1. Introduction and Background

1. Introduction and Background

1.1 School Community

The Ulla F. Muller Elementary School is located at 101 Contant, St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands. The school is comprised of sixteen regular classrooms in addition to two Gifted and Talented classes, two transitional classes, and two modified instructional classes.Ý Our school presently serves a population of 424 students from kindergarten through the sixth grade.Ý One hundred percent of our students qualify for the free lunch program and the ethnic breakdown is 93.8% African-American, 5% Hispanic, 1% Middle Eastern, and 2% Caucasian.

School Strengths:

… Committed staffÝ

Our staff extends the teaching/learning environment beyond the scope of the school day.Ý They report early, work through lunch hours, and work after school to help those students who need assistance.Ý To support learning in reading and math, our teachers are active in after school clubs such as Math Counts and Family Reading Nights.ÝÝ Twenty-five percent of our faculty are also leaders in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

… Staff Qualification and Stability

Our staff is highly qualified:Ý 93% have a B.A degree or higher and only one teacher works outside his/her field.ÝÝ Sixty-seven percent of our teachers have been working at the school for over five years.Ý

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The Remedial Reading teacher provides development reading for a group for 7 students in the primary Transitional class.Ý She also provides remedial instruction for students in grades one, two, and the primary Transitional class.Ý Additionally, we participate in 2 programs that extend reading beyond the classroom:Ý Reading is Fundamental (RIF) in which students receive three free books per year, and Family Reading Nights for eight weeks where students receive one free book per visit.Ý Research has shown that home reading is important in assisting children in becoming good readers. (Henderson,1987)

… Technology

In our computer lab and/or in the classrooms, students use computers in the content areas in math (Leap Frog Math), as a problem-solving tool (spreadsheets, puzzles, Inspiration) and in reading comprehension (Top Hat Tales and AstroWord). ÝOur Technology Committee trains other teachers to use technology in support of reading and math.Ý This provides teachers with additional strategies to individualize instruction and meet the needs of students with alternative learning styles.

Science and Math Lab

Our Science and Math Lab is equipped with a variety of math manipulatives for hands-on learning as well as equipment and materials to perform science experiments.Ý In addition, the television, VCR, and DVD player are used to show educational programs.ÝÝ The equipment in the Lab supports alternative learning styles by providing visual and kinesthetic learning tools.

… After School Program

In order to provide assistance to students who have shown a weakness in core academic subjects, particularly reading and math, we have conducted an After School Program at Muller for the last 6 years.

Challenges:

… Very low scores on standardized testÝÝÝ

Based on Spring 2003 scores on the WRAT standardized test, over 66% of our students scored below the 50^th percentile in reading and in math.

Low Parental Involvement

Many parents have more than one job; many of our students come from one-parent families; the education of some of our parents is minimal, and some of our parents are grounded in a culture that believes that the school is in charge of their childís education. These factors result in reduced parental involvement as confirmed by an average PTA attendance rate of 25%.Ý Research indicates that parental involvement significantly increases student achievement (1987). Ý

Technology ÝAs per our technology plan, we should have 3 computers in each classroom.Ý We only have 1.1 which is not enough to significantly support reading and math.

1.2 School Improvement Team

As in the past years, faculty and staff members volunteered to be on the 2003-2004 School Improvement Team.Ý Additional persons were recruited to represent various groups in the school and community.Ý (See below.)Ý The Team Leader was elected by the group members.Ý Each year, faculty and staff sign up for various committees and decide how many years he/she will serve.ÝÝ

Table 1: School Improvement Team

Team Member	Position	RoleÝÝÝ (COMMITTEES)	Length of Service
Mrs. O. Shillingford	Principal	Assessment Committee, (chair)	1990-
Mrs. C. Sarauw	Assistant Principal	Assessment Committee	2003-
Mrs. A. Carty	Librarian	Team Leader, Reading & Math Com.	1989-92, 1995-
Mrs. C. Tyson	Computer Teacher	Technology Committee, (chair)	1989-
Mrs. E. Stephen	K- teacher	Assessment, Reading Committee	2000-
Mrs. L. Lettsome	5^th grade teacher	Technology, Math Committee	1998-
Mrs. J. Norford	Transitional teacher	Math (chair) and Parental Committees	2003-
Ms. A. Callwood	GAT teacher	Technology, Reading