• Category 1

    Selected in 2022

  • Grades: k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 167
    Student Enrollment: 34
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 3%
    White/Caucasian: 50%
    Hispanic: 47%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:7
    % Reduced Lunch: 72%
    % ELL Learners: 35%
    Founded: 1930
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Christina Nusbaum
  • CONTACT:
    454 5th Avenue
    Albin, WY 82050
    307-245-4090
    Chris.Nusbaum@Laramie2.org
Albin Elementary School
Albin, WY
"Albin, Wyoming is a community that values education."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
At Albin Elementary, standards are high for both academics and behavior. AES is consistently a high achieving school and students regularly attain more than expected growth, despite high proportions of language barriers and poverty levels. Albin educators take pride in providing a challenging and supportive learning environment for each student. Low class sizes allow educators to create individualized learning plans for every student and as educators raise the bar, students continue to excel and reach those high expectations. At AES, staff members truly believe that ALL students can grow and achieve at high levels.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
Resolute dedication to the success of each individual student is the single most important factor in the success of our school. A culture of collaboration is alive in the halls, classrooms, and hearts of Albin stakeholders. Parents, community members, and staff members join forces to provide resources necessary to meet students’ academic, social, and economic needs. We realize that school is about more than academic growth. It is about empowering students and their families to overcome obstacles in their lives. Albin Elementary School strives to instill a desire for students, even during the most difficult times, to persevere and display the grit it takes to give their best effort.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
Title I funding is vital to the tradition of academic success for the scholars of Albin Elementary School. The mantra of “prescriptive instruction” for each student is provided by highly qualified staff members and specialists who make a difference through Title I funding. These intervention programs continue to increase student achievement as measured by formative teacher made assessments as well as summative district and state assessments. Clearly, Title I funds allow Albin Elementary to meet and exceed the needs of a diverse and ever-changing student population. These funds will continue to play a key role in sustaining Albin’s position as a premier learning institution and National Distinguished Title I School.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
We are very fortunate in Wyoming that our department of education offers to districts a plethora of research based professional development opportunities. Recently, the teachers at AES have taken advantage of professional development about the science of reading. This training has drastically impacted reading instruction at our school. We have always been about analyzing data and prescribing next steps for ALL of our students and so the Professional Learning Community in our building is accomplished. All teachers and support staff as well, take part in monthly book study meetings. Each staff member takes their turn facilitating a meeting. Recent book study topics have included Ron Clark's Essential 55 Rules and The Growth Mindset Coach which is based on Carol Dweck's research. At Albin Elementary School we have high expectations across the board for our students and these topics were chosen specifically to increase student growth, success, and happiness.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Albin Elementary has not really had a culture shift to speak of when one considers that it has been recognized as a Nationally Distinguished School in 2012, 2019, and now 2022. The culture is one of dedication by staff and the reinforcement of qualities such as grit, curiosity, zest, and growth mindset demonstrated by students. The leadership of Albin Elementary has always placed a premium on continuous improvement and has found itself on the cusp of a variety of new initiatives, each serving a purpose to refine steady progress that was needed at that time.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Albin, Wyoming is a community that values education. Teachers, parents and community members work together to support high value learning experiences. Educators at AES make it a priority to communicate with parents regularly and take pride in a 100% participation rate for parent teacher conferences. AES alumni, who embody the qualities students are coached to embrace, such as grit and integrity are invited to the school to speak. The Albin Parent Group consists of parents who seek to improve the educational outcomes of students at Albin Elementary School by hosting family nights, providing incentives for students who demonstrate outstanding moral and academic achievement, and strive to create a sense of community with students, parents, and stakeholders. Various seasonal programs held include music concerts and family nights. Collectively, these programs bring staff, students, and parents together and demonstrate that the work the children are doing is valuable and significant.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2022

  • Grades: k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 167
    Student Enrollment: 34
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 3%
    White/Caucasian: 50%
    Hispanic: 47%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:7
    % Reduced Lunch: 72%
    % ELL Learners: 35%
    Founded: 1930
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Christina Nusbaum
  • CONTACT:
    454 5th Avenue
    Albin, WY 82050
    307-245-4090
    Chris.Nusbaum@Laramie2.org