A Perspective A Perspective on on

School SuccessSchool Success

Ron Larson Elementary SchoolRon Larson Elementary School

Mat-Su School DistrictMat-Su School District

2009 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence2009 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

Ron L. Larson Ron L. Larson Elementary SchoolElementary School

“…“…We’re from Ron L. Larson and we’re We’re from Ron L. Larson and we’re reaching for the stars…”reaching for the stars…”

Ron L. Larson Ron L. Larson Elementary SchoolElementary School

Eagles Achieving ExcellenceEagles Achieving Excellence

Educating The Whole ChildEducating The Whole Child

Mat-Su Borough School DistrictMat-Su Borough School District

Developing citizens for a global society… Developing citizens for a global society…

by inspiring students… by inspiring students…

to think, to think,

learn, learn,

achieve, achieve,

and care .and care .

Achieving Excellence … Achieving Excellence … Our School Vision Our School Vision

““The future is ours to achieve excellence”.The future is ours to achieve excellence”.

Larson is community of responsible, productive Larson is community of responsible, productive individuals who inspire, motivate, and individuals who inspire, motivate, and support each other. support each other.

We strive to excel in life-long learning while We strive to excel in life-long learning while fostering relationships between our families, fostering relationships between our families, our school, our community and our world.our school, our community and our world.

Achieving Excellence … Achieving Excellence … Our School Mission Our School Mission

To transfer our vision into accountable practiceTo transfer our vision into accountable practice To be a center of pride and accomplishmentsTo be a center of pride and accomplishments To provide a success-oriented learning environmentTo provide a success-oriented learning environment To take risks… to not be afraid to failTo take risks… to not be afraid to fail To encourage innovationTo encourage innovation To steward each other and our communityTo steward each other and our community To constantly strive for instructional improvementTo constantly strive for instructional improvement To hold ourselves accountableTo hold ourselves accountable

We are as good as our collective achievement.We are as good as our collective achievement. What is your goal… to partner in achieving our mission?What is your goal… to partner in achieving our mission?

Achieving ExcellenceAchieving Excellence

Building on SuccessesBuilding on Successes Teaching the whole childTeaching the whole child Differentiating the curriculumDifferentiating the curriculum Integrating research supported best practicesIntegrating research supported best practices Using data to inform decision makingUsing data to inform decision making Consistently meeting No Child Left Behind Consistently meeting No Child Left Behind

Annual Yearly Progress : 2003-2009Annual Yearly Progress : 2003-2009 Named 2009 National Blue Ribbon SchoolNamed 2009 National Blue Ribbon School

Achieving ExcellenceAchieving Excellence Accepting New ChallengesAccepting New Challenges

Imagine It! & Reading Street programs: year 1Imagine It! & Reading Street programs: year 1 AIMSweb: year 1 AIMSweb: year 1 RTI: year 2RTI: year 2 MAP: year 3 MAP: year 3 Math Expressions: year 2 Math Expressions: year 2 FOSS Science: year 3FOSS Science: year 3 Olweus Anti-Bullying Program: year 2Olweus Anti-Bullying Program: year 2 Embracing technology: Promethean boardsEmbracing technology: Promethean boards TAG Schoolwide enrichmentTAG Schoolwide enrichment ABA program expansionABA program expansion

Achieving ExcellenceAchieving ExcellenceStaff as LeadersStaff as Leaders

Teachers with advanced degreesTeachers with advanced degrees Primary Report Card Task ForcePrimary Report Card Task Force Intermediate Report Card Task ForceIntermediate Report Card Task Force Math Program Adoption TeamMath Program Adoption Team Curriculum CouncilCurriculum Council Literacy curriculum review & program adoptionLiteracy curriculum review & program adoption Administration Intern ProgramAdministration Intern Program Mentoring student interns (UAA, UAF, APU)Mentoring student interns (UAA, UAF, APU) AK Statewide Mentor Program: teachers & administratorAK Statewide Mentor Program: teachers & administrator District extra curricular event coordinationDistrict extra curricular event coordination

Achieving Excellence … Achieving Excellence … Academic Activities Academic Activities

BandBand Choir / Performing ClubChoir / Performing Club Guitar / Mallet SwingersGuitar / Mallet Swingers Battle of the BooksBattle of the Books Word PowerWord Power Geography BeeGeography Bee TAG Schoolwide EnrichmentTAG Schoolwide Enrichment YearbookYearbook Mileage ClubMileage Club Read-A-ThonRead-A-Thon Math OlympicsMath Olympics

Achieving Excellence …Achieving Excellence … Extra-Curricular Activities Extra-Curricular Activities

