Learn more about the Excellence in Education Awards Additional profiles: Wonderland Avenue Elementary Carthay Center Elementary Irving Middle School

Excellence in Education Awards Patty Arreola, Natividad Chavarin, Jane Ching Fung, Isela Galdamez, Laura Galvan, Hannah Kim, Jill Manning, Sophia Ramirez and Kyong Yu White House Place Primary Center 108 S. Bimini Place, Los Angeles Sandra H. Wilkins, Principal Belmont Cluster - Marta Bin, Cluster Administrator RESULTS: The number of students who are performing at or above grade level in reading and writing improved from well- below 50% in July 1998 to over 70% in May 1999 in most classrooms. Most students made significant gains in rubric and portfolio assessments aligned with state standards in the areas of reading and writing. Nine teachers have formed the Early Literacy Club through which they realize the power of collegial professional development to improve teaching practices in their K-2 classrooms. Their motto is "building excellence through collaboration." The team is an effective teacher mentoring and networking "program" that enables experienced and new teachers to work together to assist one another. The group meets formally about once a month on weekends and informally on a daily basis to discuss subject matter and develop activities to enhance student achievement. They draw on continual learning by the group to master the subjects they teach and help their students master those same subjects using developmentally appropriate instructional strategies. Since its inception in 1995, club members collectively have participated in over 500 hours of professional development. They also reach beyond their boundaries and look for opportunities to network with other educators through such programs as the Alexandria Multi-Age Cadre, the National Teacher Policy Institute (NTPI) and Bilingual ESL Endorsement through Distance Education (BEEDE) Research Projects. An idea Jane Fung brought back from the UCLA Writing Project in 1997, Poets Cafe, was adopted throughout White House Place and by other teachers in the district. By reading a poem before the class, students learn creative writing, public speaking, study skills, and, ultimately, courage and confidence. The teachers also introduce students to literacy levels, rubrics and portfolios so students can monitor their own progress and continually set new goals for themselves. They make both parents and students aware of standards so that students can become responsible for their own learning.