Amy Foster
Mastbaum 9th Grade Assistant Principal
Assistant Principal Amy Foster is the Assistant Principal for 9th Grade at Jules E. Mastbaum High School, a vocational technical school within the School District of Philadelphia. In her three years with Mastbaum, AP Foster has had ample experience with 9th Grade On Track (9GOT) and preparing students for graduation in four years. She attributes the success of 9GOT largely to the collaborative partnership of Philadelphia Academies, Inc. (PAI), which works closely with educators and administrators within the 9th Grade Success Network. Through the creation of 9th grade professional learning communities (PLCs), Mastbaum administrators and educators meet regularly with their colleagues from PAI to discuss 9GOT. Teachers participate in these professional development sessions within their PLCs, with the overarching goal of identifying challenges and areas of opportunity to ensure students are on-track. According to AP Foster, regular touchpoints with Mastbaum staff and district partners like PAI creates a consistent feedback loop that allows for data-sharing and collective problem solving.
Because 9th grade is such a critical time for high schoolers, AP Foster noted the importance of equipping Mastbaum teachers with the skills and resources to effectively engage their students. The 9GOT strategy utilizes data to have intentional conversations with educators about their students, facilitating collaboration among teachers across a student profile. Data is also used to tailor mentoring services at Mastbaum by identifying clusters of students who may be struggling in similar areas of study. Teachers hold mentoring sessions in place of their regular PLC meetings to work with students in need of extra support. Providing both students and teachers with the necessary resources is an integral element of the 9GOT strategy.
“Mastbaum’s mission is to encounter our students where they are, and accompany them on their journey,” said AP Foster. “There is no time more critical than ninth grade to ensure our students are set up for success during their time at Mastbaum so they can continue to thrive in school, in their career, and in their adult lives.”