The Florida Times-Union
October 4, 2007
David L. Rainer Elementary is a Blue Ribbon School
By Gordon Jackson, The Times-Union
KINGSLAND - Joe LaBelle believes there's room for improvement for all his students, regardless of their grades. -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
It's that approach to education that LaBelle, the principal at David L. Rainer Elementary School, attributes to his school being among the 287 in the nation named No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School winners this week.
The school was given the honor in the Greatest Gains category. The U.S. Department of Education describes the award as "one of the most prestigious education awards in the country." At least 40 percent of the school's children must come from disadvantaged backgrounds and pupils must show dramatic improvement on state tests for the school to be nominated for the award.
LaBelle pointed out that his school was already scoring higher than more than 97 percent of the state's elementary schools on standardized tests that show how well children are learning.
The challenge, he said, was improving test scores among all pupils, not just the ones struggling in a particular subject.
"We just don't look at low grades but also high academic achievers," he said. "You have to focus on them all."
The biggest improvement was in math scores, where nearly 96 percent of the students met or exceeded state standards in 2006. That was a more than 3 percent improvement over the previous year. The overall scores in all subjects tested rose more than 2.5 percent from the previous year, with nearly 94 percent of the students meeting or exceeding state standards in 2006.
LaBelle credited his staff for showing the flexibility to craft a curriculum that challenged all students to improve.
He attributed a stable workforce as one of the factors that led to national recognition. The school loses only about two teachers a year, mostly for promotions, LaBelle said.
"The major key is our faculty," he said. "They don't just worry about the academics; they also worry about the emotional well-being of the child."
Angela McManigal, who was promoted to principal at Mary Lee Clark Elementary School at the beginning of the academic year, worked as LaBelle's assistant principal the past six years. She said the staff worked hard to modify the curriculum and to motivate pupils to work hard on academics.
"There was a lot of time and preparation," she said. "It's a huge honor for the faculty and staff at David L. Rainer."
Herbert Rowland, chairman of the Camden County school board, credited LaBelle and the David L. Rainer staff for setting goals and working hard to achieve them.
"This is absolute proof they put children first," Rowland said. "This speaks volumes for his leadership."
LaBelle said he and one teacher will go to Washington to accept the award at a ceremony Nov. 12-13.
gordon.jackson@jacksonville.com, (912) 729-3672
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100407/geo_205158565.shtml
TRSP Review: I told you Dr. McManigal was an excellent administrator and I can't wait to see her become Superintendent of Schools. All other schools could learn a thing or two from both these people. Job well done. See my praise for Dr. McManigal at http://www.4thebadge.blogspot.com/
"The people of this County do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created." ***The views expressed on this blog are the opinions of the individual that wrote them.
12 comments:
I've not had the pleasure of meeting Dr. McManigal, but I do know Dr. Joe LaBelle. I'm not surprised at Joe's highly successfull captaincy of DLRE.
Congrats to all!
If only this prototype was implemented in all the schools in Camden County! This proves that no matter the economic background all students are capable of learning. If you raise the bar students will strive to reach the bar. But if you continue to teach below the bar, students will do enough to pass. If Camden County Schools as a whole would adopt the mentality of Mr. LaBelle then the students would elevate their SAT scores which in turn would bring white collar jobs to Camden County.
When employers are recruiting areas to locate to their first question to the JDA is what are the SAT scores in your area? The SAT scores in Camden leave alot to be desired, therefore no one wants to come here.
But with Mr. LaBelle continuing this at David L. Rainer and Dr. Manigal implementing this at Mary Lee Clark. I feel we are headed in the right direction. Implement at all elementary schools first. The students then have a firm foundation when they go to middle school. Continue to elevate the bar. Start 6th graders in pre-algebra. By doing this all students will take Trigonometry in the 10th grade. Most students start to take the SAT in the 11th grade. The SAT spans from pre-algebra to trig. If you elevate the bar in all areas compainies will be begging to come to Camden. While all the students will have a firm foundation going into college. EVERYONE WINS!!!!!!!
I agrre wholeheartedly with most of what the last member of the incredibly prolific Anonymous clan wrote.
I would point out that if one were to draw the inference that the JDA is under any actual pressure form the county's powers-that-be to bring in jobs - white or blue collar - that would be an incorrect inference, drawn from facts not in evidence.
I also agree, but at Camden Middle, (I don't know about St. Mary's) I know they have lowered the bar to meet the No Child Left Behind Act. When I went to school below 70% was failing. Now it is 60% as explained to me by teachers. They are not up to speed when they enter middle school. It is like going from 5th grade to 7th grade and the kids can't handle it. My oldest i homeschooled last year for 7th grade. (Due to Dr. Gibbs and officer Douglas, both are not there this year). She tested below average for the 8th grade, yet she is doing very well in school. I don't know exactly what is going on in these schools, but most student pass the local tests and fail the state tests, Why? Are we not teaching the right material?
