Putnam City’s Western Oaks Middle School and Rollingwood Elementary School are two of 13 schools in Oklahoma to be recognized as Academic Achievement Award Schools, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi has announced.
According to a State Department of Education statement, Academic Achievement Award Schools are “schools that have shown continuous growth in AYP for two or more years in math and/or reading or have narrowed the achievement gap between all subgroups in these subjects.” The State Department of Education adds that award-winning schools also must be Title I schools with at least 75 percent of the students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Translation: These schools continue to show big improvement in test scores for all students.
The recognition for Academic Achievement Award winners was more than simply naming the schools aloud. There is money involved. The recognition was accompanied by funds intended to help sustain excellence in instruction the schools are already demonstrating. Each school received a base amount of $10,000 and an additional $85 per student, meaning Western Oaks received a check for $61,425 while Rollingwood received a check for $50,120.
Western Oaks Principal Patricia Balenseifen says the funds will be used to purchase technology for use by students and teachers and pay for training and resources to help teachers prepare for the implementation of new learning standards. Rollingwood, too, is considering the purchase of technology for learning.
The addition of more technology for students is exciting to educators at both schools.
“It’s important that we continue to put technology in the hands of our students as much as possible so that students, who are essentially digital natives, are motivated to learn. We want to encourage students’ imaginations to go far beyond what our generation can imagine. The funds that accompany these awards will certainly enable us to do that,” Balenseifen says.
Learning at Western Oaks
Western Oaks was recognized by the state for continuous improvement in student reading achievement. Balenseifen says the award recognizes the school’s use of proven learning strategies.
“In every classroom our teachers use what research identifies as the best practices in instruction. Our teachers collaborate to make sure students get the benefit of hands-on projects, engaging lessons and meaningful learning stations. This is a determined, dedicated team of educators intensely focused on student achievement and learning,” Balenseifen says.
While Balenseifen says the school’s success is due to many factors, she points to some specific strategies that improve achievement at Western Oaks:
• Instruction aligned with state learning standards and shaped by results of student assessments, quizzes and tests.
• Reading and writing instruction incorporated into classes in all subject areas.
• Extensive use of technology by both students and teachers in a school filled with interactive white boards, iPads, computer labs and other devices for learning.
• Math lessons that use real world problem-solving such as comparing cell phone plan costs or using costs of gas, food and lodging to determine the best mode of transportation to a distant point.
• Targeted professional development for teachers to insure they are aware of the newest and best teaching methods.
• After-school clubs that extend learning time and to build relationships between students and teachers.
• Take-home packets of math and reading activities for students still learning and improving their English skills.
Learning at Rollingwood
It’s a similar story at Rollingwood Elementary, which was recognized by the state for continuous gains in student math achievement. Principal Pam Miller, in her first year at Rollingwood, says there is no single reason to point to for the school’s success, but that the school’s persistent focus on finding and fixing problems is at the root of high student achievement.
Miller says that each week teachers meet with their colleagues to take an in-depth look at student achievement. Student performance on state and school tests are broken down in ways that allow teachers to see exactly where individual students are flourishing or struggling.
When teachers see from test data or classroom observation that students don’t understand a certain concept, they design and implement new strategies to help students learn. Students who need help with specific skills – for example, reading comprehension, phonics or adding two-digit numbers – are pulled into small groups for extra work. Small groups are created when student needs dictate and dissolved when students have mastered the concept or skill.
As is the case at Western Oaks, frequent training insures that teachers have the latest research-based information about how to help children be successful in school.
Miller says involvement of parents and grandparents in the school is another important component of student success. Decades of national research shows that higher parent involvement leads to better school attendance, higher grades and higher graduation rates. Parent attendance at Rollingwood events is high, and recently the school drew more than 350 mothers for a “Muffins for Moms” program and more than 350 grandparents for a “Goodies for Grandparents” program. A family literacy night held Jan 19 attracted about 300 parents who joined their children in listening to stories and taking part in related activities.
Role Models
Barresi says the schools should be emulated by others.
“I’m proud of the hard work by the students and the educators in each of these schools,” Barresi said in recognizing Academic Achievement Award winners and other notable schools. “These nominations and awards show these schools have reached a high level of academic achievement and are models of excellence for other schools in the state and the nation.”
What Western Oaks Educators Say
“I am so proud of our teachers and students. Mutual respect and positive relationships between students and teachers better assist us toward reaching our goals. As instructional leaders, we are intentional about how we deliver lessons and provide hands-on experiences for students to make learning more relevant and applicable to real-world problem- solving situations. Teachers deliver our curriculum using best practices and multiple resources to fit our student needs.
—Patricia Balenseifen, Principal, Western Oaks Middle School
“This is a testament to how effective teaching literacy across the curriculum can be! Here at Western Oaks, we are all reading teachers first!”
—Katie Mickle, 7th-grade Math and Algebra I teacher, Western Oaks Middle School
“This award speaks volumes to the dedication of our entire staff, students, and administrators. We expect the best and have success!”
—Michelle Owens, Instructional Coach, Western Oaks Middle School
“We’re going to be able to put the money to good use by giving it back to the students in the form of technology and instruction to help them better prepare for the Common Core.”
—Shane Cole, 8th-grade Math and Geometry, Western Oaks Middle School
“We are very excited that the hard work of our students, teachers and administrators is paying off and will be rewarded in such a beneficial way.”
—Trey Keoppel, 8th-grade U.S. History, Western Oaks Middle School
“It’s gratifying to know that our school was recognized for its hard work and the money received will continue increasing student achievement.”
—Anne-Marie Martin, 8th-grade English, Western Oaks Middle School
What Rollingwood Educators Say
“Rollingwood works together as a team – parents, teachers, support staff – because we need each other to succeed. We attribute much of our success to the strong relationships between students and teachers and the collaboration of teachers during gatherings of our professional learning communities. This award recognizes what we knew all along: We have highly capable students who consistently attain excellence.”
—Pam Miller, Principal, Rollingwood Elementary School
"Rollingwood is a school where the teachers do whatever is necessary to reach a student in need of extra help. It's not just the effort of one teacher, but the efforts of a whole team of teachers and staff. Everyone is dedicated to incorporating data-driven instruction in target areas where children need additional opportunities to learn. As teachers, we don't succeed until our students succeed."
—Gena Barnhill, Title I Math Teacher, Rollingwood Elementary School
“The faculty and staff at Rollingwood work closely as a team to ensure that every child that comes through our doors receives what he or she needs to be successful. We push ourselves and our students to accept nothing but excellence every day. We are thrilled to be recognized for our hard work. Way to go, Rockets!”
—Linda Frantz, 4th-grade Teacher, Rollingwood Elementary School
“Teachers are a hard-working group of people. At Rollingwood we strive to make every year better than the one before. We are always asking what else we can do to help students succeed. At the same time, we can’t take all the credit. We have great kids who give us their best every day. The recognition is an honor for the entire Rollingwood community and Putnam City Schools.
—Amy Bollinger, 2nd-grade Teacher, Rollingwood Elementary School
“The teachers at Rollingwood put in so much time above what is required, so it’s wonderful to hear it was worth it for our students. We all put in the time and step up where we are needed. It’s nice to be recognized and good to know again that our collaboration and hard work paid off.
—Tara Trenary, Pre-kindergarten Teacher, Rollingwood Elementary School
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For More Information
Steve Lindley, Communications Director
(405) 495-5200, x1204
(405) 812-6119
slindley@putnamcityschools.org