• Category 1

    Selected in 2017

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 32
    Student Enrollment: 310
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 7.8%
    White/Caucasian: 65.5%
    Hispanic: 21.5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2.3%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 29%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:26
    % Reduced Lunch: 57%
    % ELL Learners: 21%
    Founded: 1964
  • PRINCIPAL:
    David Muniz
  • CONTACT:
    1700 Roosevelt Road
    Valparaiso, IN 46383
    219-531-3130
    dmuniz@valpo.k12.in.us
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Valparaiso, IN
Our philosophy is built on getting children to believe in him or herself.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Class Dojo is our big program that effectively engages all families daily. Teachers have the ability to connect with parents during the school day. Parents also have the ability to connect with teachers as well. Through Class Dojo parents feel more confident about the school and feel welcome at the school.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
We do a holiday learning each year where all students engage with nursing homes in Valparaiso to bring hotel cheer. The children sing song, make candy dishes, and learn about how to give back to the community.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Our philosophy is a simple approach that is built around getting children to believe in him or herself. If you can get a child to believe in him or herself you can get a child to achieve. We do this through our positive school culture and climate which leads to positive interactions and a balanced approach to teaching that provides success for all kids.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
To continue to look for ways to continue with our high school importance. To continue to look for ways to reach all students to ensure success in school.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
A staff that acts as a team. They support each other, care about each other, and work together toward a common goal which is success for all students. Taking time to understand children and their backgrounds. Being sensitive to needs of our families and children. Being positive and creating a environment for all so that everyone feels like one big family.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
Guided reading used by all teachers daily has greatly had a positive effect on student achievement and helped us significantly close the achievement gap. All teachers were trained by Purdue University in effective guided reading practices.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Title 1 funds are mainly used to provide more people to support kids. The more people we have the more kids we can service.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
All teachers need to be able to effectively teach reading. A lot of time and energy has been spent on training our teachers on effective reading practices.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
We use data to help identify students that need Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction. We consistently look at data to make adjustments as needed for each student. Our school requires to data pieces in math and reading three times a year in order to make informed decisions in order to support instruction in the classroom.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Our school culture is based around being positive. We use Class Dojo to empower our students and staff. Class Dojo instantly communicates with parents via text throughout the day so that teachers, children and parents can have consistent feedback about how children are doing day and day out.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2017

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 32
    Student Enrollment: 310
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 7.8%
    White/Caucasian: 65.5%
    Hispanic: 21.5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2.3%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 29%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:26
    % Reduced Lunch: 57%
    % ELL Learners: 21%
    Founded: 1964
  • PRINCIPAL:
    David Muniz
  • CONTACT:
    1700 Roosevelt Road
    Valparaiso, IN 46383
    219-531-3130
    dmuniz@valpo.k12.in.us