• Category 1

    Selected in 2016

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 2,747
    Student Enrollment: 214
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 92.1%
    Hispanic: 6.1%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.9%
    Native American: 0.9%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:18
    % Reduced Lunch: 48%
    % ELL Learners: 2%
    Founded: 1950
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Cherie Blackburn
  • CONTACT:
    64 S 100 E
    Loa, UT 84747
    435-836-2851
    cherie.blackburn@waynesd.org
Loa Elementary
Loa, UT
We cherish the idea of "how" to think, rather than "what" to think.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
We recognize that parents are the key to student's success; therefore, increasing parental involvement is one of our goals. Our PTO plays a vital role in coordinating volunteers for school functions. We offer a variety of before and after school student/parent activities which include: back to school night, parent teacher conferences, SEPs, teacher meet and greets, parent read-a-thons, pastry mornings, author/writing nights, math make and takes, walk-a-thons, art night, class plays, parent education nights, and additional math and technology help to both parents and students.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
We are located in a small, rural community; therefore, the school is a central part of its community. We are continually doing everything we can to strengthen our ties to the community. One of our more successful events is our annual Art Night. The entire student body, teachers, and staff transform our gym into an art gallery. It takes months of preparation. Teachers and students spend a lot of time and effort creating a variety of unique art pieces for everyone in the community to see. Over 250 pieces of artwork are on display. On Art Night, the artwork is available for anyone in the community to purchase. We begin with a silent auction. Homemade doughnuts, cookies, and other goodies are also available to purchase. All money raised is used to help send the students on some academic field trips. We raised enough money this year for every grade level to be able to participate in a fun and exciting field trip. The community members look forward to coming every year.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Continuous school Improvement is critical to the quality of education at Loa Elementary. For us, raising the average level of quality and performance of student achievement is top priority. Teachers meet regularly to reevaluate current instructional strategies and practices. Through active collaboration, teachers and staff gain and understanding
and acceptance of school goals. Every teacher at Loa Elementary accepts their own responsibility for achieving these goals and is accountable for showing how goals are achieved and ultimately how it improved student success.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Our first goal is to continue to monitor and identify struggling learners and provide high-quality instruction and interventions that are matched to student need.
Our second goal is to focus our energy on increasing parent involvement and engagement between home and school concentrating on open communication.
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 our school are our effective teachers and their dedication to education and their willingness to work as a team. Our teachers realize that when it comes to student performance and behavior at school that they have the biggest impact. We cherish the idea of "how" to think, rather than "what" to think. All of our teachers are highly qualified and they genuinely care about the well being of each student. Teachers are engaged in ongoing collaboration and professional development to align their instruction to student's individual needs. Each teacher writes a Professional Growth Plan based on their strengths and weaknesses. As a faculty we have consistent, high expectations with the belief that every child can learn and make appropriate rate of improvement.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
One of the greatest initiatives that we have put in place to improve student achievement is to dedicate time each day for tiered instruction in both math and reading. We use the Multi-Tiered Systems of Approach, which is an integrated, comprehensive framework that focuses on core instruction, differentiated learning, student-centered learning, individualized student needs, and the alignment of systems necessary for all students’ academic, behavioral, and social success. It is an every-education decision-making framework of evidence-based practices in instruction and assessment that addresses the needs of all students through Response to Intervention. Our para-professionals work in the reading/math lab to ensure that students are receiving additional instruction time in small group settings. Teachers and para-professionals collaborate regularly to review student progress and adjust instruction when needed. Multiple intervention programs are taught which are grade level appropriate.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
The majority of our Title I funds are used to employ Title I para-professionals. These aides are highly trained, intervention specialists that assist with the MTSS framework. They provide Tier II & III interventions which assist our struggling learners in developing math and language skills. These interventions are taught in our reading/math lab, as well as in the classroom in small group instruction.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Professional development is an ongoing process on both a District and individual school level. We have provided extensive professional development promoting student learning and enhancing professional practices that focus on Utah Professional Teaching Standards. Teachers have been actively involved in teacher in-service on explicit instruction, questioning techniques, differentiation in the classroom, lesson objectives/standards, response to intervention, technology, and STEAM instruction.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Data is used to drive teacher instruction. Teachers and staff participate in monthly PLCs to review student data and target instruction accordingly. Teachers monitor interventions and student's progress often. Strategies are reviewed and adjusted accordingly. The instructional methods are aligned with BEST practices and are carefully chosen based on student need. Teachers spend time in professional development reviewing lesson plans to ensure that all effective teaching standards are embedded into instructional strategies.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
The school culture of Loa Elementary is one of high expectations. Our mission is to play a vital role in developing college and career ready individuals who will become positive contributors to our society. Every employee takes their job very seriously and does everything they can to create a positive and productive learning environment. This year we took a more positive approach on learning. We focused on what we can do to help others and make the world a better place. We are all superheros and we help the students bring out the superhero that they already have inside. We teach 11 key character traits: Service, Unconditional Love, Perseverance, Empathy, Respect, Honesty, Enthusiasm, Responsibility, Obedience, Encouragement, and Self Discipline. Parents follow through by reinforcing these traits at home. All the students know that you don't need a cape to be a hero. You just need to care. This positive change improved academics as well as everyone's attitude.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2016

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 2,747
    Student Enrollment: 214
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 92.1%
    Hispanic: 6.1%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.9%
    Native American: 0.9%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:18
    % Reduced Lunch: 48%
    % ELL Learners: 2%
    Founded: 1950
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Cherie Blackburn
  • CONTACT:
    64 S 100 E
    Loa, UT 84747
    435-836-2851
    cherie.blackburn@waynesd.org