Which topic would you like to learn more about from the 2012 SCORE Prize winners? Voting has ended. SCORE will host a virtual convening featuring 2012 SCORE Prize winners to discuss “Ensuring Excellent Teaching.”
Embracing high standards:
Each of the 2012 SCORE Prize winners believes that all students can achieve at high levels and make improvements, no matter what their starting points are. All of them engage students in setting their own academic goals and call on parents, students, teachers, school leaders, and community partners to help students achieve them.
- For example, while 2012 SCORE Prize winner Hamblen County Schools has experienced a significant increase in its Hispanic and English language learner populations, they set the expectation that all of their students will graduate prepared for college and the workforce. In response, the district has developed an International Center to provide students with intensive support to learn English. Additionally, teachers are trained to teach students who are learning English the Common Core State Standards within the normal classroom setting.”
Cultivating strong leaders:
The 2012 SCORE Prize winners all have strong principals and district leaders who are effective instructional leaders. These leaders are visible in schools and classrooms, support teachers in improving their instruction, and empower others to serve in key leadership roles.
- For example, at 2012 SCORE Prize winner Covington High School, the principal has created a “leadership family” in which she and all assistant principals observe classrooms and provide feedback to teachers. They each also focus on an area that leverages their personal strengths, such as aligning curricular needs and instructional practices or working with students.
Ensuring excellent teaching:
The 2012 SCORE Prize winners place a high priority on effective teaching. They all have rigorous recruitment and selection criteria for hiring new teachers, support teachers in their development, and set the expectation that instruction must be about students, not adults.
- For example, at 2012 SCORE Prize winner John Sevier Elementary, prospective teachers must go through a rigorous multi-stage process that includes interviews with the school’s leaders, an interview with the teacher hiring committee, and a presentation that requires candidates to analyze the school’s data and talk through how they would change their instruction to meet student needs.
Using data to enhance student learning:
Each of the SCORE Prize winners has leveraged the power of data to improve student achievement. They have each used data to track student progress, inform what happens in schools and classrooms, and foster collaboration.
- For example, the leaders at 2012 SCORE Prize winner Rose Park Math and Science Magnet set the expectation that all of their students will improve at least 5 points on each benchmark assessment. To help students achieve this goal, they have data talks with students about their progress and what supports they need to achieve their goals.