The LIFT Center is a Monroe City Schools Title I program. It is administered by Edith Lowe-Douzart, Director of Special Services. The program is coordinated by Ms. Mary Moncrief. Questions concerning the LIFT Center and the services it provides may be directed to her at the address or phone number listed below.

The LIFT Center web site was created and is maintained by the MCS Technology Initiative / Louisiana Challenge project.

 

L.I.F.T is an acronym for Lots of Ideas For Teachers. The L.I.F.T. Center is a training /resource room for all stakeholders in the improvement of student learning. Accompanying the acronym is an octopus, Odyssey, the L.I.F.T. Center's official mascot and trademark.

 

The L.I.F.T. Center is a unique, multi-service program funded through Title 1. The program's main goal is to assist Monroe City Schools in its endeavor to comply with Louisiana's accountability system.

 

Realizing that additional money is certainly a required tool of effectiveness, Title 1 administrators are also aware that it is not "the" solution. During the past two years public education has become a high priority with state policy makers. Approximately 330 million additional dollars have been channeled into the school districts in Louisiana. Many of these dollars have been utilized to update the tools of teaching. However, student achievement has not significantly improved. The missing piece, technical assistance and support for teachers, is what the L.I.F.T. Center is designed to address.

 

Principals and administrators will recommend teachers to the center for instructional assistance throughout the year. Once selected, teachers will be provided release time from their classrooms to receive one to one technical assistance. Depending on the identified areas, students may or may not accompany the teacher to the center. A "hands-on" approach will be implemented by the L.I.F.T. Center's master teacher and paraprofessional. This will be done through demonstration lessons, critiquing video tapes, guidance and creative ideas for lesson development, classroom management strategies, and creating classroom settings which promote and stimulate learning.

 

The L.I.F.T. Center will reach educators by remaining open after the school day and on Saturdays. All personnel, Pre-K through Grade 12, will receive "Odyssey's Outreach", a newsletter containing hot tips and strategies, latest research summaries, and dates of upcoming events. Opportunities to participate in training sessions and to utilize the center's resources and materials will be offered to parents, community leaders, Northeast Louisiana University and other universities' students pursuing Education degrees, and all persons interested in improved student achievement. The involvement of all persons is essential to achieving the educational goals of Louisiana and the Monroe City Schools as we move forward into the new millennium.

 

By design, the L.I.F.T. Center is a supportive model of improvement which will enhance the coordination of existing and new resources throughout the system. The flexibility of the center will definitely impact student achievement and growth.

 

 

LIFT Index