Assistant principals are powerful forces who work behind the scenes. Like building principals, they play a critical role in the achievements of schools and students. This month we recognized our assistant principals and deans during April 9-13 for National Assistant Principals Week.

Perry Township Schools has 31 assistant principals and deans who go above and beyond. As one might expect, they focus on the administrative work involved in operating a school, but that’s not all.

They oversee teaching staff, ensure the school’s standards for curriculum and discipline are followed and help teachers with strategies for implementing the curriculum. They address disciplinary concerns, communicate with parents and, when necessary, meet with parents and teachers to discuss ongoing issues. 

In addition, they help assess the performance of teachers and coaches. Our assistant principals also help with bus and lunch duty and passing periods – times of the day when students appreciate a friendly smile and encouraging words.

Our assistant principals also do so much more. They lead major district events like the Spell Bowl and the art fair. They make sure the logistics of events are well organized, and they oversee their marketing and promotion. They staff the events to ensure the programs go according to plan. 

Even more important, they treat every student as they would their own child. They have provided coats, gloves and socks to students who are in need. When families are down on their luck, they help them find the services they need. 

In cases of emergencies, our assistant principals have stepped up to fill the shoes of principals who are absent due to medical leaves and other urgent matters. They fill all of these roles with grace.

During National Assistant Principals Week, we brought all of our assistant principals together for a special breakfast to tell them how much we value their service and expertise. It’s rare that they are able to unite with each other in a fun, informal setting. 
​
Though it was a brief fellowship, it was a meaningful opportunity to show appreciation to educators and leaders who help to make our district a positive learning environment for our growing student body.

Never underestimate the kindness of strangers.
While our students and staff were relaxing over spring break last month, a generous donor contributed $29 million to fund classroom projects in 16,561 schools across all 50 states. Eleven Perry Township schools were among the recipients of the good deed, provided by Ripple, a San Francisco-based startup that’s developing digital currency for faster global financial payments. 

Ripple’s contribution was made to Donors Choose, a crowdfunding platform that allows teachers to list their classroom projects that need funding. The site makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need, and allows donors to give as little as $1. Once a project is fully funded, Donors Choose purchases all the requested items and ships them directly to the school. Every donor gets a thank you letter from the teacher, photos from the classroom and a report of how each dollar was spent. 

Since 2000, Donors Choose has funded more than 1.1 million projects and raised more than $678 million. Of the 421,000 teachers who have had projects funded, 94 percent of them say it increased their effectiveness in the classroom.

Our teachers whose classrooms were funded were pleasantly surprised and sincerely humbled. At Perry Meridian Sixth Grade Academy alone, four classrooms received donations surpassing $20,700 to purchase classic literature, graphic novels, tool sets and a three-year subscription to Channel 1 “Daily News.” Two Mary Bryan Elementary classrooms received more than $650 in supplies, including bulletin boards and furniture like stools and special chairs to help students with learning challenges such as ADHD.

We are also appreciative of every contribution that comes from our kindhearted community members who give of their money, time and talents to make our classrooms even more productive. We value those who choose to mentor and volunteer within our schools. We are also grateful to our Perry Township Education Foundation, a grant making organization that raises funds to support innovative and creative programs to enhance learning. Since its inception it has funded more than $1.2 million in grants.

Not all of the support the foundation receives is monetary. Community Health Network is the exclusive healthcare partner of the foundation and provides a licensed nurse to work in every school clinic! Also, the foundation is always looking for active, dedicated volunteers to assist with events, planning committees or daily administrative tasks. 

For more information about the foundation, visit ptef.org. To view new classroom projects that are listed on the Donors Choose site, visit donorschoose.org and search for schools by zip code.

Perry Township Schools is proud to announce that Abraham Lincoln Elementary was among five finalists for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching – known as NIET – TAP Founder’s Award. 

Lincoln received $10,000, which will further support the professional development of the school’s staff. The TAP system is described as “America’s leading comprehensive educator effectiveness model that connects teacher leadership with daily job-embedded professional development, educator evaluation and support, and opportunities for performance-based compensation.” With NIET, teachers have weekly professional development training that provides student strategies to meet the specific needs of that school.

Lincoln, led by Principal Whitney Wilkowski and Assistant Principal John Sponsel, received the honor at the NIET conference in Washington, D.C., last month. They were accompanied by Superintendent Patrick Mapes, Assistant Superintendent Vickie Carpenter, Assistant Superintendent Robert Bohannon and the administrator for professional development and English learners, who led a 90-minute presentation on the district’s focus on growing teachers to grow students. A group of 14 other administrators and teachers were also in attendance to participate in breakout sessions, workshops and training programs.

This is the third time Perry Township has been recognized for excelling in NIET techniques. In 2015 Perry Township Schools received the TAP Award of Distinction from NIET Chairman TAP Founder Lowell Milken and NIET President Gary Stark. 

Southport Elementary won the award in 2016 and received a $50,000 prize for staff development. The TAP System allows teaching staff to merge their core teaching knowledge with understanding critical factors such as poverty and mobility. Understanding those factors is necessary for designing and planning instruction that respects students’ differences and encourages their growth.

Through the TAP System, Lincoln’s staff has excelled in addressing educational challenges, including a large student body, a language learning curve, a 20 to 30 percent student mobility rate and Title I status – a designation that supports students from low-income families. NIET’s targeted, weekly professional learning and constant attention to data guide staff to form a coherent vision of student success. 

Student success at Lincoln has uniquely become a community affair. Families participate in math family night to understand what and how their children are learning. Students, themselves, drive these conversations. Teachers host visits for other Indiana schools that want to come and observe success at Lincoln. In addition, faculty members have met with state legislators and even engaged in greater state policy discussions. 
​
Perry Township Schools is a proud partner of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching program. The implementation of NIET’s model at Lincoln and Southport has inspired us to implement NIET best practices districtwide.