• Category 1

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1
    Student Enrollment: 428
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 2%
    White/Caucasian: 84%
    Hispanic: 3%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 1%
    Native American: 10%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 45%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1954
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Cameron Traxson
  • CONTACT:
    201 E. 1st Ave
    CANEY, KS 67333
    620-879-9240
    ctraxson@caney.com
Lincoln Memorial Elementary School
CANEY, KS
Through our MTSS initiatives and revamped PLC, our grade level teachers have shifted their mindset from “my kids” to “our kids”."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Lincoln Memorial Elementary’s success is driven by a passionate staff who works tirelessly to create the best learning environment possible for all students. Leadership has prioritized providing our teachers weekly collaboration time, in addition to the resources and support to create an environment where we can target the specific needs of every Caney student. Lincoln has always been a good school, but we have committed to move from “good to great” and this is evident in our test data, employee retention, and overall learning culture.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
One of the greatest contributing factors that has promoted a positive change at Lincoln is the implementation of our grade level PLC times. This is a protected time, with set norms where grade level teachers meet to discuss instruction, student gains, concerns, and tiered interventions. Our title teacher, title support staff, counselor, special education teacher, and the building principal regularly attend these meetings. This group of individuals then prepare and deliver the interventions needed to support all students in that grade level.
Another contributing factor is our 21st Century CCLC after school program (A.C.E.S.). Our A.C.E.S. program provides a much needed support system for students and families in our latch-key district. Data has shown after one year of implementation that students that attended the program performed 22% higher. Within A.C.E.S we continue to support classroom instruction as well as offer electives like sign language, Spanish, and art.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
ESEA funds are used through our targeted assistance Title I services in the areas of Reading (ELA) and Mathematics in grades K-6. The Title I services include a licensed teacher who has worked for the district for 42 years, and two Title I aides. A good portion of the funds support the salaries of these highly qualified individuals. These funds are also used to provide teachers with professional development dealing with student engagement, tiered support, and technology used by the Title program. Over the last two years we have surveyed the staff to inquire more about their PD needs and provide teachers with the necessary trainings to help build their own capacity to ensure students and teachers are performing at their highest levels. Current focus on tiered support has proven to be effective based on the high achievement and continued growth seen in test scores.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Along with our students' best interest, our district PD is heavily reliant upon data collected from our most trusted source, our staff. Teachers are asked to take regular PD surveys to gauge both their professional development needs in addition to the effectiveness of PD recently offered. Feedback from these surveys, specifically group-identified needs, are given the utmost priority for future PD day initiatives and sessions. Some of the sessions have been, but are not limited to Resource Trainings (Fastbridge, SeeSaw, Showbie, Google Classroom, Google Suite, Moby Max, iPad apps, Chrome extensions, Google Meet, Powerschool, and other technology resources), Sessions on Inquiry-Based Training, Structured Literacy, Goal Setting, Color Code, and the sprinkling of data analysis. Whereas we always have a lot of material to attempt to fit into a small period of time, our district values “family” and tries to work in family meals and/or collaboration time whenever possible.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Through our MTSS initiatives and revamped PLC, our grade level teachers have shifted their mindset from “my kids” to “our kids”. This one word change may be simple on paper, but has made all the difference in terms of facilitating a true learning community that can focus on day-to-day changes and interventions to ensure students are getting what they need to be successful.
This shift in culture can be seen in our high rate of retention of not only certified, but classified staff as well. The past few years have been tough on all teachers, but our staff’s commitment is unwavering. Lincoln staff’s collective efficacy can be seen through the peer observations, collaboration across grade levels, and 95% staff retention for the last three years. This along with the strong support from the administration. The staff, students, and parents are knocking down the doors to get in!
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Lincoln Memorial is located in southeast Kansas on the Oklahoma border. This small town of 1,800 provides an opportunity to get involved in the community. The school has worked hard to build a relationship with the local business and families to provide the students with an opportunity to experience real world connections and explore beyond the building walls. One of the most valued relationships we have established is with the local food pantry. The pantry allows us to volunteer, support, and also receive items for those students in need. Through our A.C.E.S. 21st century CCLC grants have only strengthened the involvement of the community in the school following COVID. Being part of the Caney Recreations Commission, Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Kansas, and local Banks, students get experiences that would otherwise not be available if they weren't in A.C.E.S.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1
    Student Enrollment: 428
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 2%
    White/Caucasian: 84%
    Hispanic: 3%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 1%
    Native American: 10%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 45%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1954
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Cameron Traxson
  • CONTACT:
    201 E. 1st Ave
    CANEY, KS 67333
    620-879-9240
    ctraxson@caney.com