By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
The Eastern Aroostook RSU 39 Board of Education met on March 7 at the Teague Park Elementary School, where board members, prior to the meeting, were provided with the opportunity to tour the grades 3-5 hallways and classrooms.
roostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
When members of the Eastern Aroostook RSU 39 Board of Education toured the Teague Park Elementary School prior to a recent meeting they were greeted by a surprise classroom, filled with “proxy” students and their teacher, Mrs. Kelli Hixon. Hixon and her class had stuffed clothing to create students, complete with sneakers seated at their desks, quietly reading.
During the meeting Teague Park staff members with Principal Tanya Belanger, addressed the board members informing them on a variety of changes within the elementary curriculum that have been successful in areas of reading, mathematics and writing.
“Our goal is to meet the needs of our students,” said Cindy McDuffie, a grade-four teacher. “We are very proud of the academic push through the Literacy by Design program which incorporates comprehensive reading and writing and also reading with science, that has been successful.” McDuffie also said the students are reading more and understanding mathematics at a high level.
Fran Savage who teaches at the third-grade level at Teague Park provided the RSU 39 board members with an overview of a mathematics program 1XL, where teachers and students access content through the two computation computers. Savage walked the board members through the program, displaying how students are able to log into the program (this can also be done at home). This program is not only used as a learning/teaching tool but also for practice testing prior to the mandated NECAP testing which is done twice a year, measuring a student’s academic growth and/or problem areas. NECAP also provides state and nation-wide result comparisons for individual subjects and grade levels.
Lois Brewer, RSU 39 assistant superintendent, addressed the panel on the NECAP school-wide (grades 3-8) testing which replaced Maine Educational Assessment testing several years ago (and soon to be replaced by another). Brewer gave an overview of the testing results highlighting those grade level whose results were at or above state and nationwide averages as well as citing those areas needing more intervention.
The Caribou Middle School results showed that of 198 students tested, 120 tested at or above the state average but test results in math were of concern. At the elementary level, students tested above the state average in math but fifth-grade vocabulary showed less growth. Test results at the Limestone Community School results showed growth in fifth-grade writing.
Also during the RSU meeting at Teague Park, panel members got to see first-hand what staff members mean when they state that they work to create a “family atmosphere” within the school, as they viewed a PowerPoint presentation put together by Amy Hunter, music instructor, showing photos of students and staff members participating in classroom projects, lessons and outdoor activities.
RSU 39 board member Scott Willey thanked the Teague Park staff for hosting the meeting. “Walking though this school helps me to see all the changes that have taken place and how things are being utilized by both students and staff,” he said.
Board Chair Dale Gordon, in her comments, said, “Thank you very much — you have much to be proud of in your school.”