This is not aimed at anyone person, but a system as a whole.
Teachers please give some input here. Post with or without your real name, I understand that some of you have information that could help, but you are afraid to speak up because you need a job. I will speak up for you.
We can do better alot better.
The reason the students do well on local and not state is because the bar is set higher at the state level. The local administration is only concerned with the leadership getting doctorate degrees so that they can earn between 75,000.00 and 90,000.00 as Principals. No one seems to be concerned that once most children enter the 9th grade in Camden they drop out of school because no one wants to be known as a dummy!!
Its not the kids fault. They are not being taught anything. So when you put the SAT in front of them the blank out. They have never been introduced to the information. It is really sad....
But Camden County has more doctorate level Principles than most rural areas. Camden County also has more Doctorates at the administrative level.. But no one is utlizing these doctorates to elevate the level of teaching for the students.
Mr. Moreno:
I was not suggesting that the JDA is under any pressure to bring jobs to Camden County. For some ill advised reason that is not their purpose. But in the real world - if the JDA indeed were soliciting jobs; the first person by the employer is what are your SAT scores.
It is a documented fact in areas that test well on state test "If your students are not prepared to take pre-algebra in the 6th grade you are setting them up for failure. Camden County has breed these type of students for years. Instead of holding the Superintendants feet to the fire for not achieving well on the SAT. This community salutes them and names building after them. No one ever holds the Superintendants accountable. Now that they are appointed instead of elected its worse.
What did Proctor do other than relax the attitude of gays in the school system. It is now more acceptable for girls to hold hands than for boys and girls to hold hands. But I guarantee you they will name a school of something after her.
Will Hardin is no better. You can't ask him anything along these lines at the board meetings. No questions allowed unless you call his office and tell the secretary what the question is before the meeting. Thats why no one attends the meetings, whats the point.
"No one seems to be concerned that once most children enter the 9th grade in Camden they drop out of school because no one wants to be known as a dummy!!"
I beleive every educated member of the boomer generation - and perhaps tens years thereafter - would be shocked to learn some of the crap being taught to up and coming young teachers nowadays.
I beleive the whole system might benefit from republishing whatever college level pedagogical textbooks were in use through about 1955, then burn all of the subsequent "research based" crap that's out there.
For a real shocker, do a little research on the latest "research based" ideal middle school concepts. The literaly stated idea is that trhe middle school should be "child centered," rather than academically centered. It is believed in this new orthodoxy that it is far more importnat in grades 6 - 8 to concentrate on being a reliable adult "friend" to the child - a surrogate competent parent - who can advise on those matters that are really important to the child (boys, girls, sex, menstruation, breast development, the best zit creams, and the remaining myriad of pre and early teen angst) than to emphazie actual inculcation of factual knowledge between their ears. One text in wide use advocates that every student receive the benefit of at least 25 minutes of uninterrupted "counseling" EVERY school day from an adult, faculty "life coach." Apparently, parenting is passe'.
Teachers are required to go through an elaborate maze of interlocking strategies of co-ordinated team teaching, replete with many time consuming team meetings - daily, if possible.
There is even a movement to have a situation where kids can be in middle school without being in a particular grade. For example, your kid might be in sixth grade reading, sevemnth grade social studies and eighth grade math all at the same time.
Some of the current "strategies"
being used to assist "dependent" readers with achieving grade level reading ability would be absolutely laughable to older, fluent readers who had the benefit of phonics and little else years ago - were the subject not so tragically serious. Reading is best done lolling around on the classroom floor or leaning against the wall, by the way. That is, if there is a wall. Some middle school designs now feature giagantic halls whererin students may roam freely among activity groups loosely delineated by portable walls, pausing at those they find interesting.
Apparently, all of this crap must be embraced with something bordering on religious zeal to keep today's teachers on the good
side of modern principals who have bought into this garbage.
Teachers, am I making this up?
I just read an interesting article this morning on middle schools in the Savannah Morning News.
http://savannahnow.com/node/370375
Jay after reading:
"This is much better," said Butler, who was a student at DeRenne last year. "Instead of being behind, we have a better chance of getting in the right grade. Even the lunch is better."
All I could do was take a deep breath. Please, Please, I hope Will Hardin does not read about this prototype.
I'm curious as to why you would hate to see such a program here?
I have not really formed an opinion one way or the other, so I'm genuinely curious.
This program is the equivalent of "social promotion." Thats why the students are allowed to make up two, three years of course work in one year. The end result is the students don't have what's academically required to be successful beyond this type of program.
I have read about such programs being administered in Florida, 87% of the kids that graduated from this type of program were unsuccessful at passing the state graduation test.
Therefore I question is this a help or a hindrance.
Thanks for the info.
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