West Goshen Named a Finalist in National Competition
From the Goshen News:
GOSHEN — Staff at West Goshen Elementary School received the good news they’d been waiting for Wednesday as they were named one of six finalists in the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s TAP Founder’s Award competition.
The Founder’s Award is the organization’s highest honor and is “presented annually to one school for exceptional efforts to implement and represent the principles of the TAP System for teacher and student advancement — resulting in improvements in student achievement, among other goals,” according to a press release from the organization.
The TAP Founder’s Award program is funded by the Lowell Milken Family Foundation. Finalists receive a $10,000 prize, a plaque and the chance to earn the top award — $50,000.
The System for Teacher and Student Achievement — commonly called TAP — program hinges on providing support for teachers, regular classroom observations by certified evaluators and providing additional compensation as teachers meet certain performance standards or take on additional responsibilities.
Goshen schools implemented TAP in 2009 using funds from a five-year federal Teacher Incentive Grant that was distributed through the Indiana Department of Education. When the grant funding ended, administrators decided to continue funding the program using money from the general fund and by seeking other federal dollars.
“At West Goshen, we have held tight to the structure that TAP provides. This model of teacher evaluations and professional development is why we truly believe we have seen the student achievement and growth at West Goshen,” West Goshen Principal Lori Line said. “Through the model, student focus and learning is the core to all decisions we make and the instruction that goes on in every classroom. It has given our teachers and students the confidence to achieve things they never thought before possible.”
Making a change
Before school leaders adopted the TAP System in 2011, West Goshen faced poor achievement and low morale, according to staff members.
The school received a “D” on Indiana’s A-F grading system and the school was known as a revolving door for teachers, according to school leaders. TAP structures of support reversed the situation, the news release said.
“Conversations among teachers have changed drastically through TAP implementation,” Line said. “During cluster, evaluation pre- and post-conferences, and follow-up, teachers are able to talk specifically about their teaching and how they can take action to make it more effective for students.”
Professional development sessions combined with goal-setting, field-testing strategies with students and workshops hosted by the district and state, helped West Goshen increase its letter grade from a D to a B, Line said. In 2016, the school earned its first A rating.
Lowell Milken, chairman of the Milken Family Foundation, congratulated Line and her staff on the “remarkable transformation.”
“Their talent and dedication have inspired scores of students to soar to higher levels and develop a sense of pride and achievement that they will remember for years to come,” he said.
Goshen Community Schools Superintendent Diane Woodworth echoed Milken’s support.
“We are so proud of West Goshen teachers and staff for this great accomplishment,” Woodworth said Wednesday.
Finalists to be honored
The finalists will be recognized during the 17th annual National TAP Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 24.
The Founder’s Award winner will be named March 25. The overall winner will receive a $50,000 prize to be used toward efforts to improve instruction and academic achievement.
The other schools recognized as finalists are:
• Alice M. Harte Charter School, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Barrera Veterans Elementary School in Somerset Independent School District, Texas
• Dodson Branch School in Jackson County Schools, Tennessee
• Hmong College Preparatory Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota
• G.W. Carver Primary School in Ascension Public Schools, Louisiana