Education superintendent visits Delmae Heights Elementary

By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: September 16, 2008

FLORENCE — State Education Superintendent Dr. Jim Rex visited Delmae Heights Elementary School on Tuesday to see what some state department officials call one of the best examples of the state’s Mathematics and Science Coaching Initiative.

The initiative was created to help prepare and support school leaders or coaches who would engage teachers in reflective practices and assist them in implementing effective instructional strategies in math and science, according to the state Mathematics and Science Unit Web site, http://www.myscmsu.org. The initiative also helps support school learning communities as they plan, implement and reflect on mathematics and science instruction.

Rex said Delmae was highly recommended by Dr. John Holton, coordinator of the state Department of Education’s Mathematics and Science Unit, because of the impact the program has had on the school.

After visiting several classrooms, Rex sat down with the school’s math coach, Ginger Baggette, principal Roy Ann Jolley and other elementary school teachers and Florence School District 1 staff to discuss the program’s importance and how it has built a more collaborative environment.

Rex said his visit to the school reinforced his beliefs in a number of things, including the importance of having curriculum coaches in schools as a resource, more state level support for local schools and collaboration among teachers and administrators.

“Everything I saw today, everything I heard today and everything I felt today all sort of reinforce each other,” he said. “This is a good elementary school that is doing a lot of good things for a lot of kids.”

During the discussion, Jolley said math has taken on a life of its own at her school, thanks to this initiative.

“Our children are excited about it,” she said. “They’re not threatened by it. I can see the difference in the way students approach math and parents don’t have as many questions about how to help their children with math.”

Jolley said she also has seen more teachers share their best practices in teaching.

Baggette said this is the third year the school has participated in the initiative, and she decided to pursue the coaching opportunity to find another way to meet the needs of the school’s diverse population.

She said the initiative has “truly benefited the students” and has built a stronger foundation for collaborative efforts among the school’s teachers.

“We’re beginning to see a lot of community building with our staff,” Baggette said. “Prior to this, collaboration was not something that we emphasized, but now teachers collaborate not only in math, but all subjects. It really (has) brought us together as a community.”