• Category 2

    Selected in 2015

  • Grades: k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,675
    Student Enrollment: 403
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 97%
    Hispanic: 2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 1%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:26
    % Reduced Lunch: 40%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1983
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Mary Wohlforth
  • CONTACT:
    260 East 200 South
    Mona, UT 84645
    435-623-2082
    mary.wohlforth@juabsd.org
Mona Elementary School
Mona, UT
Each student at Mona Elementary School has a story, that story is told through data, observations, and communication with parents, staff, and the child. The success of each student’s story is the outcome of thinking, visualizing, planning, and taking action.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Established partnerships with parents, families, and the community:
Positive relationships and community involvement are key to our success. Faculty, staff, parents, students and community partners, at MES set a goal to work together providing a quality educational experience for students. Our activities include the following:
Back to School Ice Cream Social: Learn about Title I programs.
Road to Success: Reading at home. School goal – read ONE Million Minutes by May 1st!
A Book A School A Month: Once a year, MES reads a book together as families.
PAC and SCC volunteers: Parent and community volunteers support students weekly through volunteer hours in classrooms.
Math Night: MES families enjoy a two- hour block of math activities.
Family Literacy Night: An hour of literacy activities and author workshops.
Star Party: A University astronomy club brings telescopes, students observe stars and planets.
Planned for 2016, SLAM Night - Science, Language Arts, Arts, and Math!
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Goal #1 - Sustain (high) levels of student achievement - proficiency at grade level as measured by SAGE assessment. Increase the percent of students demonstrating growth (in all levels of proficiency) as measured by SAGE assessment.

Goal #2 - Continue on the journey to establishing Personalized Learning opportunities for students and teachers.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Sharing the Student Story:
Each student at MES has a story, that story is told through data, observations, and communication with parents, staff, and the child. The success of each student’s story is the outcome of thinking, visualizing, planning, and taking action. Mona Elementary School believes in focusing on improvement in all areas; this means sharing and repeating our successes as well as sharing in the successes of others. There has not been one particular program or set of strategies that has directly resulted in the growth and achievement that our students have experienced. Rather, it is the continued cycle of carefully listening to each individual student story and collaborating as a team seeking the best possible resources for the most beneficial outcome.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
Use of research-based instructional strategies:
The instructional methods used by teachers at Mona Elementary are carefully chosen based on student need and are research proven. Teachers carefully plan the instructional delivery for each student and lesson to include scaffolding and differentiating to meet the needs of all learner levels and modes of learning, whether the learner is at-risk or exceptional.

An observer on any one day at Mona Elementary School would see students and teachers engaged in direct instruction, cooperative learning, modeling, grouping, conferencing, problem solving, utilizing graphic organizers, and cross-age peer learning and tutoring. The use of technology is also a component teachers at Mona Elementary have addressed. Technology is engaging and motivational for students of all levels of ability. Technology provides instant feedback for students and data for teachers to drive instructional decisions.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Coordination of Title I program with other programs:
MES is designated as a school-wide Title I school. Each of our programs at MES, regular school program, Special Education, Title I, School Land Trust, technology, professional development, school improvement, K-3 reading, early intervention, special services, and parent and community supported programs are all intended to address and meet the needs of all students.
As our programs work together, we have been able to share: (1) funds, (2) professional development, (3) trained staff, and (3) purchase of materials opportunities to enrich the instructional support for students at MES. An example of this: Title I trained instructional assistants now working through the regular school program funds are able to utilize training as classroom instructional assistants teaching guided reading groups. No teacher, class, or program is an island of its own at MES, our commitment is to work collaboratively for the benefit of all students.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Implementation of sustained research-based professional development: Professional development at MES is guided by data study, student need, and individual interest. Our faculty is always eager to continue to improve individual instructional pedagogy and skills. Rigorous, research-based literacy, mathematics, science, and technology professional development are our focus for continued growth and improvement.
Professional Staff Development:
Weekly grade level PLC team meetings
Monthly School Improvement Meeting
Juab School District professional development participation
New Teacher Academy – Mentor Teacher - Career Teacher
USOE Professional Learning Series participation
JSD Teacher Evaluation process/League of innovative Schools (Micro-credentials)
Out of district professional learning/conference participation
Learning Walk(s)
Professional Improvement Days
Observation Feedback Loops

Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Mona Elementary School (MES) is a small, rural school located in central Utah in Juab County. Mona City sits at the base of Mt. Nebo and is a thirty-minute drive from neighboring Utah County and the cities of Provo and Orem. Mona City is located in a largely agricultural area of Utah. Mona City has been growing rapidly in the last few years. Our school has grown rapidly as well. MES has a dedicated staff, teachers with abounding enthusiasm and creative ideas for instructional programs and improving the school-learning environment. “The mission of Mona Elementary School is to provide focused instruction to ensure all students achieve high levels of academic and social success,” is the guide for school-wide planning and decision-making. Each staff member recognizes their unique contribution to the success of all students who attend our school. We strive daily to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment, which, in turn, promotes academic achievement at all levels.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2015

  • Grades: k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,675
    Student Enrollment: 403
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 97%
    Hispanic: 2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 1%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:26
    % Reduced Lunch: 40%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1983
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Mary Wohlforth
  • CONTACT:
    260 East 200 South
    Mona, UT 84645
    435-623-2082
    mary.wohlforth@juabsd.org