• Category 2

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,513
    Student Enrollment: 503
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.3%
    White/Caucasian: 96%
    Hispanic: 0%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 3.7%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:13
    % Reduced Lunch: 36%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1966
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Angela Godby
  • CONTACT:
    6760 State Route 134
    Lynchburg, OH 45142
    937-364-9119
    angela.godby@lclsd.org
Lynchburg-Clay Elementary School
Lynchburg, OH
One of our greatest successes is the “family” atmosphere we have built at Lynchburg-Clay Elementary.
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Lynchburg-Clay Elementary prides itself on being student centered.Every staff member goes above and beyond to meet the needs of our students. On our latest state report card, Lynchburg-Clay Elementary received an A in Gap Closing, an A in Progress, and a B in Overall Achievement. All three of these areas include both reading and math scores in all subgroups. One of our greatest successes is the “family” atmosphere we have built at Lynchburg-Clay Elementary. Our staff are family and our students are family. Our small rural town and school always supports those individuals or families in need or those going through a devastating or traumatic life experience. When one of our families lost their home in a fire, we provide the family with essentials and gift cards to help replace items they lost. When a student was diagnosed with cancer, our entire community raised money and participated in benefit dinners and silent auctions to raise money for the family to assist with medical bills and transportation costs endured going back and forth to the hospital. Not only is Lynchburg-Clay Elementary proud of the academic successes of our students, we are proud of the human beings our students are becoming.

2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
There have been several contributing factors that have promoted positive change within our school. The implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game has added to our PBIS schoolwide program. Creating a clear vision along with expectations that everyone agreed upon decreases discipline issues which in turn increases instructional time. “Tootles” are given to students who exhibit appropriate PAX Leader expectations and PAX Leaders of the Month are recognized. Communication with parents continues to be a key factor. Each teacher uses Class Dojo or the Remind app to communicate with parents throughout the day and evening. As a district, we continue to expand and improve our technology use for students. Every classroom is equipped with a class set of chromebooks that students use daily. Implementation of Lexia Core 5 school wide focuses on fundamental literacy skills. Students make gains in this online program by moving through levels of instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Lexia Core 5 also has an intervention component that teachers use to address specific student needs. Teacher based team meetings during common planning time allow teachers to collaborate, discuss curriculum, analyze data and address student concerns. These are just a few of the factors that have played a role in the positive change within our school.

3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
Currently, the majority of our ESEA funds are used for salaries of experienced teachers. Due to the effects of Covid, services are delivered to students in various ways depending on the needs of our students. We utilize replacement classes, pull out classes and the in class model, all with highly qualified teachers. Funds have been used to purchase a laptop cart for our Title 1 classrooms. With increased emphasis on technology and online assessments, this additional resource has been crucial to the success of our students. Providing devices to students and families to use at home during times of quarantine and sickness has enabled us to continue instruction for students as well. The implementation of Lexia Core 5 program as an online component targeting fundamental literacy skills was initially funded in part with ESEA funds. Due to the success we have seen with our students using this program, we have implemented it school wide. Each year, ESEA funds are used to host parent workshops where students and parents work together with teachers to create games and activities to use at home that practice literacy and math skills. In the past, ESEA funds have also been used to purchase Accelerated Reader books for our students and to purchase literacy and math manipulatives as well.

4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Many of the professional development activities have centered around technology. Teachers have learned how to create and utilize a Google Classroom, as well as, how to use our new flat panel interactive boards in the classrooms. Professional development was given to all teachers on Lexia Core 5 and how to use the program effectively and with fidelity. All Lynchburg-Clay Elementary staff, including support staff, custodians, cafeteria staff and transportation personnel have been trained in the PAX Good Behavior Game program. All classroom teachers have been trained in the PAX Heroes program which provides Tier 2 and Tier 3 strategies to address behavioral and academic performance. Oftentimes the best professional development occurs when we use our own staff and we have done so by using our Orton Gillingham certified staff member. She provided professional development training to all ELA teachers on how to use OG in the classroom. She continues to provide support to our staff and students by going into the classrooms and modeling the OG program.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Communication and collaboration are two areas of the school’s culture that have seen a shift which has directly impacted our student’s success. Communication between administration, staff and parents has changed over the recent years. With the use of technology and apps like Class Dojo and Remind, teachers are able to communicate with parents in a more user friendly way. Our school website and our district facebook page is seen by many of our parents and community members and is a vital pathway of communication. Another culture shift is in collaboration, not only among staff but between administrators and staff. Our current administrators work to ensure that decisions are made with input from all stakeholders. This “team approach” to all aspects of our school including academics, discipline, and school procedures has fostered a greater sense of community within our school.

6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Lynchburg-Clay Elementary is in a small rural community. There are not many big businesses in our town, yet the community has shown great support for our students. Each month, PAX Leaders of the Month are selected and these students receive a gift certificate to Terry’s Grocery and Pizza, a local family owned store, as well as, certificates for Ponderosa and Frisch’s restaurants in a neighboring town. Our local librarian from the Lynchburg Branch Library comes weekly to read to our kindergarten students. The library also has reading challenges throughout the year with incentives for students to read. Our county Altrusa group donates books to each student in kindergarten through second grade each year. Empower Youth is a non-profit organization that supplies our students with weekly power packs. These power packs are given to students on Fridays and contain food and snacks for the weekend. Each fall prior to the start of school, students can attend Ready-Fest, an event organized by a group of school staff members. This is an opportunity for students to receive all the necessary school supplies so they can start the school year off prepared. The money to purchase these school supplies, including clothing and shoe vouchers, are donated by area businesses and organizations, churches and community members. Blessings for Christmas is a non-profit organization which ensures our students receive presents and food for Christmas. Local churches, community organizations, and individuals purchase gifts for our students in need and monetary donations are collected to purchase all the ingredients for a Christmas feast for the families. Lynchburg-Clay is a family and we work together to ensure that the basic needs of our students are met so that students are ready to learn.

Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,513
    Student Enrollment: 503
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.3%
    White/Caucasian: 96%
    Hispanic: 0%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 3.7%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:13
    % Reduced Lunch: 36%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1966
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Angela Godby
  • CONTACT:
    6760 State Route 134
    Lynchburg, OH 45142
    937-364-9119
    angela.godby@lclsd.org