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