From CSI to a Top 5 School: Erwin Middle, a Jefferson County Success Story

Prioritizing Improvements:

Studer Education Leader Coach Kathy Oropallo and Dr. Bush’s team prioritized improving attendance and student grades. Chronic absenteeism had increased due to the COVID lockdown, impacting student learning both in class and online. Their first focus was to address the absenteeism issue.

Engaging with the Community:

Recognizing the need for cultural change within the school and community, Erwin Middle School’s leadership actively engaged with external organizations. They supported academic and attendance programs, established ongoing student leadership groups, and provided financial assistance to address budget deficits, significantly impacting both the social and academic well-being of the students.

Owning Improvement Goals:

Erwin Middle School took proactive measures to address chronic absenteeism, using a Studer Education template to track and report results. They reduced guardian calls from 275 to 150 in 2020-2021 and further decreased them to only 61 in 2021-2022. They encouraged school-wide ownership of student goals, engaging educators as leaders, and promoting idea sharing and celebration of successes.

Leadership Guidance:

Studer Education aided in developing a School Scorecard to identify issues and set achievement benchmarks. This scorecard tracked student grade averages, attendance, and tardiness data, with regular reviews every 30-60-90 days. Leader Huddles were introduced for school leaders to assess and make necessary adjustments, resulting in a more robust school culture, improved academic performance, and a more engaged and committed school community.