Aikin and Justiss elementary schools have been nominated to receive a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School award for the 2017-2018 school year by the Flippen Group.
Two years ago, school administrators began an initiative to transform its campuses into an emotionally safe and relationally connected place for students, staff, and parents to come together with a love for learning.
After researching programs used by some of the nation’s most successful schools, Paris Independent School District leaders chose to bring Capturing Kids’ HeartsⓇ to its campuses. Teachers and staff have learned processes to connect students with their peers and adults on campus, and to create classrooms where students are excited to learn every day.
As a result of implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts, the schools have experienced higher student engagement and an increase in positive student-teacher relationships.
“Since our staff began working with the Capturing Kids’ Hearts model, we’ve seen a marked decrease in office referrals and a measurable increase in positive student response to the connection building techniques emphasized in the program,” said Aikin Elementary principal Kimberly Donnan. “Our test scores are steadily improving, and valuable relationships are being built with our students and their families.”
"Capturing Kids’ Hearts has given us the tools to truly make a difference in our students’ lives by starting where it counts, their hearts,” commented Justiss Elementary principal Renee Elmore. “Our teachers do a wonderful job of building relationships and getting to know their students so that they can then impact their education."
Each school was considered for this award based on observation; level of implementation of Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes by all staff as measured by online surveys; and data demonstrating that Capturing Kids’ Hearts has made a significant improvement in attendance, discipline, climate/culture, or academics.
A Flippen Group site team will visit Aikin Elementary and Justiss Elementary to observe the progress taking place and decide whether the campuses qualify to become a recipient of this year’s award. The team will gather additional quantitative and qualitative data and interview students, teachers, administrators, and parents. A matrix of key measurements will be compiled from the campus observation. Finally, an additional survey will be conducted to collect feedback regarding the perceived climate and culture of the campus and its conduciveness to learning.
Following the site visit, the selection team will review all accumulated data and select the campuses to be this year’s recipients of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools awards.
Additional information on Capturing Kids’ Hearts is available at www.flippengroup.com
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