Between the years 2010 and 2012 Belle Sherman students scored in the top twenty percent in the state in English/Language Arts and Math and closed the performance gap between the highest and lowest achieving students. In addition, the lowest performing students showed growth rates that exceed the state average.
The perk of being a reward school is that they are now eligible to apply for a grant along with the other reward schools. Five schools will each be given up to $150,000 each year for two years. The financial incentive is enticing, but simply getting recognized for high quality education is enough, said Principal Dan Breiman.
“I’m just happy to start off the year this way,” he said. “It’s good positive momentum. We work very hard and it’s good to be acknowledged for what we do.”
Despite having eight elementary schools and four middle/high schools, Belle Sherman is the only school in the Ithaca City School District to have been named a reward school. Breiman, who grew up in the district, said that one aspect that sets them apart is their inventive approach to education.
“The reason we’re successful is we’re willing to be innovative,” he said. “We’re willing to take risks, try new things and as a team we learn together through the process.”
One of the most successful innovations has been the school’s partnership with Imagine Learning, a game-based literacy software. In the spring of 2012, select students from pre-K-5th grade participated in the program in which they learned literacy through various interactive games. Later that spring, test scores illustrated the benefits of game-based learning as Belle Sherman fifth graders scored higher than any other fifth graders in the district.
While these programs help the students learn in new ways, it is not the only contributing factor to their success. Fourth grade teacher and 13-year veteran of Belle Sherman, Nancy Thompson said that a number of people work to enhance the educational experience so it becomes relevant to each child.
“The families, staff, and community all work together to help create an enriching, inclusive experience for every child at Belle Sherman,” she said. “Every child counts and many people make it happen.”
A transparent relationship with the community has been a key part in the success of the BS and it’s students, says PTA President Thalia Hussain, whose daughter is a first-grader at the school.
“They focus on your kids’ needs and if you’re open to receiving that information they’re open to working with you on that,” she said. “Our school is very community-oriented. We have so much parent involvement in what goes on and so many parents that are willing to help.”
Principal Breiman has made it his duty to visit each classroom every single day to develop relationships with all the students and see how the teachers are interacting with those students. Although he says that this level of engagement can be exhausting, his efforts haven’t passed unnoticed.
“Dan’s great,” says Hussain. “Even before I was PTA President I could knock on his door anytime and talk to him about whatever I needed to talk to him about and he would find the time for me.”
Both Hussain and Breiman are products of the district, and both are proud of the work that is being done at the school. Breiman has worked in schools in New York, Cambridge, and Houston, but said that he has never seen a community and school support each other so well. This level of support is a point of pride among parents like Hussain.
“Oh now I brag that my kid goes to Belle Sherman,” she said. “I feel like I hit the lotto!”
Although there is no timetable, Breiman will share his school’s teaching methods with other schools across the state.
