Gilmer ISD blows the roof off TAKS results

Terry Morganti Fisher recently received an email from Janet Bliss Mello who is coaching in Gilmer ISD, Texas...

"The principal of Bruce Jr High just left me a message about their scores.  94% passed and 48% commended.  Which is GREAT!  What they are really celebrating as well is that in their GAN* for their S.M.A.R.T. goal (which is Math) they "blew the top off"!  You should have heard the thrill in her voice. Isn't it wonderful to see the process and all the hard efforts see success!"

* GAN = Greatest Area of Need

Bruce Junior High Recognized for
Achievements in Mathematics

Congratulations! Just for the Kids has selected Bruce Jr. High as a 2008 Just for the Kids Higher Performing School in Texas based on its performance in Mathematics.

 http://www.just4kids.org/en/

Gilmer ISD is a small rural district in East Texas that has been implementing S.M.A.R.T. as a strategic initiative for the past two years. Every school is using the S.M.A.R.T. system to implement, monitor and adjust their continuous improvement plans, and teachers are using S.M.A.R.T. goals with their students in their classrooms. At the Board level, S.M.A.R.T.'s "ROI" is being monitored by looking at "increased focus," "increased leadership capacity" and "improved results."

As for "Results," they have improved dramatically. Last year 3rd grade African American students increased their Reading proficiency from 52% to 85%. Two years ago only 1 campus in 4  were "Recognized;" by the end of last year there were 2, and they're pretty sure they will have 3 "Recognized" by the end of the 08-09 year.

"Focus" has increased even at the student level. We received this note at the end of last year from Amber Watson, a kindergarten teacher at Gilmer Elementary School: 

"I had to share with you what happened this afternoon in my Kindergarten class...We were talking about the end of school and how much we have learned and one of my students said, 'Mrs. Watson, I think we should set another goal for our reading. We have all met our goals we set at the beginning!' So, we sat down and every student set a goal that they want to reach in the last 16 days of school with their reading levels.  I was thrilled that it was their idea! We celebrated the fact that they had reached one goal and talked about how important it was to continue to set goals throughout our school careers. YEAH!"

"Leadership capacity" is growing too, from the Board room to the classroom. As just one example, a Board member stopped a group of teachers at the community fair and asked them what they thought about the S.M.A.R.T. Process. "This is the best thing we've seen in our 20+ years of teaching!" one teacher replied. Another chimed in, "It's given us a structure and language to talk about our students." The third said, "I feel like I know where we're going and I know how to get there."

Results, focus and leadership capacity are all improving in the Gilmer district. Rick Albritton, the superintendent, and Sigrid Yates, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, enjoy hosting "field trips,"  and the teachers and students are proud to share their progress.

Come on down!

Contact:  Rick Albritton @ 903.843.2525