School ImprovementSchool Improvement
An Elementary PerspectiveAn Elementary Perspective
From South Heights From South Heights ElementaryElementary
Where we were…Where we were…
Negative cultureNegative culture Low community expectationsLow community expectations Bottom 20 of all elementary Bottom 20 of all elementary
schools in the state of KYschools in the state of KY
Where we are now…Where we are now…
50 points of continual 50 points of continual academic growthacademic growth
Incredibly positive Incredibly positive cultureculture
High community High community expectationsexpectations
National demonstration National demonstration sitesite
National School Change National School Change AwardAward
Featured in several Featured in several national articles and two national articles and two booksbooks
4044 48
51
66
73.579.3 81.4
84.7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07
South Heights Academic Growth
How did we get there?How did we get there?
Our improvement process is Our improvement process is based on four pillars:based on four pillars:
1.1. RelationshipsRelationships
2.2. CommitmentCommitment
3.3. BeliefBelief
4.4. Wonder and traditionWonder and tradition
1. Relationships 1. Relationships
• Home visitation blitzHome visitation blitz• Positive phone callsPositive phone calls• Admiral’s clubAdmiral’s club• Attendance at outside of school eventsAttendance at outside of school events• Middle school postcardsMiddle school postcards• High school yearbook adHigh school yearbook ad• College scholarshipCollege scholarship• Report cards on the busReport cards on the bus
2. Commitment2. Commitment
TOC programTOC program Breakfast in classroomsBreakfast in classrooms Volunteer tutoringVolunteer tutoring Candle salesCandle sales School remodelSchool remodel Non-standard job descriptionsNon-standard job descriptions Hard Work CaféHard Work Café
3. Belief3. Belief
Inspiration hallInspiration hall School goals: We can do 62, School goals: We can do 62,
We will be 73, 78 will be We will be 73, 78 will be great, We will soar to 84, 87 great, We will soar to 84, 87 will be Heaven, 91 here we will be Heaven, 91 here we comecome
We Succeed WeeklyWe Succeed Weekly Inspirational movies (Miracle, Inspirational movies (Miracle,
Glory Road, Rudy, Invincible)Glory Road, Rudy, Invincible) Staff awardsStaff awards Gym bannersGym banners Mission statement Mission statement
Staff shirtsStaff shirts Staff role in successStaff role in success Dog tagsDog tags College Tours College Tours
4. Wonder and 4. Wonder and TraditionTradition(August to July)(August to July) Announcement of scoresAnnouncement of scores Principal stuntPrincipal stunt 55thth grade trip to Frankfort grade trip to Frankfort Proficient distinguished dinnerProficient distinguished dinner Hot chocolateHot chocolate Polar ExpressPolar Express Build-a-BearBuild-a-Bear Christmas ParadeChristmas Parade Annual snowball throwAnnual snowball throw Spring scrimmage barbequeSpring scrimmage barbeque May Fun DaysMay Fun Days Summer RetreatSummer Retreat Home Visitation BlitzHome Visitation Blitz Back To School FiestaBack To School Fiesta
Within the Four Pillars Within the Four Pillars are…are… Academic innovationAcademic innovation School safety and disciplineSchool safety and discipline Organizational leadershipOrganizational leadership Evaluation of processesEvaluation of processes
Academic InnovationAcademic Innovation
Project CHILDProject CHILD RTI intervention RTI intervention
processprocess Intensive reading Intensive reading
clustercluster Reading LabReading Lab Math LabMath Lab Kindergarten blitzKindergarten blitz HWC planningHWC planning Staff meetings no Staff meetings no
more…more…
School Safety and School Safety and DisciplineDiscipline KIDS ProjectKIDS Project Foundations and CHAMPSFoundations and CHAMPS Staff HandbookStaff Handbook New positionsNew positions ACE roomACE room Structured behavior classroomStructured behavior classroom Monthly data meetingsMonthly data meetings Safety procedures guideSafety procedures guide Practice all drills monthlyPractice all drills monthly
Organizational Organizational LeadershipLeadership Committee structure/tasksCommittee structure/tasks Guiding coalitionGuiding coalition Leadership teamLeadership team Creative teamCreative team Triangulated leadership modelTriangulated leadership model Sponsor leadership growth Sponsor leadership growth
Evaluation of Evaluation of ProcessesProcesses MAP testing (3x per year)MAP testing (3x per year) Learning checks (every 2 weeks)Learning checks (every 2 weeks) Open response plan (HWC)Open response plan (HWC) Writing specialists monthly Writing specialists monthly
planningplanning Staff surveys (principal, cafeteria, Staff surveys (principal, cafeteria,
custodial, FRC, library, front office, custodial, FRC, library, front office, and behavior)and behavior)
Ideas Not Mentioned Ideas Not Mentioned Before…Before… Teacher recruitmentTeacher recruitment Flu seasonFlu season Meet and eatMeet and eat Lottery ticketsLottery tickets Ugly sweater contestUgly sweater contest Kids/teacher power pointKids/teacher power point Video Christmas cardVideo Christmas card Involve staff familiesInvolve staff families Super TutorsSuper Tutors
Ideas Come From…Ideas Come From…
Your people…all are creative or married to Your people…all are creative or married to someone with a talent or skill. Let them do someone with a talent or skill. Let them do what they enjoy!what they enjoy!
FraternityFraternity SportsSports MoviesMovies BusinessBusiness Slogans, commercials, ad campaignsSlogans, commercials, ad campaigns NewsNews MusicMusic BordersBorders Read all the timeRead all the time
Nothing great has ever Nothing great has ever been achieved except by been achieved except by those who dared to those who dared to believe something inside believe something inside of them was superior to of them was superior to circumstancescircumstances