Cross Country RunningCross Country Running Girls BasketballGirls Basketball Boys BasketballBoys Basketball Native Youth OlympicsNative Youth Olympics VolleyballVolleyball Track & FieldTrack & Field ScoutingScouting

Achieving Excellence … Achieving Excellence … Community Outreach Community Outreach

Family Information ConnectionsFamily Information Connections Cookie Social / Parent NightCookie Social / Parent Night Fall Open HouseFall Open House Parent Conferences / Student Led ConferencesParent Conferences / Student Led Conferences Home & School Connections: Parenting TipsHome & School Connections: Parenting Tips Newsletters (School / Classroom)Newsletters (School / Classroom) Larson Web PagesLarson Web Pages Student Success AssembliesStudent Success Assemblies iParentiParent

Achieving Excellence … Achieving Excellence … Community Outreach Community OutreachFamily Special EventsFamily Special Events

Walk-to-School DayWalk-to-School Day Health FairHealth Fair Family Movie Nights / Dance NightsFamily Movie Nights / Dance Nights Carnival / Halloween Boogie NightCarnival / Halloween Boogie Night Talent ShowTalent Show Literacy Nights & Read Across AmericaLiteracy Nights & Read Across America Math Olympics / Iditamath / Math Games NightMath Olympics / Iditamath / Math Games Night Morning MagicMorning Magic

Muffins with MomsMuffins with Moms Donuts with DadsDonuts with Dads

Mad ScienceMad Science

Achieving Excellence ... Achieving Excellence ... Community Outreach Community Outreach

PTA: PTA: There’s a Place for Families!There’s a Place for Families! Playground equipmentPlayground equipment Information signInformation sign Classroom suppliesClassroom supplies Special events (Movie Night; Literacy Night)Special events (Movie Night; Literacy Night) Community advocacyCommunity advocacy Teacher appreciationTeacher appreciation Fund raisers: QSPFund raisers: QSP New Ideas: Family Bingo NightNew Ideas: Family Bingo Night

Larson PracticesLarson Practices Decision making based uponDecision making based upon

U.S. & Alaska lawU.S. & Alaska law Mat-Su School Board direction / MSBSD directionMat-Su School Board direction / MSBSD direction DataData

Teacher observations & anecdotal recordsTeacher observations & anecdotal records Curriculum / Imbedded assessmentsCurriculum / Imbedded assessments Larson / District: AIMSweb & MAPLarson / District: AIMSweb & MAP State / SBAs (Standards Based Assessments)State / SBAs (Standards Based Assessments) National / Terra Nova & NAEP (National Assessment of Elementary National / Terra Nova & NAEP (National Assessment of Elementary

Progress)Progress) Practice based upon empirical research (Marzano, Schmoker, DuFour, Practice based upon empirical research (Marzano, Schmoker, DuFour,

Collins, Fielding & Fancher’s the “Green Book”)Collins, Fielding & Fancher’s the “Green Book”) CORE: Consortium on Reading ExcellenceCORE: Consortium on Reading Excellence RTI (Response to Intervention) for academics & behaviorRTI (Response to Intervention) for academics & behavior Shared leadershipShared leadership Professional Learning CommunitiesProfessional Learning Communities

Larson PracticesLarson Practices

Teaching Based UponTeaching Based Upon School and personal goalsSchool and personal goals Student goalsStudent goals Guaranteed and viable curriculumGuaranteed and viable curriculum

Curriculum maps & ePlanner (coord. w/ district calendar)Curriculum maps & ePlanner (coord. w/ district calendar) Focus on the “core”Focus on the “core” Data informed decisionsData informed decisions Research based best practicesResearch based best practices Team collaboration, coaching, & mentoringTeam collaboration, coaching, & mentoring Whole community involvementWhole community involvement

Larson PracticesLarson Practices

ProgramsPrograms Literacy: Literacy: Imagine ItImagine It & & Reading StreetReading Street: : routines, pacing, fidelityroutines, pacing, fidelity Math: Math: Math ExpressionsMath Expressions Science: Science: FOSSFOSS Social Studies & Science imbedded in literacy programsSocial Studies & Science imbedded in literacy programs Handwriting: K-2 ball & stick; 3-5 D’Nealian cursiveHandwriting: K-2 ball & stick; 3-5 D’Nealian cursive

AssessmentsAssessments Aims Web (replacing DIBELS)/ Kg-5Aims Web (replacing DIBELS)/ Kg-5thth w/ progress monitoring w/ progress monitoring MAP: Measures of Academic Progress / Kg-5MAP: Measures of Academic Progress / Kg-5 thth 3 times/year 3 times/year Terra Nova / 5Terra Nova / 5thth NAEP / 4NAEP / 4thth Alaska Standards Based Assessments (SBAs) / 3Alaska Standards Based Assessments (SBAs) / 3rdrd-5th-5th

