We are heartened by Antonio Del Buono Elementary School’s
success. The school, which serves a student population that mirrors
Gilroy in ethnic and socioeconomic balance, posted admirable gains
in its test scores.
We are heartened by Antonio Del Buono Elementary School’s success. The school, which serves a student population that mirrors Gilroy in ethnic and socioeconomic balance, posted admirable gains in its test scores.
But the best thing is that at Del Buono, success isn’t limited to just part of the student population. Instead, every subgroup – white, Hispanic and low-income – posted 23-point or greater gains.
Gilroy Unified School District officials have a winning education plan in ADB, and they need to find ways to replicate the school’s success across the district.
We think that some of the key factors are consistency, collaboration, accountability, communication and leadership.
Antonio Del Buono – like Eliot School and Rod Kelley the other two GUSD schools that increased their Academic Performance Index scores in the latest round of testing – is led by a strong principal.
The school’s leadership fosters collaboration among teachers on a defined curriculum. Teachers are encouraged to find creative, unique ways to instruct, but all grade levels are learning the same material. That consistency helps as students move from grade to grade, because teachers know that incoming students, no matter which teacher they had the previous year, have all been exposed to the same material in math, reading, writing, science and social studies.
The assessment wall in a room next to the principal’s office is an example of the important role accountability plays in ADB’s success. Cards representing every Antonio Del Buono student are posted on the wall. As students improve during the school year, the cards advance along the wall. Teachers have a graphic reminder that their goal is to advance student learning coupled with a way to evaluate their success in achieving that goal.
Teachers are encouraged to communicate ideas and opinions with each other and with school leadership. Students go to school in a personalized environment where several staff members know their name despite the fact that 750 students attend ADB.
These efforts have paid off in high teacher morale and in student success.
Sadly, many of Gilroy’s schools are struggling to increase student test scores. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, we need to replicate the example of success that Antonio Del Buono provides right here in Gilroy. Let’s find a way to take the lessons of ADB’s success and apply them throughout Gilroy’s public schools.
