You may remember in May 2013, the state of Missouri forced Gordon Parks Elementary to close its doors due to constant low state test scores.
Tamara Allen-Williams remembers that day vividly.
“It was a lot going on in my head emotionally,” Allen-Williams said. “I fell apart, I cried.”
Allen-Williams, a second-grade teacher, has taught at the school for the past eight years and was one of the very few teachers who stayed, waiting to see the outcome of their fight to keep the school open.
“I just felt I needed to be here, because these kids needed me” Allen-Williams said. “They need somebody that cares.”
After winning the injunction, the charter school reopened its doors later that fall.
“When we heard that, we were screaming and hollering and yaying and hugging,” she said. “You would've thought everyone here was my sister, brother mother father because we were so happy.”
Bringing in behavioral specialists and education directors, just to name a few, the school gave its academic culture a full makeover.
“We've seen a nice increase in our student attendance in our social, emotional growth of our students, but our most proud points is how our students have grown academically on our state assessments,” Chief Academic Officer, Joe Palmer said.
Using a large and colorful board, teachers and administrators asses each and every student.
“It helps us for a number of reasons,” Education Director, Jennifer Hagemaster said. “It helps us to personalize our learning. It helps us to know if our instruction is working, if it's not working. And if it's not, is it something we need to change or do differently.”
A board that not only focuses on a students academic progress, but looking at attendance and behavior as well.
"It really helps us to personalize our learning and just for all of us on a whole school level to know where our kids are at any given time."
Data showed quite a change in test scores from 2013 to 2016, also an increase in its student population.
It’s a place that turned a difficult challenge into an opportunity.
“Our rank has risen so high and we're not stopping there because we want to be number one,” Allen-Williams said. “We don't want to look for any direction except for being leader of the pact. And so we're still pushing even though we've made great gains, we're still pushing.”
Gordon Parks is hoping to provide each student with a mentor. If you are interested in becoming a mentor to a Gordon Parks student, you can contact the school at 816-753-6700 or connect with them on the school’s Facebook page.
------
Rae Daniel can be reached at Rae.Daniel@KSHB.com.
