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SUSTAINING CONTINUOUS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
IN OAK GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT
What are the indicators that a school district is
ready to sustain continuous school improvement on its own? Over
the past five years that Partners in School Innovation has partnered
with the Oak Grove School District, our intensively supported
schools have achieved substantial student learning growth. Of
particular note, Miner Elementary School has improved the percentage
of its Latino students reading at proficient levels from 13% to
40% since 2002, and was named a 2006 California Distinguished
School.
Now, as we conclude our partnership, we do so confident
in our teachers' and leaders' abilities to sustain the improvement
process beyond our presence. They have deepened their knowledge
of continuous school improvement and are implementing a process—from
setting rigorous goals to administering frequent assessments to
making adjustments to meet student learning needs—that is
truly student-centered and results-oriented.
"Partners in School Innovation has been one
of our significant partnerships in helping us accelerate student
performance for all students," said Manny Barbara, Superintendent
of Oak Grove School District. "Their approach has challenged us
to examine aspects of our district culture and reorder our priorities
to achieve accelerated performance."
Barb Service, Oak Grove's School Reform Coach, agrees.
"Partners in School Innovation has been an igniter. They've brought
the resources, the mindset and the thought partnership.... They've
given us alternative suggestions without being demanding and always
kept a focus on results."
In preparation for sustaining the continuous school
improvement process on its own, Oak Grove School District has
made some important systemic shifts. Barb Service has moved into
a new position as the Assistant Superintendent for Educational
Services and will be in charge of curriculum, instruction and
improvement for all of the district's schools. The district also
created a new position, modeled after the PartnersSI School Improvement
Fellowship, and selected some of its most promising teacher leaders
to fill these roles. The new position will add capacity to Oak
Grove's low-performing schools and ensure that they stay focused
on improving student learning. Enthusiastically supported by teachers
and leaders alike, it is a testament to the value that the PartnersSI
team has brought to Oak Grove's schools, and the district's continued
priority to close the achievement gap employing PartnersSI's methodology
and approach.
"It's exciting and like all fledglings we need to
fly at some point," said Barb. "So we're off of our nest and ready
to fly."
Articles in this issue (June 2007):
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