Staples, Minn.,
30
May
2019
|
18:35 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Pillager, WDC Celebrated for Creating Positive School Climate

Regional elementaries are two out of only four honored nationally

Elementary schools in Pillager and Wadena‐Deer Creek are being recognized for creating a positive school culture and helping other schools follow suit by modeling best practices.

Last week, both schools were notified of having achieved designation as Catalyst Demonstration Schools. Not only are Pillager and WDC the first schools in Region 5 to earn this certification, but they're two out of only four schools in the nation to have received this honor.

The Catalyst Approach was developed by national trainers, Nancy Burns and Jacki Brickman, to support schools in understanding – and implementing – relationship-driven, equitable practices that support a positive school culture and allow for even more focused work around instruction.

Staff at Pillager and Wadena-Deer Creek began their work around the Catalyst Approach to Classroom Management during the 2014-2015 school year. According to Brickman, Wadena learned about the strategy when a small group of teachers attended the first Catalyst Approach Class offered by Sourcewell during the summer of 2014. Brickman said attendees left inspired to go back and implement non-verbal communication strategies in their classrooms.

Pillager teachers learned of the approach through Catalyst coach and Sourcewell consultant Marilyn McKeehen when working to implement co-teaching strategies schoolwide.

To achieve certification, a school must have:

  • 100 percent of teachers attend ENVoY 7 Gems training
  • Implemented a belief‐based, school‐wide behavior plan
  • 100 percent of the cafeteria and playground staff attend training, including S.A.F.E. Cafeteria and Recess strategies, as well as earn certification
  • Created physical environments that are easy to navigate, welcoming, and organized
  • Focused work resulting in developing a culture of continuous improvement
  • 80 percent of paraprofessionals and licensed staff earn management certification in their respective areas
  • At least 20 percent of the teachers working to earn one, or more, Demonstration Certifications

According to Sourcewell Manager of Education Solutions Kassidy Rice, Sourcewell has provided funding and support for these, and other, schools over the past five years as part of a comprehensive approach to relationship-driven practices.

The launching class to the schools' work was ENVoY, or Educational Nonverbal Yardsticks, a series of techniques that improve educator- or provider‐to‐child relationships, enhance influence and time‐on‐task, and decrease the level of staff burnout.

Rice says the two elementaries have hosted Live Classroom visits to educators from the region – and beyond – for the past three years, modeling to other teachers how the techniques can influence positive behavior in classrooms.

“The Catalyst Demonstration School certification indicates that, not only have they implemented impactful classroom practices; but, they have established a positive and collaborative school culture throughout their entire system,” Rice said.

“This is a huge accomplishment that included many steps to ensure their school climate is a positive one,” Rice added. “This certification and process will truly have a positive impact on students' experiences in schools. And each of these communities should also be proud to know they have model schools in their own backyards.”

“There is a culture of collaboration and continuous growth around this work at Pillager and Wadena-Deer Creek that lays the foundation for students to be surrounded by educators who understand, nurture, inspire and support them,” Brickman shared in an announcement.

The certification announcements were made to each school last week. Pillager and Wadena-Deer Creek join Eisenhower Elementary in Coon Rapids and Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School in Brooklyn Center in this designation.

About Sourcewell

Sourcewell is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota's nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with more than 325 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.