Over the holiday break, while many were relaxing and enjoying time off, the administrators of Carroll County Middle School were on a mission. Their goal? To secure CCMS was recognized as a Kentucky School to Watch.
Embarking on a rigorous application process, they delved into four critical areas: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organization/structure for continuous improvement. Dr. Robin Stephenson, principal of CCMS, emphasized the school's commitment to establishing a solid foundation for excellence.
“We based our application on ours as an organization that has established sound structure and arrangements that have begun to propel our trajectory to excellence,” said Stephenson.
CCMS and its turnaround team, a group of teachers and administrators who developed a plan to move the school out of its CSI status, have taken on the challenge rather than be defined by the label. “We embraced the 2022 CSI barriers and challenges and cultivated the will to persevere,” Stephenson said.
In fact, the school made great strides during its last testing cycle. In a few short months, actions within the school brought it out of CSI status. Schools in CSI have three years to turn the tide in their buildings, but CCMS jumped in with both feet to turn its ship around.
Stephenson said the team was honest with its assessment of the school, giving themselves a 2 out of 4 on their score. Even though all of the administrators have only held their positions for two years or less, they have made great changes they hope will earn them the Kentucky School to Watch distinction.
But it's not just about academic achievements. CCMS is equally invested in nurturing student success beyond the classroom. Monthly assemblies celebrate standout students, recognizing their academic success, positive behavior, and classroom achievements. Stephenson proudly notes a 65% drop in behavior referrals, a testament to the school's focused efforts on student recognition and support.
Now, with a site visit from the Kentucky Schools to Watch committee looming on the horizon, CCMS is poised to showcase its transformation and stake its claim among the educational elite.