Office of Curriculum and Innovation

  • Focused On Supporting Individual Learners 

    As reflected in our Vision and Mission Statements, we strive to support students to achieve their fullest potential.  This is done by focusing on three pillars:

    • Creating a safe and supportive learning environment where students are socially-emotionally sound. Our character education programs and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program provide a foundation for our school climate and culture. 

    • Engaging learning experiences and curricula where students are challenged to critically think, collaborate and communicate with others, and have opportunities to be creative.  Our re-designed K-5 STEM Innovation Labs is an example of our focus on the 4 C’s: creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

    • Empowering parents and families to help support children to not only be successful students but to be prepared for life.  Our Family Solutions Center and our Parent Information Series workshops are examples of our commitment to supporting students and their families.

    Technology is infused in our program to support collaboration, creativity and communication. We strive for a responsible and healthy balance of screen time and value time when technology is strategically limited during the school day.  This provides the much-needed emphasis on fine and gross motor development with younger learners, and face-to-face interpersonal communications for all students.  In our PK-5 STEM classes, students learn the engineering and design processes while being hands-on with technology, including drones, robotics and advanced manufacturing tools including Glowforge laser printers and 3-D printers.

    Beginning at the middle school level, there are additional choices and opportunities for students ready to be challenged, which extend to our high school level. Opportunities include accelerated courses, honors level programming, and Advanced Placement (where students follow a college level curriculum).  Our belief that middle and high school should be times of individual exploration - to learn about yourself, your talents, and your interests - are reflected in the comprehensive nature of our program.  The rich variety of elective courses, after school clubs, activities, athletics, and opportunities to participate in the visual and performing areas are extensive.  Whether studying a foreign language or participating in our Academy of Finance, students have choice and opportunity.

    Our faculty benefits from an extensive staff development program to stay with the most current research, literature, and instructional strategies. Our students' success is attributed to their own commitment to learning, our strong parental interest and support, quality instructional materials and curriculum, and a highly dedicated faculty, staff, and administration.

    Literacy and Reading

    Our ELA instructional leadership team is aware of the Science of Reading research and have deepened our commitment to developing students’ phonemic awareness and phonics skills. In light of recent research, the District recently adopted UFLI Foundations in our K-2 classrooms. To learn more about UFLI and our commitment to phonemic awareness and phonics instruction, please click here.

     

  • hornung

    Mrs. Sarah Hornung
    Assistant Superintendent for
    Curriculum, Innovation & Pupil Services

    Aaron Grupka

    Mr. Aaron Grupka
    Director of Curriculum,
    Instruction, and Assessment

  • Curriculum Office Staff
    Mrs. Sarah Hornung
    Assistant Superintendent for
    Curriculum, Innovation & Pupil Services

    (716) 209-6236
    shornung@opschools.org

    Mr. Aaron Grupka
    Director of Curriculum,
    Instruction, and Assessment
    (716) 209 - 6260

    agrupka@opschools.org

    Eileen Riter
    Senior Clerk Typist

    (716) 209-6236
    eriter@opschools.org

    Mary Kay Overfield
    Principal Clerk Typist

    (716) 209-6228
    moverfield@opschools.org

    Pamela Shannon
    Microcomputer Decision
    Support Specialist

    (716) 209-6396
    pshannon@opschools.org

    Mike Piatko
    Microcomputer Decision
    Support Specialist

    (716) 209-6390
    mpiatko@opschools.org