• Category 1

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: pre k - 3
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 471
    Student Enrollment: 179
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 3%
    White/Caucasian: 92%
    Hispanic: 4%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:13
    % Reduced Lunch: 53%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1940
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Amberle Eaker
  • CONTACT:
    108 Pierce St
    Fife Lake, MI 49633
    231-879-3362
    aeaker@forestarea.org
Fife Lake Elementary School
Fife Lake, MI
The community support allows our school to more succinctly provide support and ensure all students’ basic needs are met.
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Our school scored in the 98th percentile at increasing student growth when compared with all Michigan public schools over the last two years. Considering the high needs of our students and the knowledge that in 2021, more than half of our students were two or more grade levels below, this is an incredible achievement. However, we utilized strategic interventions, differentiated lessons with grade level content, and well supported SEL lessons to ensure all students academic and social- emotional needs were being met.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
The first step Fife Lake Elementary did to increase student achievement is focus on interventions. All students are given Tier II Reading interventions for 30 minutes each day that align to their individual academic needs. We also employed an elementary interventionist that provides Math Interventions and Tier III Reading interventions to the lowest 15% of each grade level. These interventions showed a dramatic increase in Reading and Math learning gains.
Additionally, all grade level classroom teachers are scheduled a 30 minute common planning time every day. Teaching staff are able to collaborate as a team when reviewing achievement data and brainstorm solutions together when achievement goals are not being met. Curriculum coaches and administrators are also able to meet in these teams to give suggestions and discuss the latest educational research and strategies.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
ESEA funding allowed the school to purchase various intervention programs, which were used throughout the Tier II and Tier III reading and math interventions. ESEA funding also allowed Fife Lake Elementary to pay additional paraprofessionals to support student growth and achievement throughout the building. Lastly, ESEA funding is utilized to pay for the interventionist that allows us to service students in grades kindergarten through 5th grades.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Forest Area Community Schools focused primarily on three goals from 2021 to 2024. These included: restorative practices, engagement strategies, and high yield instructional strategies. The district paid for Kagan trainers to provide professional development for two years. The district also ensured that all staff received professional development on restorative practices and affective language. Finally, we provided a variety of professional development opportunities on analyzing student achievement data and high-yield strategies to increase student achievement.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Prior to new administration in Fall of 2020, our school was being led by a building principal that was also the superintendent at an office 7 miles away. This led to a large disconnect and lack of consistent leadership. When new administration entered, they were given only the position of building principal. This allowed their focus to become making the staff and students of Fife Lake Elementary a cohesive family. Fun incentives like sliming the principal for highest achievement and growth at the end of the year, pizza parties for appropriate lunchroom behavior, staff BINGO regarding high yield strategies for jeans days the rest of the year, and PBIS acknowledgement for both, staff and students, began to play a major role in changing the impact of instruction.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Various community members have volunteered to support in classrooms and public school events. We have also had a large support from community members regarding supplying critical needs, such as clothes, food, and hygiene supplies to students in needs. As research suggests, students are able to focus much more on academics when basic needs are met. The community support allows our school to more succinctly provide that support and ensure all students’ basic needs are met.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: pre k - 3
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 471
    Student Enrollment: 179
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 3%
    White/Caucasian: 92%
    Hispanic: 4%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:13
    % Reduced Lunch: 53%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1940
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Amberle Eaker
  • CONTACT:
    108 Pierce St
    Fife Lake, MI 49633
    231-879-3362
    aeaker@forestarea.org