In the school where you are now, what changes do you propose that may need to take place in order to see this kind of "skyrocketing scores?" Maybe you have had an experience similar to the one at Worthington. What kinds of changes were put in place at your school to see this happen?
I am fortunate to work in a school where our test scores are extremely high, so our struggles are not seen in attempting to “skyrocket scores,” but instead to continue to challenge and bring about growth when your students already perform in the top percentiles every year. The dynamic of the school due to tremendous growth could change the future of the elementary school, but the focus has been on how to maintain and still grow students beyond where they currently are. The changes at Fort Worthington Elementary were inspirational and very well planned by Todd. By making specific changes with the focus on data, she was able to bring about phenomenal changes in only a few years! Offering more professional development is key to equipping teachers at our school with the skills necessary to promote rigor in the classrooms and continue to challenge our students.
What suggestions can you make to your classmates from your school's experience in raising test scores? Perhaps you have seen your school start out well with well-intentioned goals, but enthusiasm and motivation have waned. What may have been the reason and how could you change that as an administrator?
I believe one of the greatest challenges in education is that we are running a marathon with students, and not a sprint. I have witnessed teachers quickly “burnout” with a new idea that begins to make a difference, but then fails to continue. Reminding teachers of the danger of starting strong but finishing weak can help them remember that perseverance and continuity of building skills is the most effective way to help children learn. Continually supporting teachers with ideas, relevant professional development, and encouragement helps motivation stay high through the school year and through many years of teaching.