Oak Hill Elementary
A School on its way up
High Point, NC Urban Setting Pop. 108,000 Industry: furniture,
textiles, manufacturing
Size: 50 square miles Median Income:
$42,865
Oak Hill Elementary
470 students, pre K—5th
100% of students receive FREE breakfast and lunch.
CEP school -Community Eligibility Provisions developed by USDA
Located in high poverty area
Racial Make upCity School
Caucasian 54% 11%
African American 34% 24%
Hispanic 8% 58%
Asian 4% 7%
14 Countries , 14 languages
• Mexico Spanish• Belize Spanish• Puerto Spanish• El Salvador Spanish• Pakistan Urdu, Pushto• Nepal Nepali• Burma Burmese, Karenni
14 Countries, 14 languages • Thailand Thai, Lao• Vietnam Vietnamese, Jrai• Tanzania Swahili• Laos Laotian• Honduras Spanish• Bhutan Nepali• Myanmar Burmese
Special Populations• 65% English Language
Learners
• 11% Students in Transition (Homeless)
• 14% Exceptional Children
Our Story• In 2010, school ranked among the lowest 5
percent • Guilford County School Board applied for
Federal School Improvement Grant• Superintendent informs staff of terms of grant
and models • All Staff released from positions with option to
reapply for jobs
Union Support• Organized and
prepared educators to speak to community and board
• Ensured every educator continued employment in district
• Helped facilitate transition
Our Challenges• Economic status of families• Communication barriers with students and
their families who speak other languages• Limited Parental/Community Involvement• Transient students• Reading scores/limited comprehension
Hostile Environment• “Right to Work (be
fired) State• No collective
bargaining• Tenure = Due process
hearing only• Membership voluntary• State cap on charters
lifted. Separate charter system implemented.
• Loss of Dues Deduction (later won back in court)
• Loss of Tenure (won back for teachers who currently have it in court)
• Vouchers provided for private schools (overturned in court)
Local President• Worked with district
administration and principal to receive NEA Priority School supports
• Aligned Priority School best practices with local association plan
• Increased board presence in High Point community
• Meets monthly with Superintendent and HR, and administration
• “Grew” targeted member leaders through NEA opportunities
• Core leadership team developed purposefully
• Provide leadership skills and strong support then purposeful transition to independence
• Application of multiple grants to achieve school district and community support
The Transformation• Extended Contracts• Extended Day and School Year• Time to Plan• Teacher-led Professional
Learning Communities• Grade Levels Share Students
Through Purposeful Differentiation
• Schedule is Driven by PLCs• Data Driven Instruction• Parent-led Engagement• ESPs Included on Instructional
Team
Continued Support• Utilize Best Practices from Priority Schools Campaign• Increase Professional Development Opportunities (CARE,
English Language Learners, Common Core, Community Engagement) to Multiple Schools
• Grants (Parent Academy and Student Service Learning, HS Student Leadership Program through City of High Point, NEA First Book Market Place, Parent Engagement Programs, Community Outreach, Core Leadership Team Training with Additional School Sites in High Point)
• Teacher-led Transformation • Practices Integrated into School Culture Despite Turn-over
Academic Achievement• 2010 34.1% 59.5%
• 2011 47.8% 79.6%
• 2012 49.7% 86.8%
• 2013 25.6% 52.3%
Continued Challenges• Economic status of families• Communication barriers with students and
their families who speak other languages• Transient students• Sustainability without support of the School
Improvement Grant• Reading scores/limited comprehension
Building Leadership • Train members to be advocates for public
education and social justice• NEA educators have opportunities to share
best practices with fellow teachers and those in other schools as well
• NEA educators help others with teacher-led transformations
Cultivating Relationships• School and
Community• School and Home• School and District• School to School• Community and
Union
Elements of Our Experience That Can Be Replicated…
Visionary Administrative Leadership and Teacher Buy-in
-Brain-focused strategies for learning-Home visits-Craft Days in the community-Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s)-Family Round table dinners
Regular Parent/Family Engagement Events
-iMom Morning Breakfast--monthly-Father Figure Breakfast/Dinner— monthly-Parent/Community Health and Resource Fair--yearly
Community Partnerships
• Rotary Clubs• Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts• Churches• Universities• YMCA, YWCA• Big Brothers, Big Sisters• Banks• Businesses
• Retired Community Educators
• North Carolina Shakespeare Festival
• Food Corps• North Carolina
Cooperative Extension (4H clubs)
Union Involvement
• Facilitating Round-tables
• Grants• Professional
Development• Facilitating School
Visits• Priority Schools• Building Leaders
Building Relationships
…this paved the way for developing trust and creating a safe environment for learning