social studies. For their specials, the school has art, music,
and physical education. There are also resource rooms for students with disabilities
(Exceptional Children). In addition, there is a media center for students to access

Anna Gail Beard
reading materials, technology, etc. Each child, at least those in grades 3-5, have access to
their own Chromebook during the school day.
School Improvement Plan
The information in this section was found through the school’s improvement
plan, NC Report Card, and the Civil Rights Data Collection site.
According to a 2015 survey by the Office of Civil Rights, the school is classified as
Title I, as 99.9% of students receive free or reduced lunch. Out of around 900 students,
about 51% of students are Black, 38% of students are Hispanic/Latinx, 4% are Asian,
and 4% are White. Female students take up about 48% of the student enrollment, and
male students take up about 52%. In the population, about 8% of students have
disabilities that are serviced through IDEA and almost 20% of students have limited
English proficiency.
According to the NC Report Card, students at Joseph W Grier Academy are
meeting the academic growth. They received a performance grade score of 64 for the
2017-18 year as opposed to their score of 56 in the 2016-17 school year. They achieved
an academic growth of 84.5. In math performance, students at Grier are performing at a
higher level compared to other CMS and NC schools’ averages. In English/language arts,
students at Grier are slightly behind compared to other NC and CMS schools’ averages.
The English learners at Grier are also progressing at a higher rate than that of the other
school averages within CMS and NC.
The School Improvement Plan was very detailed in the information that was gone
over. Some goals to note are to increase percentages on EOGs, to maintain a high score
in positive teacher feedback, to provide duty-free lunch and instructional planning, and
to provide a safe and positive school community. The SIP contains various plans of
Anna Gail Beard
actions to reach goals such as weekly PLC meetings, expanded intervention blocks,
prioritizing social emotional learning in the schedule, and to improve communication
and engagement with parents.
Reflection on Community Mapping
This community mapping activity was extremely beneficial to my understanding
of this school and for my future as an educator. I was able to interact with various
faculty members to find information about the school that I wouldn’t have known if I
were to stay solely focused on my work in my assigned class. Interacting with the
Improvement Plan helped me see the goals of my school and how they are attempting to
reach them. I started paying closer attention to the plans of action included in the plan
and how it may lead the school to reach its goals.
Taking into account the socio-geography of my students, I will work to help those
students who are ELLs so that they can grow in their learning and knowledge and
contribute to the growth percentage. I will take into account their community and
surrounding area when making references during lessons. I will provide materials that
some students may not have so that they all can succeed and learn.
When looking at the cultures and communities represented in my school, I will
ensure that those students will be represented in my lessons. If I can respectfully
incorporate their culture into my lesson, I will do so. My interactions with this
community have just instilled in me that this is the type of school I want to be in. I love
the community that Grier holds within themselves, and I love their openness and
compassion for their students and families.

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Anna Gail Beard

This semester I completed my clinical work at Joseph W. Grier Academy in

Charlotte, NC. It is located in the northeastern region of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg

district. It is located about 10 minutes from the University of North Carolina at

Charlotte campus. It is not located within a neighborhood, but it is surrounded by a few,

area surrounding the school, south of UNC-Charlotte.

(Exceptional Children). In addition, there is a media center for students to access

their own Chromebook during the school day.

School Improvement Plan

According to the NC Report Card, students at Joseph W Grier Academy are

an academic growth of 84.5. In math performance, students at Grier are performing at a

school averages within CMS and NC.

prioritizing social emotional learning in the schedule, and to improve communication

and engagement with parents.

Reflection on Community Mapping

This community mapping activity was extremely beneficial to my understanding

and how it may lead the school to reach its goals.

When looking at the cultures and communities represented in my school, I will

ensure that those students will be represented in my lessons. If I can respectfully

compassion for their students and families.

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