Mr. Jack Decker 
Lower Macungie Middle School
Instructional Support Program Coordinator
Mr. Jack M. Decker
Mr. Jack Decker works closely with administrators, curriculum office, coaches, counselors, teachers, and parents to help create an atmosphere where students are given their best chance to be successful at Lower Macungie Middle School.The Instructional Support Office provides a safety net and support service for those students who are experiencing academic difficulty.
Mr. Decker has over 27 years of experience in education. He has taught many of those years at the elementary level in several East Penn Schools. He was an Instructional Support Teacher at Jefferson Elementary before moving to Lower Macungie Middle School in 2000. He has a certification in administration, guidance, and has a strong background in reading. He lives in Emmaus with his wife Lisa, and two daughters, Jacqueline and Marissa.
What is the Instructional Support Program?
The East Penn School District has made a commitment to Instructional Support at the middle level. This office is driven by the vision that all students can be successful if given a caring, supportive, environment where administrators, teachers, parents, and support staff all work together in collaboration. The Instructional Support Office addresses issues such as falling grades, low achievement, poor reading and math skills, and lack of motivation. Our focus is to monitor student success within the classroom. Together, parents, teachers, support staff, and students work on creating and implementing strategies to help students utilize their potential.
What are Instructional Assessments?
Instructional assessment represents a major component of the Instructional Support Program. Assessment is directly linked to instruction and drives all evaluation procedures The objective is to develop meaningful assessment which impacts directly to instruction. Students who come to the IST office may be involved in standardized achievement tests, informal reading or math inventories, curriculum based assessments, and teacher developed assessments. Before an official evaluation procedure is conducted several attempts are made to modify curriculum, implement instructional strategies, and utilize the many support services made available to the students.
Students in grades 6, 7, 8, at LMMS take three 4 Sight Benchmark Tests in both reading and math. These benchmarks are a way to prepare students for the PSSA. Teachers use the data from these tests to help them guide instruction and pinpoint areas where students can improve their skills.
Relationships develop between the ISP office and the student so that they develop trust and work toward being advocates for themselves.
Who are the Instructional Coaches at LMMS?
Lower Macungie Middle School has two Instructional Coaches. These coaches work closely with the Instructional Support Office and classroom teachers. Kathi Swanson works as the Literacy Coach and Ellen Navitsky works as a Numeracy Coach. Both coaches work with classroom teachers helping them to create lessons to address divese learners. Coaches conduct teacher workshops, interpret student data, and administer the 4 Sight Benchmark to help students prepare for the Pennsylvania State Student Assessments in reading / math (PSSA).
What Support can a student receive within the classroom?
LMMS has six Academic Support Assistants that are strategically placed in classrooms where students may need help. These assistants are available to help students understand reading and math concepts and work in partnership with the classroom teacher. They also target groups of students and work with them during period 9.
This year LMMS receives Title I services. If a students qualifies for Title I, parent support is also provided for them throughout the school year. Any questions about these academic assistants, please contact Trishia Gutman at Lincoln Elementary School 610 965-1636
