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