• Category 3

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 2
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 2,553
    Student Enrollment: 261
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 3%
    White/Caucasian: 29%
    Hispanic: 34%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 34%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:16
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 2%
    Founded: 1957
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jennifer Lockner
  • CONTACT:
    404 1st Street
    Tularosa, NM 88352
    575-585-8801
    jennifer.lockner@tularosak12.us
Tularosa Elementary School
Tularosa, NM
"Tularosa Elementary School is a wonderful place to learn and work."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Tularosa Elementary School is a wonderful place to learn and work. We focus on the good and make sure our school is a positive, fun place for ALL students to be. We have a strong PBIS system in place and frequently recognize students for behavior, attendance and academic success. We also have a house system in place which builds comradery across grade levels and offers students a little fun, friendly competition as they work to earn recognition. We celebrate often with carnivals, popsicles, popcorn and slushie parties and invite our families to the fun.

We believe that every student is capable of meeting high academic expectations. We have a schedule that ensures all students are in class for Tier 1 instruction and have intervention/enrichment blocks for reading and math. We take an all hands on deck approach to ensure that every student receives the instruction they need to be incredibly successful. By the end of their time at TES 84% of our 2nd graders on or above grade level.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
The greatest contributing factor to our success was a change in mindset which stemmed from teambuilding and professional development which included visiting the Ron Clark Academy and learning about making a commitment to do things 1% better. At Tularosa Elementary School we believe that the adults on campus have the power and ability to change lives and have a positive impact on the future and, when we work together, our students reap the benefits of our collective knowledge, skills and abilities. Every students who walks onto our campus belongs to every adult on campus. We all have a hand in creating a positive school environment and ensuring that our students are incredibly successful. It is not uncommon at TES for staff members to bring clothes, shoes and coats for students in need, even when those students aren't in their classroom. Staff members also help stock a campus food pantry and work with Love Inc. to make sure all students have food over long breaks and weekends.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
The bulk of our ESEA funding supports our school by paying the salaries of teachers and educational assistants. This keeps our classroom numbers low and provides additional support in our kindergarten classrooms. We also use ESEA funds to purchase campus planners which support home/school communication, laptops, school supplies, math manipulatives and supplementary materials for math and science.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
All of our certified teachers have completed LETRS training and have a strong understanding of the science of reading. We have also been trained on the reading curriculum we chose - 95% Group Core Phonics and Amplify CKLA (knowledge strand). Staff members have completed early numeracy training provided by the New Mexico Public Education Department and numeracy training from MC2 at New Mexico State University. Many staff members also visited the Ron Clark Academy to learn more about the house system and the idea of doing things 1% better.

We've attended SEL training including PAX training, Breathe for Change and The Happiness Advantage. We've kept information gained from these trainings in the forefront when creating our PBIS program resulting in incorporating practices such as greeting students at the door, having breakfast in the classroom and starting each day with a morning meeting to set the tone for the day, practice positive thinking and build connections in the classroom.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
The biggest cultural shift has been the understanding that our students belong to all of us. Regardless of which homeroom class or program they are in, they are ALL our students. We support kids across classrooms and programs for intervention, enrichment and clubs every day. As staff members review reading and math data each month students are moved into different group. This shift has ensured that all students get exactly what they need from our staff on a daily basis and has led to great success.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Our community supports us in so many ways. Our campus and classrooms use Campus and Class Dojo on a weekly basis to keep families up to date with what's happening at TES and share pictures of all of the wonderful thing their children are doing and learning on campus. Our families and community members can see the incredible work we're doing to support students and they want to help. We've received donations from local business and community members to make sure our teachers and students have what they need to do great work. Our families also attend parent teacher conferences twice a year, communicate with us and show up in a big way when we have fundraisers and students events. We love inviting them onto campus to showcase the wonderful things that are happening at TES and have a little fun.
Stats
  • Category 3

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 2
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 2,553
    Student Enrollment: 261
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 3%
    White/Caucasian: 29%
    Hispanic: 34%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 34%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:16
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 2%
    Founded: 1957
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jennifer Lockner
  • CONTACT:
    404 1st Street
    Tularosa, NM 88352
    575-585-8801
    jennifer.lockner@tularosak12.us