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 Faculty and
staff at Ryan Elementary School operate by the motto, “every child,
whatever it takes.” This attitude helped Ryan Elementary earn a school
performance score above 80, while serving a high number of racial
minority students and students who qualify for free or reduced
lunch. Their success caught the attention of the Louisiana Department of
Education.
During a press conference on Wednesday, February 13, State
Superintendent Paul Pastorek singled out twenty schools across the state
which earned high-test scores among students traditionally deemed
difficult to educate. “It can be done, it is being done, right here in
this parish,” said Pastorek. In his remarks, he acknowledged the unique
challenge Ryan Elementary faces as a choice school. Students who attend
under performing schools in East Baton Rouge Parish and are eligible to
enroll at Ryan cannot do so until October. It is up to Ryan Elementary
Principal Darlene Brister and her staff to get the students caught up as
quickly as possible.
 Brister credits
the school’s team environment as the primary source of its success. “We
have teachers interacting with teachers, students interacting with
students, and teachers interacting with parents, it is truly a social
learning environment,” Brister said. East Baton Rouge Parish Schools
Superintendent Charlotte Placide points to Brister as the key to the
school's success. “It takes great leadership,” Placide said. “And that’s
what this school has here in Mrs. Brister, a great instructional
leader.”
President of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education,
Linda Johnson, says schools experiencing this type of success are models
to be cloned at other schools in East Baton Rouge Parish and across the
state. “It’s exciting to be in Louisiana and have 20 schools succeeding
with high poverty and high minority. Typically, what we do is go to
other states,” Johnson added.
Pastorek also tapped Brister as his first recruit to serve on a
Principals Advisory Committee. He said this group will help educate him
on the challenges, strategies and solutions in educating students from
low income families. For more information, view website at
http://ryan.ebrschools.org/.
And, EBR Schools Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday with WAFB News Anchor
Jeanne Burns at South Blvd School and in the classroom at Winbourne
Elementary with Ms. Clark’s Pre-K class… Green Eggs and Ham, anyone? |
