Two Emporia elementary schools have hit the ground running on redesign efforts.
Both William Allen White and Logan Avenue Elementary began the process this fall. During KVOE’s Emporia Showcase Tuesday, officials from both schools talked about how the effort has progressed. Jandee Kruse, a second-grade teacher at William Allen White/Turning Point Academy says it’s involved rethinking the structure of the everyday classroom.
William Allen White and Turning Point Academy Instructional Coach Sheri Bonnet, says it’s been a lot to take in this first month of the school year.
Logan Avenue Elementary third grade teacher Carmen Coughlin says she was excited to take part in the redesign effort. She noted a desire to take part in project-based learning with students who looped with her from the year before.
Logan Avenue Principal Jessica Griffin and William Allen White Principal Tell Kirk say it’s been a lot of work getting the project off the ground. Griffin says it’s not the traditional cookie-cutter classroom setting.
Part of the schedule changes for teachers at both buildings includes making a shift to creating a system focusing on every individual student, and adults in each building enhancing connections to create a more safe learning environment. Logan Avenue student support specialist Rhonda Beatty explains how changes implemented in social-emotional learning are paying off for teachers and students.
Kirk says feedback has so far been good from parents early on and he’s optimistic that the board will be impressed when they present the results later this year.
Both schools could submit a draft proposal to the board by late this fall and redesign could potentially be implemented for the 2019-2020 school year at both locations.
