Oak Hill Elementary A School on its way up

High Point, NC  Urban Setting  Pop. 108,000  Industry: furniture, textiles, manufacturing  Size: 50 square miles  Median Income: $42,865

Oak Hill Elementary  470 students, pre K—5 th  100% of students receive FREE breakfast and lunch.  CEP school -Community Eligibility Provisions developed by USDA  Located in high poverty area

Racial Make up CitySchool Caucasian54%11% African American34%24% Hispanic 8%58% Asian 4%7%

14 Countries, 14 languages MexicoSpanish BelizeSpanish PuertoSpanish El SalvadorSpanish PakistanUrdu, Pushto NepalNepali BurmaBurmese, Karenni

14 Countries, 14 languages ThailandThai, Lao VietnamVietnamese, Jrai TanzaniaSwahili LaosLaotian HondurasSpanish BhutanNepali MyanmarBurmese

Special Populations 65% English Language Learners 11% Students in Transition (Homeless) 14% Exceptional Children

Our Story In 2010, school ranked among the lowest 5 percent Guilford County School Board applied for Federal School Improvement Grant Superintendent informs staff of terms of grant and models All Staff released from positions with option to reapply for jobs

Union Support Organized and prepared educators to speak to community and board Ensured every educator continued employment in district Helped facilitate transition

Our Challenges Economic status of families Communication barriers with students and their families who speak other languages Limited Parental/Community Involvement Transient students Reading scores/limited comprehension

Hostile Environment “Right to Work (be fired) State No collective bargaining Tenure = Due process hearing only Membership voluntary State cap on charters lifted. Separate charter system implemented. Loss of Dues Deduction (later won back in court) Loss of Tenure (won back for teachers who currently have it in court) Vouchers provided for private schools (overturned in court)

Local President Worked with district administration and principal to receive NEA Priority School supports Aligned Priority School best practices with local association plan Increased board presence in High Point community Meets monthly with Superintendent and HR, and administration “Grew” targeted member leaders through NEA opportunities Core leadership team developed purposefully Provide leadership skills and strong support then purposeful transition to independence Application of multiple grants to achieve school district and community support

The Transformation Extended Contracts Extended Day and School Year Time to Plan Teacher-led Professional Learning Communities Grade Levels Share Students Through Purposeful Differentiation Schedule is Driven by PLCs Data Driven Instruction Parent-led Engagement ESPs Included on Instructional Team

Continued Support Utilize Best Practices from Priority Schools Campaign Increase Professional Development Opportunities (CARE, English Language Learners, Common Core, Community Engagement) to Multiple Schools Grants (Parent Academy and Student Service Learning, HS Student Leadership Program through City of High Point, NEA First Book Market Place, Parent Engagement Programs, Community Outreach, Core Leadership Team Training with Additional School Sites in High Point) Teacher-led Transformation Practices Integrated into School Culture Despite Turn- over

Academic Achievement %59.5% %79.6% %86.8% %52.3%

Continued Challenges Economic status of families Communication barriers with students and their families who speak other languages Transient students Sustainability without support of the School Improvement Grant Reading scores/limited comprehension

Building Leadership Train members to be advocates for public education and social justice NEA educators have opportunities to share best practices with fellow teachers and those in other schools as well NEA educators help others with teacher-led transformations

Cultivating Relationships School and Community School and Home School and District School to School Community and Union

Elements of Our Experience That Can Be Replicated…

Visionary Administrative Leadership and Teacher Buy-in - Brain-focused strategies for learning -Home visits -Craft Days in the community -Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) -Family Round table dinners

Regular Parent/Family Engagement Events -iMom Morning Breakfast--monthly -Father Figure Breakfast/Dinner— monthly -Parent/Community Health and Resource Fair--yearly

Community Partnerships Rotary Clubs Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts Churches Universities YMCA, YWCA Big Brothers, Big Sisters Banks Businesses Retired Community Educators North Carolina Shakespeare Festival Food Corps North Carolina Cooperative Extension (4H clubs )

Union Involvement Facilitating Round- tables Grants Professional Development Facilitating School Visits Priority Schools Building Leaders

Building Relationships …this paved the way for developing trust and creating a safe environment for learning