Scaling Up Excellence

In the racially diverse, economically depressed community of Wyoming, Mich., North Godwin Elementary is helping most students meet or exceed state standards. Now, administrators are tackling one of the biggest challenges facing educators today: how to scale one school’s successful practices districtwide. Hear from school and district leaders about how they established research-based practice, common hiring standards, and careful support of new and veteran teachers, as well as about the district’s struggles and successes in implementing these practices in multiple schools so that all students in this low-income district can benefit.

Bill Fetterhoff, principal;
Michelle Krynicki, instructional specialist;
Deborah Smith, first grade teacher; and 
Ed Wierenga, fourth-grade teacher, North Godwin Elementary School;
Arelis Diaz, assistant superintendent;
Dana Houseman, computer technician, Godwin Heights Public Schools.