RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Stanaford and Mabscott Elementary Schools have made substantial student strides in core subject areas.
So State Superintendent Michele Blatt visited to honor the school’s proficiency, which has exceeded state levels in math and reading for the past three years.
Collaborative effort has benefited the students.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to be here and see their commitment to the students and the work they’re investing in these kids, and that it’s paying off in their scores,” Blatt said.
Stanaford Elementary School has been working hard over the last several years, demonstrating continued and sustained improvement.
“We’re very, very proud of not only the staff and students, but the families. Stanford can’t do what it does without parent and family support as well,” said Raleigh County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Serena Starcher. “We’ll continue to provide support to both our students and our staff here at Stanaford, and we look forward to great things in the future.”
From professional development to staff doing the hard work of vertical aligning practices, looking at data to determine where they could fill instructional gaps, to facilitate parents getting resources to help their children at home. Even at a young age, it’s important for kids to celebrate what they do well and acknowledge what they need to work on to improve.
“Kids can do so much if you give them the tools, if you help them take ownership of their own data,” Principal Elizabeth McDaniel said. “And giving kids ownership of that gives them power and helps them become advocates for themselves. That’s what we try to do.”
The 2023 West Virginia Third Grade Success Act is a statewide approach to early literacy based on the science of reading, with instructional aides in first through third grade providing extra classroom support.
It’s transforming schools like Stanaford that have bought into the process, as well as the interventions and implementation plan.
“And what we’ve seen here is that when you really spend the time and invest in the teachers, spend the time investing in the training, then the students are the ones who benefit and the scores show that,” said Blatt.
