• Category 1

    Selected in 2016

  • Grades: pre k - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 750
    Student Enrollment: 660
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.2%
    White/Caucasian: 98.7%
    Hispanic: 0.3%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.2%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0.6%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 80%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1938
  • PRINCIPAL:
    John A. Kidd
  • CONTACT:
    256 School Street
    Betsy Layne , KY 41605
    606-478-9751
    john.kidd@floyd.kyschools.us
Betsy Layne Elementary
Betsy Layne , KY
We have found that over the years, nothing fosters student success more than an effective and caring teacher.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Parent involvement is critical to student success and our school has several family-oriented programs that focus on building a bridge between our school, our teachers and our parents. We use traditional events such as school Open Houses, parent-teacher conferences, parent & student read nights, and weekly newsletters.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
We have initiated several programs to strengthen ties with our community; however, our monthly Star Student Program has been a fantastic way for our school to engage our community in a positive way. Each month, each grade-level team select a boy and a girl from their grade to be that month's Star Student. Parents and guardians of these students are invited to the school for breakfast and a recognition program. During this time, administrators are on hand to hand out certificates and to reiterate the importance of our school's core values. Over the last couple years, this program has reached 100s of students, but the great thing about this program is that the student are recognized for their ability to demonstrate our school's core values, so it's not necessarily focused on those with straight A's or students who are already recognized for various other talents. This program has served as a great tool to connect with our parents and community.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
School change starts with high expectations and a vision that everyone must accept and strive to obtain. Those who don't accept high expectations need to get off the bus or change seats with someone who does. Change comes slowly in some areas and swiftly in others. There must be buy in by the staff, students and parents. Change must be monitored, celebrated and successful for effective buy-in.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Our top two goals are to have the #1 Elementary School in our State and the #1 Middle School in our State.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
There are many factors that account for our school's success, but if I had to pick one, it would have to be the dedication and team approach of my instructional staff. They are always striving to improve their teaching skills, which in turn improve our students' abilities. It takes extraordinary people to make extraordinary things happen.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
We've implemented several initiatives that I feel have had positive effects on student achievement. One of these is our month peer observations among our teachers. Teachers observe different teachers, teaching different contents each month. They give each other feedback and identify positive "Shout Outs" that are posted in our Teachers' Lounge. Another high impact initiative that we do as a staff is continual data review through Professional Learning Community meetings. In these meetings we review and discuss benchmark and classroom testing results to help pinpoint student needs and grade-level deficiencies, so we can provide intentional interventions.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Most all of our Title 1 funds are used to hire instructional staff at our school. We have found that over the years, nothing fosters student success more than an effective and caring teacher. This is something no "program" or "technology" can replace, so the majority of our Title funds are used as salary for effective teachers.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Each year our school district sponsors a county-wide Professional Development Academy. During this two-day event, teachers are offered various sessions on relevant and specific topics that directly affect their classroom instruction. Although we also provide many other professional development opportunities throughout the year, I feel that our district's PD Academy had been critical to our school's improvement over the last two to three years.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
We have dedicated one room in our building as a Conference/Data room. Just like a Situation or Board Room in the business world, we use this area for important meetings, such as parent and teacher conferences, school council meetings, and professional learning community team meetings. In this area we have our student trend data posted as well as the results from different benchmark assessment results of our students (content/grade-level averages). Having this information posted continually reminds us of any current deficiencies, as we discuss improvement strategies and plans for our school, even down to individual grade levels and content areas.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
We are a student-focused learning community. We foster high expectations for our kids, our staff and our parents. We work together to make things happen for OUR kids. We communicate weekly in professional learning community meetings about instructional strategies, assessment results, student placement, and classroom instructional needs. We recruit highly effective staff members and grow them them with every opportunity. I keep a framed quote on my desk that asks,"Is it about the students?" This automatically tells those who meet with me that I expect the topic of discussion to be about the students at all times. We have implemented peer reviews, a monthly student and teacher incentive program, "buddy" systems and annual celebrations to continually improve our school culture.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2016

  • Grades: pre k - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 750
    Student Enrollment: 660
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.2%
    White/Caucasian: 98.7%
    Hispanic: 0.3%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.2%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0.6%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 80%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1938
  • PRINCIPAL:
    John A. Kidd
  • CONTACT:
    256 School Street
    Betsy Layne , KY 41605
    606-478-9751
    john.kidd@floyd.kyschools.us