Two members of the Jane Phillips Elementary School family will soon be going national.
Christina Rigdon, the school's family support coordinator, and Karla Cunningham, a Success For All reading facilitator for Jane Phillips, have been selected to serve as presenters at the National Success For All Experience Site Conference, which is scheduled from Feb. 18-20, 2008 in San Antonio.
Approximately 20,000 educators, from around 700 school districts, are expected to be represented at the conference held by the Success For All Foundation. SFA is a national reading program focusing on students from kindergarten through the eighth grade. Jane Phillips utilizes the program for all of its grade levels.
As presenters, Rigdon and Cunningham will do at least three presentations, which will include a PowerPoint display. Approximately 15 to 20 hours of work typically go into a presentation.
“We're going to be sharing information about Jane Phillips Elementary School,” says Rigdon. “People will sign up for the presentation to find out how we get our students and parents motivated and how we have increased our test scores.”
Jane Phillips has certainly done that. Criterion Reference Testing results were recently released, and the school had great reason to celebrate. A form of state testing for students from grades three through five at the elementary school level, CRT grades students on their proficiency levels in a variety of subject. When the 2007 results came out, Jane Phillips teachers and administrators found that 100 percent of their fourth graders had scored proficient in reading along with 96 percent of their fifth graders. At the third grade level, Jane Phillips chalked up a 95. All told, the school's reading scores improved by an average of more than 18 percent points per grade level from the previous year.
“We're both excited about the opportunity to share what we've done at Jane Phillips,” says Cunningham. “And, what we are doing is paying off.”
Both Rigdon and Cunningham sent in applications for the honor to serve as presenters. Rigdon will present in the area of family support while Cunningham will focus on data and achievements.
Each presenter comes armed with ample information, including display boards and handouts for the audience members.
“We are excited to be chosen to share information about our school,” says Rigdon. “It's an honor.”
Karla Cunningham (left) and Christina Rigdon, both of Jane Phillips Elementary School, are set to serve as presenters at the National Success For All Experience Site Conference, which is scheduled from Feb. 18-20, 2008 in San Antonio.