Indian Riffle Elementary receives big honor
When Kettering City Schools Superintendent Scott Inskeep delivered the news to the staff at Indian Riffle Elementary that the school had been selected as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, there were lots of cheers, hugs and no small amount of confetti flying.
“The Kettering City School District is so proud of the accomplishments of Indian Riffle Elementary School. The school is an example of how a cooperative partnership between the school, staff and families results in a great learning experience for the students,” Inskeep said. “Indian Riffle takes students from where they are to where they want to be and the principal of Indian Riffle, Debbie Beiter, is tireless in her belief that all children can learn and move forward, and she is an incredible advocate for her staff, students and family. We are so honored to receive this prestigious award as one of only 16 Ohio schools to be honored.”
Indian Riffle Elementary has been designated an “Exemplary High-Performing School,” a designation that places it in an elite group of Ohio’s highest performing schools, and this coveted award affirms the hard work of Indian Riffle staff and families and the ongoing support of the entire Kettering community for high-quality, high-performing schools.
Getting the good news that Indian Riffle Elementary is one of the top performing schools in the country was the culmination of several months of work on the part Beiter and her team of staff members who worked on the application. It is also validation that what the staff is doing to grow kids is working.
“The Indian Riffle staff and I are humbled and excited about this national award. Last year, when we were nominated by the Ohio Department of Education, we set to work on the lengthy application, answering questions about Indian Riffle School,” says Beiter, adding, “Over the years, we have figured out a formula that has been successful for our students, and this formula consists of three major components.”
The first component, notes Beiter, is having a caring and dedicated staff.
“We foster a climate here at Indian Riffle where we all work together and do what is best for students,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what your job is, because each and every position is important and valuable to the success of our students.”
A second component Beiter credits with student growth and success is a scheduled intervention period for every student in kindergarten through the fifth grade. Using current student data — studied by grade-level data teams — and connecting intentional interventions to the students who need them on a daily basis, the staff is able to close the gap that some students may have. “We also use the intervention period to enhance the learning of our gifted students and those students who are working above grade level,” says Beiter, adding, “The intervention period, integrated with our strong curriculum, gives our students a well-rounded education built on progress.”
The support of Indian Riffle families and the Indian Riffle community is the third component Beiter cites as a contributor to student success. “We appreciate the partnerships our parents, grandparents and guardians share with us to support the education of our students. When we all work together, much can be accomplished,” Beiter said.