• Category 1

    Selected in 2012

  • Grades: pre k - 3
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 5,000
    Student Enrollment: 268
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 5%
    White/Caucasian: 86%
    Hispanic: 3%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2%
    Native American: 2%
    Other: 2%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 55%
    % ELL Learners: 30%
    Founded: 2008
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Michelle Beito
  • CONTACT:
    PO Box 270
    Delta Junction, AK 99737
    907-895-4696
    mbeito@dgsd.us
Delta Elementary School
Delta Junction, AK
At Delta Elementary, instructional aides are included in our professional development. We feel this is imperative to student success. If the entire staff has a common understanding and is using the same language and techniques, students get a more cohesive education.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
We have a variety of ways to engage parents and involve them in school. Weekly newsletters are sent home, events are shared with all families via telephone calls through a system called “Alert Now” our student data program allows all parents to access teachers, grades and assignments any time they would like. We also have a very active parent volunteer program, which encourages parents to participate in the many activities that occur at Delta Elementary. We have monthly awards assemblies where we recognize academic achievements, citizenship and involvement with community programs.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen the ties to your community.
Delta Elementary has annual events, which include our community. Each spring we have a “Husky Hustle” which is a 3k race. Anyone who wants to participate is welcome. We usually have many participants from our community! In addition we have a field day, Jump Rope for Heart, a Holiday Store and a Holiday Concert in which several of our community members choose to participate.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
The staff at Delta Elementary is encouraged to try new things. Change and improvement are viewed as necessary components of a comprehensive education. We embrace technology and use it to deliver instruction whenever possible. We also like to try new ideas to better educate our ELL and special education population. Through our endeavors, we have discovered some wonderful tools and some not so wonderful, but that is what learning is all about!
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Our goals are to maintain our current level of excellence and to extend our use of technology in instruction.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Our school district has an early release time for students each Wednesday. While students are gone, staff members are able to spend about an hour and a half collaborating. Many teachers share students, so this time allows us to talk about kids, review data and discuss staff needs. We are able to utilize this time for needed professional development, team building and sharing ideas. We work in professional learning communities, student support teams and review curriculum.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement.
Delta Elementary uses RTI and we have a leveled reading program. Our leveled program allows each student to be taught at his or her instructional level. This format allows us to provide interventions and enrichment to students who need it. The groups are fluid so if a child makes improvements, they can advance, if they continue to struggle, they may be placed in a group that better meets their needs. Students are placed in reading groups based on data collected from DIBELS, MAP, CBM’s progress monitoring and teacher observations.
Explain how Title I funds have supported your improvement efforts.
Title l funds provide Delta Elementary with a reading specialist and two instructional aides. The teacher and her aides target students who need level 2 and 3 interventions. They also work with students struggling in math and our ELL population. Title l funds also provide intervention materials and professional development.
Identify the professional development activities you use to improve the teaching portion of the teaching and learning process.
At Delta Elementary, instructional aides are included in our professional development. We feel this is imperative to student success. If the entire staff has a common understanding and is using the same language and techniques, students get a more cohesive education. As a staff we have been trained in SIOP, Six Traits, technology, math, special education, RTI and many other topics.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
We use data to develop our reading groups and to determine what kind of interventions or enrichment strategies are needed for our students. We use data to move students to new tiers of instruction, and to target specific areas of need. Data is a key component in making sure students are getting their needs met. We do progress monitoring on all students in tiers 2 and 3 to ensure that the interventions we are using are working.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Delta Elementary is reputed to be a very positive and friendly school. Parent and student input forms consistently reveal that our parents feel as though our school is a safe and inviting environment where their students feel valued and respected. Our school motto is: “Delta Elementary will provide a safe, caring, respectful learning community that encourages every child to achieve at his/her full potential. We also have a daily pledge we recite each morning. “I pledge to be responsible in all areas, to always be ready, and at all times show respect to myself, each other, my teachers, and my school.” Along with that theme, each day the principal encourages all staff and students to do their best and have fun. If we always strive to do our best, and have fun doing it, each day will be a successful day!
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2012

  • Grades: pre k - 3
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 5,000
    Student Enrollment: 268
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 5%
    White/Caucasian: 86%
    Hispanic: 3%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2%
    Native American: 2%
    Other: 2%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 55%
    % ELL Learners: 30%
    Founded: 2008
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Michelle Beito
  • CONTACT:
    PO Box 270
    Delta Junction, AK 99737
    907-895-4696
    mbeito@dgsd.us