Six South Florida schools make complete turnaround
Students thrive with incentives, patience, positive reinforcement
There was a time when some students at Walker Elementary would get so violent they hit their teachers.
The principal’s office disciplined students at the F-ranked Fort Lauderdale school at least four or five times a day. And 20 percent of kids missed at least 18 days in one school year.
But Walker is turning itself around, and its transformation is a model for other schools embarking on similar efforts, said Superintendent Robert Runcie.
Six South Florida schools — three in Broward and three in Palm Beach County — launched makeovers this year as part of a state initiative that gives principals greater autonomy to improve student performance.
At Bethune Elementary in Hollywood, a new principal will ensure teachers get more training and that they better monitor individual student progress. She also kicked off the year with more events for parents to interact with staff and teachers.
The school lost 21 percent of its enrollment this year compared with last — the biggest hit of any school in the district.
“The challenge is to rebrand the school,” said Principal Latosha Williams. “Open house parent nights is a way to start the relationship so they know the doors are open.”
In Palm Beach County, the principal at Orchard View Elementary in Delray Beach is offering music lessons with string instruments, such as violin and cello. She also will open a program for gifted students, starting with kindergarten next year.
Other local “turn-around” schools are West Riviera Beach Elementary in Riviera Beach, Lake Shore Middle in Belle Glade, Park Lakes in Lauderdale Lakes and Village Elementary in Sunrise.
They are part of the initia-