Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Shown above are a few of the Mary Lynch Elementary teachers credited with focusing on improved reading at Kimball Public Schools. Recently the district was recognized for closing a socio-economic gap in reading scores while improving those same scores overall. From left are Judy Walker, Amanda Culek, Heidi Chesley, Denelle Klosterman, Katie Fryda, Bernie Walker and Cathy Flores.
The Panhandle was represented well at the 2017 Nebraska Rural Community School Association (NRCSA) Spring conference this last month as three area school districts, from nearly 200, received recognition.
NRCSA represents more than 75,000 students across 195 different schools, 88 counties, and 24 legislative districts. Their purpose is to promote the general advancement of public education in rural communities and to provide recognition to quality rural education programs.
Kimball Public Schools was awarded the NRCSA Closing the Achievement Gap Award in reading. This award is given to four districts that are able to close the gap in standardized testing scores that naturally occur based on income. The same award is given to four districts each for this achievement in math and science.
"There is a natural gap (in test scores) between students on free and reduced meals and those that are not," Kimball Superintendent Marshall Lewis said. "So our students on free and reduced meals are catching up to those that are not and the whole thing is moving forward."
Lewis explained that closing that gap in test scores would not mean as much if, as a whole, the student body was not progressing.
"This is not an award we intended to achieve or set as any goal, and it comes as a result of the hard work of our students and teachers," Lewis said. "We know that our collective purpose is to advance the knowledge, application, ability, and skill base of our students and an outside recognition is a by-product, yet it validates the success and effectiveness of the many dedicated and caring educators and staff members in our district."
Mike Mitchell, Mary Lynch Elementary Principal, focused on two core areas a couple of years ago,according to Lewis, reading and math. He made them high priority, including interventions with smaller groups and even one-on-one instruction as well as maintaining the fully allotted time for each of those classes regardless of shortened schedules.
"I give Mr. Mitchell a ton of credit and the teachers that are working on that have been fabulous on this," Lewis said. "At the high school we have done some reading classes to continue on that focus. Plus, we do a lot of reading for content in every area."
In addition to the recognition for Kimball Public Schools, the Panhandle was represented by Potter-Dix Public Schools and Banner County as well.
Potter-Dix won the Closing the Achievement Gap award in math and longtime Banner County teacher Jeri Revelle was named the Outstanding Secondary Teacher.
"This little corner of the state is doing pretty darn well," Lewis said.