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School Improvement. An Elementary Perspective From South Heights Elementary. Where we were…. Negative culture Low community expectations Bottom 20 of all elementary schools in the state of KY. Where we are now…. 50 points of continual academic growth Incredibly positive culture
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School Improvement An Elementary Perspective From South Heights Elementary
Where we were… • Negative culture • Low community expectations • Bottom 20 of all elementary schools in the state of KY
Where we are now… • 50 points of continual academic growth • Incredibly positive culture • High community expectations • National demonstration site • National School Change Award • Featured in several national articles and two books
How did we get there? • Our improvement process is based on four pillars: • Relationships • Commitment • Belief • Wonder and tradition
1. Relationships • Home visitation blitz • Positive phone calls • Admiral’s club • Attendance at outside of school events • Middle school postcards • High school yearbook ad • College scholarship • Report cards on the bus
2. Commitment • TOC program • Breakfast in classrooms • Volunteer tutoring • Candle sales • School remodel • Non-standard job descriptions • Hard Work Café
3. Belief • Inspiration hall • School goals: We can do 62, We will be 73, 78 will be great, We will soar to 84, 87 will be Heaven, 91 here we come • We Succeed Weekly • Inspirational movies (Miracle, Glory Road, Rudy, Invincible) • Staff awards • Gym banners • Mission statement • Staff shirts • Staff role in success • Dog tags • College Tours
4. Wonder and Tradition(August to July) • Announcement of scores • Principal stunt • 5th grade trip to Frankfort • Proficient distinguished dinner • Hot chocolate • Polar Express • Build-a-Bear • Christmas Parade • Annual snowball throw • Spring scrimmage barbeque • May Fun Days • Summer Retreat • Home Visitation Blitz • Back To School Fiesta
Within the Four Pillars are… • Academic innovation • School safety and discipline • Organizational leadership • Evaluation of processes
Academic Innovation • Project CHILD • RTI intervention process • Intensive reading cluster • Reading Lab • Math Lab • Kindergarten blitz • HWC planning • Staff meetings no more…
School Safety and Discipline • KIDS Project • Foundations and CHAMPS • Staff Handbook • New positions • ACE room • Structured behavior classroom • Monthly data meetings • Safety procedures guide • Practice all drills monthly
Organizational Leadership • Committee structure/tasks • Guiding coalition • Leadership team • Creative team • Triangulated leadership model • Sponsor leadership growth
Evaluation of Processes • MAP testing (3x per year) • Learning checks (every 2 weeks) • Open response plan (HWC) • Writing specialists monthly planning • Staff surveys (principal, cafeteria, custodial, FRC, library, front office, and behavior)
Ideas Not Mentioned Before… • Teacher recruitment • Flu season • Meet and eat • Lottery tickets • Ugly sweater contest • Kids/teacher power point • Video Christmas card • Involve staff families • Super Tutors
Ideas Come From… • Your people…all are creative or married to someone with a talent or skill. Let them do what they enjoy! • Fraternity • Sports • Movies • Business • Slogans, commercials, ad campaigns • News • Music • Borders • Read all the time
Nothing great has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe something inside of them was superior to circumstances