By Kelly Cantwell
Editor
Two Clermont County schools and two school districts were presented the Momentum Award from the State Board of Education of Ohio for exceeding expectations in student growth.
The board announced their awards recipients on Nov. 15. To receive a Momentum Award, a district or school is required to earn all As on the Value-Added measures on the Ohio Department of Education report cards. In addition, the school or district had to have a minimum of two Value-Added subgroups of students, such as gifted students or students with disabilities, according to the ODE website.
Felicity Franklin Local School District, Felicity-Franklin Middle School, Milford Exempted Village School District and Pattison Middle School received Momentum Awards. The schools were among 169 to receive the award and the districts were among 54.
Felicity-Franklin Superintendent Dave Gibson credits their success to being intentional.
“We have really good teachers, we have really good kids. Sometimes it’s a matter of putting all the pieces together in an intentional form,” he said.
Teachers have been using curriculum maps and using short cycle assessments to make sure they are regularly aware of where each student is in regards to the state standards. They also have embraced using data to affect instruction, Gibson said.
Kathy Frye, curriculum coordinator, added that teachers and staff have also spent a lot of time examining practice state tests so they were aware of the types of questions students would be asked.
Gibson feels that the awards show that even when standards are often changing that Felicity students and staff continue to meet expectations.
“It shows people we’re addressing all kids and we understand all kids need to learn and all kids have the ability to learn,” he said.
Frye echoed that sentiment, adding that the district is making the connection between the belief all students can learn and ensuring that all students do learn.
Moving forward, teachers will continue to use data to analyze the district’s strengths and weaknesses. It is important to maintain the district’s strengths, Gibson feels. In addition, the district is prioritizing professional development, writing and technical reading, he said.
Students will also be using more technology, as the district recently received a grant from Ohio’s Straight A Fund that will put Chromebook laptops into the hands of students in grades 6, 9 and 12.
“Our goal is really to prepare students for success after graduation from Felicity,” Frye said, adding that if the district is doing its job well than state tests should not be an issue for students.
Everyone on staff at the district works really hard, Frye said.
“We’re just very happy for our school district and middle school,” she said.
Gibson added, “It’s always exciting to be recognized among quality schools and to have an opportunity to stand out.”
Milford Superintendent Nancy House said that the district and Pattison Elementary received an award in part because of their efforts targeting interventions for gifted students and students with disabilities. In addition, they use a curriculum for all students that exceeds state standards.
“It was exciting and an honor to be one of only 54 districts in Ohio,” House said.
In order to exceed student growth, teachers must know each student and how to target instruction to that student, something that has been the district’s practice for a long time. However, it sometimes takes years to see the full results, House said, and she believes the Momentum Award means they’re seeing full results.
“We’re able to identify specifically what their needs are and design instruction to meet those very specific needs,” she said.
The district has a “growth mindset” and is always making sure they are meeting the needs of all the students.
“I think that we have a very comprehensive curriculum. We have provided and invested in materials for teachers, we have identified research based intervention programs, we have a exemplary gifted education program and also have provided instruction for all teachers in differentiating for gifted students,” House said.
She added, “That old mindset of teaching to the middle we don’t do.”