Out of hundreds of schools in Ohio, only 38 were recently named 2013 Schools of Honor by the Ohio Department of Education. This year, Woodland and Sherman Elementary schools are local schools that achieved this recognition by excelling academically. Both schools were rated as “Excellent” last year.
To become a High Progress School of Honor the building must be a Title 1 or be Title 1-eligible with at least 40 percent of its students eligible for free and reduced-priced meals. They also must have an Annual Measurable Objectives grade of C or higher and have met or exceeded Ohio’s value added measure for the last three years.
In a letter sent to both schools, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Richard A. Ross stated, “Clearly your school is doing whatever it takes to make sure that your students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to achieve academically.”
In the coming weeks, the schools will receive a banner to hang proudly in their halls to serve as a reminder of the excellence they strive for. What are these schools doing differently that merit this honor?
Renee Bessick, the principal at Woodland Elementary described their success. Bessick believes the reason her school is being recognized is not because of what the teachers teach. She stated, “It’s not so much what you teach, it’s the relationship you have with [the students] that matters.”
This belief is reflected in the school’s programs. They are designed to provide the children with as much interaction with adults as possible. Some of the programs do not have official names because this year will mark only the second year of trying them. Some include: Math Night, where children have the opportunity to show off their math skills to their parents through series of games; Haunted Mansion Night, where students act as detectives as they navigate through the halls of the school, and the weather sound party where students and parents do activities together like build igloos out of milk cartons.
After 34 years in Mansfield’s school district, Bessick recognizes the tension that often rises between students, parents and teachers. “There has to be a partnership with parents, teachers and children. I don’t want it to be a battle,” said Bessick.
Bessick also shared they will be adopting a new program that aims to encourage online reading. The program is called MyOn, and Bessick, along with some teachers, will be learning how to implement this program into curriculum in the near future.
With Common Core laws previously passed, schools and teachers feel pressure to make students proficient. According to Sherman Elementary’s principal Stephen Rizzo, there is a fine line between passing tests to get by and being successful.
“We want our students to be successful and people that will contribute to our local, national and international community. Education is certainly the key,” said Rizzo.
Like Woodland, Sherman has a number of parent nights where students are encouraged to interact. Sherman holds tutor sessions during and after school if a student seems to be abaft. Interaction seems to be the common indicator of success for both of these “High Progress” schools.
Along with other competitive grants that are meant to enrich the learning experience of its students, this year marks the second year of Sherman’s contract with AmeriCorps: a program that offers intensive service to nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Sherman has seven in house tutors devoted daily to one-on-one intervention.
Rizzo has been principal at Sherman Elementary for four years, but has been in the district for eight years. He grew up in Mansfield, but worked with South Central Columbus school for eight years prior to reentering Mansfield’s school district. He recognizes that his position is not often sought after by males. “There are not many male role models in elementary schools, so I try to be that for our students,” said Rizzo.
For more information on how these awards are distributed, visit Ohio’s Department of Education’s website.
“It’s not so much what you teach, it’s the relationship you have with [the students] that matters,” said Principal Renee Bessick.
