SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Not every public school can even be considered to be a Spotlight School for the state Department of Public Instruction. Since the state agency began this program, no more than ten have been selected in a school year.
For the second year in a row, Grant Elementary in Sheboygan was selected for this honor. The school was selected for its consistently high test scores given their higher than state average low-income student population. This allowed the school to apply for this recognition.
Guidance Counselor Lisa Bieman says the school has a focus on two practices that help with student achievement. One focus is on how teachers interact with students. "How we work with kids who are below or above the grade level skills and what they need in terms of enhancing their instruction, so how to give additional instruction for everybody who needs it." The other spotlight is on how to improve student behaviors in the classroom.
For receiving this honor, the school receives a $25,000 grant from D-P-I. Principal Jim Renzelman says the money will be used to pay for three other schools to visit and view what they do.
The rest will go towards continuing their student education and student behavior practices that earn them this honor. "So we’re utilizing some things with our after school program and implementing PBIS there," says Renzelman. "We have a homework club, so trying to help some of those students get that intervention and that extra help on homework"
Renzelman adds the rest of the money will go towards improve book selection in classrooms to grow reading skills.