NEW ALBANY —
Even with the recent state recognition, Susie Gahan, principal at Fairmont Elementary School, said her staff was just doing its job.
Fairmont was one of six schools in the state recognized by the Indiana Department of Education as a Title 1 High Performing School. Gahan said the award recognizes Title 1 schools for closing the achievement gap of test scores between students on free and reduced lunches and those who aren’t. Gahan said by following the model set by New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Superintendent Bruce Hibbard, Fairmont was able to bring up the test scores of its students.
“I think the plan is working really well,” Gahan said. “We would continue to implement that and find more effective ways to work with our small groups. We’d like to extend some after-school opportunities for our kids.”
Gahan said her staff has embraced the use of common formative assessments, which teachers use to gauge how well students are learning the material taught and compare to find strategies that work.
But along with the strategies, she said she has great teachers.
“Our teachers work incredibly hard and long hours at our school,” Gahan said. “They’ve embraced the concept of becoming a professional learning community and working hard to help all of the students.”
Bill Briscoe, assistant superintendent, said the administration is happy to see one of its schools in the state spotlight.
“We’re just very proud of the work that the entire staff of Fairmont has done in the last couple of years to get these results,” Briscoe said. “They’ve established a professional learning community in their school and worked through a lot of data to make improvements in students learning.”
Along with the title, Fairmont also received a $25,000 grant from the state. Gahan said the school will use the money to update classrooms with updated audio technology. She said the audio systems — used in conjunction with interactive SMART Boards — will help all students in the classroom hear what the teacher is saying, like a surround sound system.
“There are lots of studies that show if students can hear all of the instruction, they learn better,” Gahan said. “We have some students with some hearing loss and we also have some students with English as a new language. I think being able to hear clearly is going to help students in all of our classrooms.”
While she said she’s not sure the school will qualify to become a Title 1 Distinguished School — which carries a $50,000 grant award — she said they’ll continue to improve the education of students at Fairmont.
“We’re going to keep plugging away at it,” Gahan said.” I think we should continue to improve. I’m not sure we’d be eligible again, but if we are, we’re going to give it our best shot.”
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Related Photos
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Fairmont Elementary kindergartners Dawn Higginbottom, left, and Natalie Smith listen to a story during class last week in New Albany. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
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Katie Speak teaches her kindergarten class last week at Fairmont Elementary in New Albany. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
Discussion
Just doing their jobs, well: Fairmont Elementary School gets recognition, $25,000 award
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