Porter Elementary School has the culture and facilities. Now, it's going to have the technology.
"We will continue to build upon the culture and heritage," said
Principal Jared Smith, who replaced Debbie Craig. "We have great
families, great students, great teachers. Ms. Craig created deep
relationships and developed an esteemed school culture. "Our biggest
campaign is technology," he said. "We need to play catch-up with
technology — and it's not cheap. I've been completing grant proposals,
reaching out to teachers and working with them to accomplish this goal.
I've told them, 'If we want nice things, we have to work for it.'"
Kết quả xổ số Cà MauPorter Elementary purchased three interactive whiteboards about
two weeks ago, bringing its total to four, Smith said. "Our campaign's
first phase is interactive technology in grades 3-5. The second phase is
a response to this year's online testing. "We assessed capabilities
last year, evaluating bandwidth, computer and software," he said. "We've
determined that we need at least one mobile (computer) lab for grades
3-5, (a total of three). We're going to find the resources to make it
happen. It's nonnegotiable. It has to happen." In addition to technology
upgrades, Porter Elementary is focused on a number of security
upgrades. It installed a video intercom system at the main entrance this
past summer.
Officials also changed drop-off procedures, Smith said. Parents
are lining up now on Porter Academy Road and Kidd Street, instead of the
front parking lot. It has prevented traffic from backing up onto
Wildwood Road. "We're constantly evaluating our drop-off procedures," he
said. "However, we're pleased that it has helped us to provide a safer
environment for our students and our families."
Kết quả xổ số Cà MauDifferentiate instruction
Kết quả xổ số Cà MauSmith hopes to realize higher student performance by empowering
teachers. "I'm giving teachers autonomy in their classrooms. I'm less of
a manger and more of a coach. I'm not going to micromanage them,
because they're highly qualified professionals who love kids. As the
instructional leader of this building, though, I've encouraged teachers
to create a personalized environment and differentiate
instruction. "Everybody learns differently," he said. "I want them to
find different ways to present material to students, adding different
layers and bringing more kids into the fold. After all, we're not a
widget factory. We're a school working with humans who don't fit neatly
into specific categories." Smith has also encouraged teachers to
capitalize on student excitement and interest. "As administrators and
teachers, we need to seize that energy, expanding and exploiting it.
Everybody learns best in an environment that's full of energy and
excitement."
Kết quả xổ số Cà MauCommunity partnerships
Porter Elementary also hopes to create community excitement by
partnering with area businesses and organizations, Smith said. "We want
them on board with what we're doing, which is maximizing the academic
potential of every child in a safe, personalized environment. We have a
lot of real estate with our fence, and we'd like to show the community
who is helping us to meet our mission." Any businesses or organizations
interested in partnerships should contact Smith at 865-983-4071. Porter
Elementary is seeking assistance of all kinds, including in-kind and
monetary donations.
Kết quả xổ số Cà MauEducators also hope to engage students and their
families, Smith said. "We want them here. We'd love to see them
volunteer their time. We can do a lot on our own, but we can do the most
when the businesses and families of Blount County partner with us to
grow our children."
Kết quả xổ số Cà MauBy Matthew Stewart-The Daily Times