Demographics Are Not Destiny: Stults Road Elementary School
Congratulations to Stults Road Elementary, this week’s AllThingsPLC featured school! The following is what Rick and Becky DuFour had to say about this shining example of PLC progress:
"Almost 80 percent of students who attend Stults Road Elementary in Dallas, Texas, qualify for free and reduced lunch. Fortunately for those students, the staff members at Stults Road recognize that demographics are not destiny. In 2005, the school adopted the PLC process, and by 2010 it ranked in the top 1 percent of the state’s elementary schools in student achievement. At least 97 percent of Stults Road students demonstrated proficiency in all subject areas, and the percentage of students achieving at the commended level has risen dramatically. In recognition of its outstanding results, Stults Road received the National Title I Distinguished School Award in 2011."
For more information on Stults Road Elementary and data exhibiting the school’s improvement, visit its Evidence of Effectiveness page.
Stults Road is the second in a series of five featured Evidence of Effectiveness schools. (The first school, posted last week, was Adlai E. Stevenson High School.) We’ll be posting one each Friday, leading up to the 2011 PLC Summit with the DuFours. Check back next week for another shining example of PLC progress!
Comments
KinderTeacher
I agree, that is definitely an impressive story! I also work in an urban district with many similarities as those described above, except my district does not have Saturday school. I was wondering if anyone has advice on how to get a PLC started. I am very interested and excited about the idea, but my school district does not subscribe to the idea yet.
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Staff at AllThingsPLC.info
Response from Darwin Spiller, principal of Stults Road Elementary:
Absolutely! The Professional Learning Communities Framework is the driving force behind the sustained growth at Stults Road Elementary. At the start of 2005, I was at the implementation stage of the PLC process. Thirteen NEW staff members were hired to replace many that decided to choose another zip code to work for. Not only did the NEW staff members buy into the PLC framework returning staff members helped to articulate the PLC Vision of the campus. Empowerment of others - was a key strategy I used to help articulate the Vision and Mission. Leadership trickles down and I made sure the staff knew I was constantly wanting to learn more and more. Release the Power! – another great strategy – let teachers take ownership and build a climate of trust.
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AllThingsPLC » Blog Archive » From Lowest in District to Best in State: Lakeridge Junior High School
[...] Evidence of Effectiveness schools. (The first three schools were Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Stults Road Elementary School, and Robert Frost Junior High School.) We’ll be posting one school each week, leading up to [...]
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lirpaloo
I, too, work in an urban area, my school receives Title I money as well. I teach first grade and this school year was the first year in many, many years that we made our AYP scores. I am convinced that the demographics do not necessarily determine the outcome of the success of the school. We offer Saturday school, every teacher is required to devote an hour or two per week to tutor students. The combination of our group approach, working as a team, and un-waivering devotion to meeting our students where they are- bridges the gap of where some of the parental involvement falls short. It's nice to hear that this is happening in other schools.
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deidra5000
I am a first grade teacher in an urban school district. My school receives Title I funds because 90% of our students get free or reduced lunch. It is great to read positive information from urban school districts. Love the title of your article! I want to create and implement a system of intervention for students to get extra time and support for learning in my school. We offer "Saturday School"for third and fourth grade and tutoring is limited to certain students but not a homework club. Any student is welcome into a homework club. Many of our students go home to younger siblings and no one to help them with their homework. By having a homework club, our students can stay off the streets, get help with homework and be a part of a small learning group that builds self-esteem.
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guyg11
A very impressive story. It is great to hear good news on test scores from any campus. It is obvious that a huge jump in test scores occurred between 2005 and 2006. Can you attribute this spike in scores to the teachers buying into the PLC process? How many new teachers were hired in 2005? Most teachers want all students to succeed, but sometimes change is difficult. What strategies were used to sell the teachers on going to this program? Again, congratulations on a successful story.
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