Larson PracticesLarson Practices Instructional SupportInstructional Support

Common planning at grade levelCommon planning at grade level Principal walk-throughsPrincipal walk-throughs RTI: Response to Intervention / Academics & behaviorRTI: Response to Intervention / Academics & behavior

Special education and general education working in tandemSpecial education and general education working in tandem Consistent practice district-wide; legal strengthConsistent practice district-wide; legal strength Non-discrepancy model 2010-2011 goalNon-discrepancy model 2010-2011 goal

Coaching / Data Dialog daysCoaching / Data Dialog days Curriculum maps for literacy & mathCurriculum maps for literacy & math CALs: Content Area LiaisonsCALs: Content Area Liaisons Collaborative professional developmentCollaborative professional development

Larson Student Larson Student ExpectationsExpectations

CitizenshipCitizenship Olweus bullying preventionOlweus bullying prevention Stop & ThinkStop & Think Eagle FeathersEagle Feathers Student Success AssembliesStudent Success Assemblies

AcademicsAcademics Student goals based upon data (MAP & AIMSweb Student goals based upon data (MAP & AIMSweb

scores)scores) High expectations: Academic & BehaviorHigh expectations: Academic & Behavior Personal ResponsibilityPersonal Responsibility

2009 Blue Ribbon School2009 Blue Ribbon School

Nominated in 2006Nominated in 2006 Maintained AYP for 3 yearsMaintained AYP for 3 years Applied / AdjudicatedApplied / Adjudicated Received Award 10/2009Received Award 10/2009 Attended National ConferenceAttended National Conference

Larson Leadership PanelLarson Leadership Panel

Annie Bill, PrincipalAnnie Bill, Principal Wendy Stout, LibrarianWendy Stout, Librarian Beckie Murphy, TeacherBeckie Murphy, Teacher Deb Currier, TeacherDeb Currier, Teacher

Achieving ExcellenceAchieving Excellence Principal’s PerspectivePrincipal’s Perspective Accepting challenges / Maintaining a district connectionAccepting challenges / Maintaining a district connection Building a success-oriented learning environmentBuilding a success-oriented learning environment Creating community stewardshipCreating community stewardship Implementing student assessments and data analysis Implementing student assessments and data analysis

practices practices Setting academic and behavior goalsSetting academic and behavior goals Sharing leadership / Providing clear expectationsSharing leadership / Providing clear expectations AlwaysAlways having a positive attitude having a positive attitude Fostering teacher leadersFostering teacher leaders Having a willingness to take risksHaving a willingness to take risks Embracing a constant personal assessmentEmbracing a constant personal assessment Striving for continuous improvementStriving for continuous improvement

Achieving Excellence Achieving Excellence Panel Questions: Teachers’ PerspectivesPanel Questions: Teachers’ Perspectives As an administrative intern master teacher (“management As an administrative intern master teacher (“management

magician”), Beckie, how do you view Larson as a school of magician”), Beckie, how do you view Larson as a school of excellence; what role do teaching teams play?excellence; what role do teaching teams play?

As a master-teacher librarian/specialist (“information As a master-teacher librarian/specialist (“information goddess”), Wendy, how to you view Larson as a school of goddess”), Wendy, how to you view Larson as a school of excellence; and what role do specialist play?excellence; and what role do specialist play?

As a new-to-Larson master teacher (“kid whisperer”), Deb, As a new-to-Larson master teacher (“kid whisperer”), Deb, how do you view Larson as a school of excellence; and what how do you view Larson as a school of excellence; and what role does SPED play? role does SPED play?

Panel QuestionsPanel Questions The The REAL WORLDREAL WORLD….What challenges do we still ….What challenges do we still

face?face? What is our “myth”? Affluance…34% poverty levelWhat is our “myth”? Affluance…34% poverty level What are our brutal facts?What are our brutal facts?

Independent contractorsIndependent contractors Philosophical differencesPhilosophical differences Resistors; “camoflauge” supportersResistors; “camoflauge” supporters Relationships / Team building challengesRelationships / Team building challenges

Year 3 on a probable 10 year processYear 3 on a probable 10 year process Inspecting what we expect while continually Inspecting what we expect while continually

implementing new processesimplementing new processes

AlaskaAlaskaSchools of ExcellenceSchools of Excellence

Look in the mirror!Look in the mirror! What makes your school a school of excellence?What makes your school a school of excellence? Where are you most successful? Why?Where are you most successful? Why? What challenges have you accepted?What challenges have you accepted? Toward what goals are you working?Toward what goals are you working? Who are your teacher leaders?Who are your teacher leaders? How do you share leadership?How do you share leadership? Share with us your excellence story!Share with us your excellence story!