East Elementary (Cullman City) Instructional Round

May 1- East Elementary (Cullman County)
Grades: 2-6
# Students: 577
Demographics: 89% White 5% Hispanic 3% African American 3% Asian
F/R lunch: 28%
Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Begin: 8:30 a.m.
End: 2:15 p.m.
What can participants expect to see when they visit?
Founded in 1936 as Cullman Elementary School, East Elementary School has a rich history of providing an excellent educational experience for the children of Cullman.
EES has received a 5-Star rating from schooldigger.com, as well as a grade of “A” from the 2017 Niche Report.  We are a 2008 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence, a two-time CLAS Banner School, and the 2013 Alabama winner of the Exemplary Reading Program Award from the International Reading Association.  The success experienced by our students is a direct reflection of our school’s culture and climate.  All that we do at EES is student-focused, and all is done with a smile.  On Twitter and Facebook, EES utilizes the hashtag #happyschool to promote our climate of joy.
Our joy is derived from the teacher autonomy that is promoted and supported by our administration.  As East Elementary School does not prescribe to a basal reading program, teachers are allowed to create a reading program based on standards-based instruction that is differentiated to meet the diverse individual needs of our students.  To meet each learner’s needs, we create intervention and enrichment opportunities by targeting specific needs based on multiple student performance data.  At any time during the school day, students can be seen traversing the hallways between multiple grade-level teachers providing them with additional support for their identified needs.  A key component to classroom instruction includes meaningful learning targets, as they guide student learning experiences.  EES utilizes a collaborative student learning model creating opportunities for peer-to-peer support, whether it be teacher initiated or student led.  Formative assessment is a must in all classrooms, as it informs our instructional decisions and planning.  We have skillfully integrated technology into every facet of our instructional program, whether it be in delivery, assessment, or project-based learning.