• Category 3

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 30,050
    Student Enrollment: 191
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 14.5%
    White/Caucasian: 68%
    Hispanic: 5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 12.5%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:5
    % Reduced Lunch: 87%
    % ELL Learners: 71%
    Founded: 1969
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Brad Sassack
  • CONTACT:
    400 E. LaSalle Avenue
    Madison Heights, MI 48071
    248-589-0406
    sassackb@lamphereschools.org
Hiller Elementary School
Madison Heights, MI
We foster relationships in which the input of all stakeholders is valued.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
We ensure that families are involved in the success of our school by holding monthly parent involvement meetings. At these meetings the current state of the school and upcoming events are shared. Parents are also encouraged to provide input and guide future initiatives.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
An event we look forward to hosting every year is our Leadership Day. This is a day where we invite many community members to visit our school and display how we are using our leadership skills to achieve academically and become lifelong leaders. We also participate in many community fundraisers, such as, a canned food drive and a coin drive. We also participate in the Pennies for Pasta campaign that donates money to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All of these activities are extremely helpful to our community and strengthen our relationship with our families.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Our philosophy for school change and improvement starts with the understanding that all efforts must be collaborative. We foster relationships in which the input of all stakeholders is valued. Additionally, we continuously monitor our school’s practices and how they can be enhanced to meet the needs of the school community.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
One of our school’s goals is to expand our vision. We would like to construct a plan in which all students embody our school values.

Our second goal is to increase our family participation to enhance our school climate. Increase participation would lead to a stronger sense of community.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
The single most important factor in the success of this school is the welcoming environment. Students feel safe to express themselves culturally. On the academic side students feel comfortable taking risks with their thinking and expressing their voice in the classroom. The consistent use of Ron Ritchhart’s Visible Thinking Routines ensures that all students have influence on their learning.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
The initiative that has had the greatest effect on our student achievement is The Leader in Me from Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits of Happy Kids. We teach the 7 habits in multiple ways to our students, families and community. These habits empower our students to reach their full potential in both academic and social aspects of their lives. We close the achievement gap by cultivating an environment where everyone’s strengths and ideas are valued. Students are also encouraged to set ambitious personal and academic goals.
Explain how ESEA federal funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
ESEA funds are used to maximize student achievement. One of the ways they are utilized is for funding interventionists, to reduce teacher to student ratio. Another way we use these funds is by purchasing technology that is necessary for students to be 21st century learners. We have also purchased many materials for families to access educational resources for at-home learning.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
The critical professional development activities that improve our teaching and student learning come from both the district and county level. Professional learning opportunities offered by the district provide teachers collaborate and analyze student data to meet the student’s individual needs. Many teachers seek opportunities at the county level to further their professional growth. Any knowledge gained is brought back and shared with colleagues.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
We hold grade level data teams quarterly to analyze all of our district assessments. These assessments include NWEA, Fountas & Pinnell, AimsWeb Plus, WIDA and M-Step. We improve student achievement by adjusting our instruction based on the needs of our students. Our MTSS (Multi-Tiered Support System) team also meet regularly to make critical district decisions that influence our curriculum and our student achievement.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Over the last several years our focus has shifted from what we do to why we do it. This shift in focus has been the most important factor in establishing a school culture within which staff and students alike have a shared sense of belonging and purpose. Students and families know that they have a voice and, as integral stakeholders of our school community, that their ideas are welcome and encouraged. As we continually assess and refine our school culture through Leader in Me initiatives, parent outreach, and social/emotional support systems, we are more proactive in anticipating the factors that impede students’ academic and social well-being and instead directing students toward those goals and strategies which will make them the most successful.
Stats
  • Category 3

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 30,050
    Student Enrollment: 191
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 14.5%
    White/Caucasian: 68%
    Hispanic: 5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 12.5%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:5
    % Reduced Lunch: 87%
    % ELL Learners: 71%
    Founded: 1969
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Brad Sassack
  • CONTACT:
    400 E. LaSalle Avenue
    Madison Heights, MI 48071
    248-589-0406
    sassackb@lamphereschools.org