Two Fulton elementary schools have been recognized by the state for their efforts in school improvement.
Bartley and Bush elementary schools both recently received the Missouri Exemplary Professional Learning Community Schools Award at the Professional Learning Conference at Lake of the Ozarks. Fifty-nine schools have achieved that distinction since the award was first started in 2010.
According to the Missouri Professional Learning Communities website, in order to receive this recognition, schools must:
•Meet achievement level performance guidelines under MSIP 5 (Missouri School Improvement Program) by: Scoring a minimum of "On Track" in each of the achievement categories through status, progress or growth; and earn 85 percent or greater in total points;
•Complete a reflective narrative that includes evidence of commitment to the PLC concepts, evidence of student achievement and a summary describing its school in the professional learning community process;
•Undergo an on-site review and receive exemplary scores (proficient or deep) on all indicators of the Missouri Professional Learning Communities Implementation Rubric.
"Ultimately, what we're wanting to see is that they're implementing (the program)," said Robert Gordon, a field coordinator with the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) program. "More important, we want to see they're making a difference in academic achievement."
Bartley Elementary Principal Connie Epperson, whose school is in its fourth year with the program, said the key to implementing the PLC initiative - which places an emphasis on collaborative, data-driven instruction - has been building "a culture of trust and a community of collaborators that are willing to do what it takes" to help students succeed.
"First and foremost it's brought all of us together. I believe we are one in a quest for excellence (the school's mission statement)," Epperson said."For the staff, it all boils down to being very focused on our data and how it drives our goals and how we function within that."
Under the PLC program, students are benchmark tested three times a year. Grade level teams meet to analyze that data and use it to develop intervention plans for students and to help make instruction more effective. Progress monitoring is done regularly.
Epperson said the program has made a positive impact on the school and on student performance, which she attributes to her staff and its willingness to work together and help each other when needed.
"(It's because of) the commitment and dedication of our staff," Epperson said. "It's not easy to always be available, but my staff is exceptional about going out of their way to meet those needs."
At Bush Elementary, which is also in its fourth year, the PLC mission statement is "Excellence is our plan by doing all we can."
Like Bartley, second grade teacher Lisa Clines and reading specialist Libby Hrabovsky said Bush staff have seen progress after focusing on collaboration and utilizing data to help drive teaching strategies.
"We have collaborative teams, and the teams are data driven to try to determine what the instruction needs are," Clines said. "The collaborative teams really take time to focus on the data, and we've been able to reach more kids, especially in the upper grades,"
According to Bush's narrative on the PLC website, "all teachers and students at Bush School can express classroom learning through learning targets. ... Teachers and students work together to create and monitor goals so that everyone knows exactly where they are on the path towards the ultimate goal."
Common planning time is scheduled twice a week to develop lessons and review data and the reading interventionists provide support in analyzing data and assisting in the development of interventions and student support.
"You really see which kids need that attention boost, and we can really see what we need to focus on," Hrabovsky said of the data cycles. "We've been able to keep close tabs on the kids. As soon as you see those kids not keeping up progress, we can pick them back up and address it."
To see how Bartley, Bush and other exemplary schools have been implementing the PLC program, visit the Missouri Professional Learning Communities website at www.moplc.org/exemplary-schools.