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Title I teachers collaborate with teachers to plan, implement and monitor the progress of students. Their combined efforts have improved the overall quality of instruction and student engagement. In addition, our Title I teachers provide supplemental instruction for our Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention students. They provide staff development on new strategies during our professional learning communities.

Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.

In January of 2011, a community task force was established to find a way to help our students who were living in Greenleigh Trailer Park- one of our school’s larger mobile home parks. Many students who lived in the neighborhood were identified as ELL and were academically at-risk. In addition, many parents did not speak English so support with homework was limited. It was a priority for our school community to create a way to help our students and families. The task force evolved into the Greenleigh Community Partners which included our local school board and board of supervisor member, representatives from the police, fire, and social services department, pastors from local churches, the YMCA, Fit4Kids, and the principal of Scott. Due to the efforts of this partnership, the Greenleigh Learning Cottage opened its doors to tutoring in October of 2012. Volunteers tutor students on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and adult education classes are offered for parents.

What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?

Professional Learning Communities (PLC) have been the single most important factor in closing our achievement gaps. Administration meets with each grade level, special education teachers, ESOL teachers, Title I team and the reading specialist bi-weekly. In PLCs, teachers analyze all student data and its implications for student success. We conduct book studies, share ideas and discuss research based strategies that support continuous student achievement. PLCs provide a safe collegial environment where teachers can express concerns and learn together for the ultimate goal of student achievement. It didn’t take long for our teachers to realize the power of cultivating similar relationships within their classrooms. To support this endeavor, our first book study was on the implementation of Morning Meeting. This helped teachers create a safe and trusting environment which supports risk taking, team work and motivation to learn.

Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.

Title I funds have been an invaluable resource in our efforts to close achievement gaps. Title I teachers collaborate with teachers to plan, implement and monitor the progress of students. Their combined efforts have improved the overall quality of instruction and student engagement. In addition, our Title I teachers provide supplemental instruction for our Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention students. They provide staff development on new strategies during our professional learning communities. The Title I team was instrumental in planning and orchestrating our Math and Reading Night. It was one of our most successful programs with hundreds in attendance. The funds have also provided us with a variety of math manipulatives, educational games, leveled readers, take-home books and Promethean Boards. To support year round learning, TitleI1 funding was used to provide transportation for students attending summer school and consequently we had over 300 students register for summer school.

Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.

Our teachers continuously analyze individual student and grade level formative and summative assessments in grade level Professional Learning Communities. In these meetings, new researched based instructional strategies such as The Next Step in Guided Reading, Number Talks, and guided math were introduced. Book studies, professional articles, and materials from professional conferences provide new ideas on how to gather and analyze individual student data. This collection of evidence ultimately drives and improves instruction. Web-based resources such as Dreambox©, Smarty Ants™, Raz Kids, and Study Island help teachers to identify areas of growth for individual students so that teachers can target specific areas of instruction. A variety of data is visibly posted in our PLC room. We monitor the progress of individuals, groups and grade levels and share it vertically so we can look at trends.

Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.

Our school culture encompasses the belief that we can never stop learning. Through the use of Professional Learning Communities we have established a love of learning where teachers are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and are supported in the process. Teachers have embraced this concept and now view obstacles as opportunities; they learn together, work together and succeed together. PLC meetings are a reflection of our school motto “Make Every Minute Count”. This statement is a reminder of our commitment to provide engaging and relevant educational experiences for our students. Making every minute count goes beyond the school day. Like our teachers, students take advantage of our resources outside of school to further their learning. Students record the number of minutes that they read each night and utilize our school’s educational websites in their efforts to make every minute count. Their efforts are recognized and celebrated by teachers and administration.

• Category 2

  Selected in 2013

• Grades: k - 5
  School Setting: urban
  Town Population: 323,856
  Student Enrollment: 901
  Student Demographics:
  

  Black/African American: 19%
  White/Caucasian: 40%
  Hispanic: 31%
  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
  Asian: 4%
  Native American: 0%
  Other: 6%
  

  Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:24
  % Reduced Lunch: 46%
  % ELL Learners: 29%
  Founded: 2007
• PRINCIPAL:
  Joan Temple
• CONTACT:
  813 Beginners Trail Loop
  Chester, VA 23836
  804-541-4660
  Joan_Temple@ccpsnet.net