By GRAYSON LEE MAXWELL
Rutherford County Schools
John Colemon Elementary is a model school for English Language curriculum. Currently only two other elementary schools bear that distinction. With a unique use of instructional tools and a vision for growth and excellence, Principal Christy Brown and ELA instructional coach Dr. Alexandria Wilson sit down to talk about what makes John Colemon successful.
Q: Tell me about JCE – what makes the EL curriculum here unique?
A: (Brown) So one thing that we really are very proud of is that our school has been chosen to be a model school for EL curriculum. And so, when we first started that two years ago, that just afforded us additional training, one-on-one with the 'Better Lessons Company’ and they provided in-depth training and support for administration instructional leaders as well as our teachers. And we were a K2 model school. But this year, we've transitioned all the way through 5th grade as a model school and what that means is that other schools in our district can send their teachers or their instructional coaches or administrators even to come and watch how we do knowledge block or skills block in K through 2.
A: (Wilson) Just to piggyback off what she said, we also have afforded all teachers in our school building the opportunity to do peer-to-peer learning walks. And that's just a way for them to go into different grade levels than what they teach in a classroom. Using the IPG walkthrough tool, which is what they trained us on, we've trained them, and then just to give feedback, so we can continue to collect data and then also self-reflect on how this has impacted our instruction or things that we need to change as far as our instruction is concerned.
Q: What are some of the tools you are using here at JCE?
A: (Wilson) So, Kiddom was a program that we used when we first got shut down and at the beginning when we first got shut down, we didn't know how to use the program. We didn't know what all the program had to offer. We have Eric, over at Kiddom. He did professional development with us. So, he would come in and teach us about the new things that Kiddom has implemented on their platform. He will meet one-on-one. He will meet in a small group setting depending on who was using it with fidelity. So, he will come in and just teach us about different things.
A: (Brown) When we say ESL and ‘Better Lessons’, EL is our curriculum for ELA in our district. Better Lessons is the professional development company to support the implementation of that curriculum. But the piece that we used during COVID when we had to go digital was a company called Kiddom. They relaunched it to be a software program that integrates that ESL curriculum, PowerPoints, slides, all the lessons – teachers utilize that curriculum through their program.
Q: For teachers who come visit – what are they getting out of it?
A: (Wilson) So we had Roy Waldron come a couple of times, and they just talked about how seeing the instruction taught in a different way was something transformational for them. Most of the time a teacher is confined to her classroom, so it’s very rare that a teacher is able to go out and see the same curriculum they’re teaching at the same grade level with a population similar to theirs. So, one thing was just seeing the kids can do it first – then the different things they can implement into the classroom. That’s something they said was very transformational.
Q: What are the things you think have contributed to the success of JCE?
A: (Wilson) Great administration. Great coaches. Just them encompassing our core values, the culture of the school is like none other. I’ve worked at several different schools and here it’s just different. We have people who want to learn and grow. We have people who go over and beyond for our kids to give them what they need to be successful. We have people who know our kids can do it and they push our kids and hold them to that standard.
A: (Brown) I would say something that makes us different is all of our kids come from such diverse backgrounds. We don’t throw out a blanket lesson. We know who our kids are, and we know what their capabilities are. We differentiate those tasks and activities while still holding them to a high standard.
Q: What is the culture like here compared to other schools?
A: (Wilson) I just feel like John Colemon is like a home away from home. I grew in a very large family and my grandmother always instilled in me that it takes a village to raise a child. This is a village. Not only for our teachers, but also our kids. The kids and the teachers know this is a very safe space and you are free to be who you are and we’re going to support you in any way that we can. My daughter goes here, and I would not take her to any other place.
A: (Brown) One thing I would say about our school is that a lot of us commute and would commute far. Not everyone has picked to work here because they live in Smyrna. They come here because this is a family. If you need something and send it out by e-mail, you’re going to have seven people answer you immediately.