The Center for Education Reform salutes all those folks beyond the Beltway who have written laws on the back of a napkin, worked tirelessly to persuade lawmakers to pass those laws, created schools, written standards, and generally challenged the conventional wisdom in the interest of making schools work better for all children. These are YOUR Action Heroes, and here are their stories.
January 2007
Action Heroes: Mueller Charter School Teachers
The Teachers of Mueller Charter School choose to teach at Mueller Charter School knowing that the Mission is to get 90% of students to grade level when there was never more than 50% at grade level. They continue to individually and collectively pursue instructional strategies that are effective with a student population that features high numbers of low income, second language learners. In spite of family dysfunction, student transience, and historically low academic gains, the children of Chula Vista, California have benefited from a staff of 40 teachers who have truly become experts in serving an otherwise high risk population.
Teachers conduct home visits at the beginning of the year with every child in their classroom.
Teachers serve on the governance team, literally setting policy, creating programs and services, monitoring all needs of 950 children, and managing a $6.5 million dollar budget.
Teachers participate in weekly professional development in many forums.
Though the average years of experience is less than five years, 4 are now Nationally Board Certified, and 5 are in doctoral programs.
Teachers are developing expertise in the use of formative data to engender higher levels of achievement.
This year, 100% utilize the assessment system developed by The Northwest Education Association (NWEA) to monitor students progress and make on-going adjustments to children's individual learning programs. Teachers consistently collaborate in professional teams, committees and ad hoc study groups to identify and share promising practices. As a result of their collective dedication:
Mueller has never failed to meet an AYP target goal (while 15 schools in the immediate vicinity are Program Improvement Schools).
Mueller has seen a 215-point net increase on the Academic Performance Index.
Mueller had the highest rate of attendance of 43 schools in the 4th quarter of last year, and the second highest at the end of the first quarter this year.
Mueller has seen the student mobility rate drop from a high of 65% in 1998-99 to less than 20% in 2006-07
Mueller's overall attendance has ballooned to its all time high of 950 children, and now serves a 7-8 middle school population.
