1. School Improvement An Elementary Perspective From South Heights Elementary

2. Where we were… Negative culture Negative culture Low community expectations Low community expectations Bottom 20 of all elementary schools in the state of KY Bottom 20 of all elementary schools in the state of KY

3. Where we are now… 50 points of continual academic growth 50 points of continual academic growth Incredibly positive culture Incredibly positive culture High community expectations High community expectations National demonstration site National demonstration site National School Change Award National School Change Award Featured in several national articles and two books Featured in several national articles and two books

4. How did we get there? Our improvement process is based on four pillars: Our improvement process is based on four pillars: 1. Relationships 2. Commitment 3. Belief 4. Wonder and tradition

5. 1. Relationships Home visitation blitz Home visitation blitz Positive phone calls Positive phone calls Admiral’s club Admiral’s club Attendance at outside of school events Attendance at outside of school events Middle school postcards Middle school postcards High school yearbook ad High school yearbook ad College scholarship College scholarship Report cards on the bus Report cards on the bus

6. 2. Commitment TOC program TOC program Breakfast in classrooms Breakfast in classrooms Volunteer tutoring Volunteer tutoring Candle sales Candle sales School remodel School remodel Non-standard job descriptions Non-standard job descriptions Hard Work Café Hard Work Café

7. 3. Belief Inspiration hall 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 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 We Succeed Weekly Inspirational movies (Miracle, Glory Road, Rudy, Invincible) Inspirational movies (Miracle, Glory Road, Rudy, Invincible) Staff awards Staff awards Gym banners Gym banners Mission statement Mission statement Staff shirts Staff shirts Staff role in success Staff role in success Dog tags Dog tags College Tours College Tours

8. 4. Wonder and Tradition (August to July) Announcement of scores Announcement of scores Principal stunt Principal stunt 5 th grade trip to Frankfort 5 th grade trip to Frankfort Proficient distinguished dinner Proficient distinguished dinner Hot chocolate Hot chocolate Polar Express Polar Express Build-a-Bear Build-a-Bear Christmas Parade Christmas Parade Annual snowball throw Annual snowball throw Spring scrimmage barbeque Spring scrimmage barbeque May Fun Days May Fun Days Summer Retreat Summer Retreat Home Visitation Blitz Home Visitation Blitz Back To School Fiesta Back To School Fiesta

9. Within the Four Pillars are… Academic innovation Academic innovation School safety and discipline School safety and discipline Organizational leadership Organizational leadership Evaluation of processes Evaluation of processes

10. Academic Innovation Project CHILD Project CHILD RTI intervention process RTI intervention process Intensive reading cluster Intensive reading cluster Reading Lab Reading Lab Math Lab Math Lab Kindergarten blitz Kindergarten blitz HWC planning HWC planning Staff meetings no more… Staff meetings no more…

11. School Safety and Discipline KIDS Project KIDS Project Foundations and CHAMPS Foundations and CHAMPS Staff Handbook Staff Handbook New positions New positions ACE room ACE room Structured behavior classroom Structured behavior classroom Monthly data meetings Monthly data meetings Safety procedures guide Safety procedures guide Practice all drills monthly Practice all drills monthly

12. Organizational Leadership Committee structure/tasks Committee structure/tasks Guiding coalition Guiding coalition Leadership team Leadership team Creative team Creative team Triangulated leadership model Triangulated leadership model Sponsor leadership growth Sponsor leadership growth

13. Evaluation of Processes 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 planning Writing specialists monthly planning Staff surveys (principal, cafeteria, custodial, FRC, library, front office, and behavior) Staff surveys (principal, cafeteria, custodial, FRC, library, front office, and behavior)

14. Ideas Not Mentioned Before… Teacher recruitment Teacher recruitment Flu season Flu season Meet and eat Meet and eat Lottery tickets Lottery tickets Ugly sweater contest Ugly sweater contest Kids/teacher power point Kids/teacher power point Video Christmas card Video Christmas card Involve staff families Involve staff families Super Tutors Super Tutors

15. Ideas Come From… Your people…all are creative or married to someone with a talent or skill. Let them do what they enjoy! Your people…all are creative or married to someone with a talent or skill. Let them do what they enjoy! Fraternity Fraternity Sports Sports Movies Movies Business Business Slogans, commercials, ad campaigns Slogans, commercials, ad campaigns News News Music Music Borders Borders Read all the time Read all the time

16. Nothing great has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe something inside of them was superior to circumstances