Polk County Public Schools
Karla Wean, Mulberry High art teacher, was named a prestigious Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar. She will travel to Japan in June for a professional development opportunity that will be financed by the government of Japan. Karla has incorporated Japanese art into her instruction and her June trip will increase her knowledge and bring her more cross-cultural experience. The program is designed to increase understanding between the Japanese and American people by inviting U.S. teachers to visit Japan and share their experiences. Karla has designed extensive curriculum and high-level thinking assignments incorporating Japanese culture, education, arts and history.
Lakeland’s Winston Elementary was chosen as the recipient of a $200,000 grant through The Council for Educational Change and Partnership To Advance School Success (PASS) program. The grant provides additional support to school and school district strategies to improve student achievement. The grant is part of a program that involves The Council for Educational Change, PASS, Publix Super Market Charities and Polk Businesses for World Class Education. The program was instituted in 2004 and involves leadership development of school staff and was done to develop a culture of high achievement and strong instructional leadership at the school. Since Winston’s involvement with the four organizations, Winston has experienced significant increases in student achievement in reading and math has raised its FCAT grade to a B. The school is also close to reaching full compliance status with the federal government’s rigorous No Child Left Behind standards..
Three Polk elementary schools were named national model schools by the Learning-Focused Solutions organization. Mulberry’s Kingsford Elementary was the first Florida school to receive the distinction and Auburndale’s Boswell Elementary and Lakeland’s Dixieland Elementary also recently earned the honor. The schools were recognized for their comprehensive school improvement models, exemplary learning and instruction strategies based on research and the schools’ framework for higher-level thinking. The schools are also recognized for their ability to refine and extend their students’ learning skills.
Kathleen Middle is the recipient of a National Education Foundation grant that sponsors a staff development program to help teachers better understand the design and types of questions included on the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) The grant, in the amount of $5,000, will help to align instructional strategies and activities to reflect the FCAT format. Kathleen Middle teachers Jutta Doster and Julia Mento were involved with the school receiving the grant award.
