Contact: Staci Curry , 601.987.9187 or scurry@jbhm.com

School Improvement Initiative
Evelyn E.J. Webb, Ph.D.
Corporate Director, School Improvement

A Quick Look
A school is only as strong as its leaders and the Ed Group addresses the needs of these leaders through its primary service, the School Improvement Initiative. At the school-level implementation, a school improvement consultant works side-by-side with the principal and teachers on site two days a week throughout the school year to provide a variety of specialized services that meet the needs of a school.  

A Closer Look
Successful school districts understand the need for key practices.  In the Ed Group's experience, schools not performing at high levels - and some that are - lack these intrinsic practices. All too often, the hallways and classrooms of schools on the precipice of failure are filled with such negative whispers, or even outright declarations, as "these kids," "these parents," "these materials (or lack of)," "this building," and "the way it's always been." This must change so that communities can reclaim prosperous futures for their children. Leadership must have a new model for how to run their school.   Excuses are not acceptable.      

Joint classroom observation is the beginning to the end of excuses. By having a principal join with an Ed Group school improvement consultant in weekly classroom observation, the Initiative is able to model, support, assist, and push school leaders to implement change that will, ultimately, increase student achievement. Joint classroom observation allows principals to learn firsthand from consultants how to properly observe and give feedback to teachers while routinely monitoring school practices.  

The key practices that principals are taught to monitor are:

• The use of guaranteed viable curriculum (state curriculum)
• Maintaining a level of difficulty/complexity that meets National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards
• Protecting instructional time
• Teaching from bell to bell
• High student engagement
• Managing classrooms first, disciplining when necessary

A high level of accountability for all adults in the school setting is the only way to have real and lasting change. Therefore, consultants document classroom needs and report those needs to the superintendent and school board on a weekly basis. However, these school leaders are expected to do more than read reports. They are expected to join the principal and Ed Group consultant in joint classroom observation as often as possible. The purpose of joint class room observation is to build a common knowledge of excellent classroom instruction among all stakeholders. The dedication and participation of these leaders means the difference between success and failure for their schools.

For more information on the Ed Group's School Improvement Initiative services, contact your state director.