(Beaver Dam) Jefferson Elementary was recently recognized as the Beaver Dam School District’s School of the Month. Principal Jesse Peters highlighted positive developments within their collaborative team meetings.
“Our biggest actions focus in two areas…one is on the learning…the learning of our students the learning of our staff…that learning for our staff happens in those collaborative meetings…happens during our staff meetings…happens during our in-service time,” says Peters. “So, we’ve made conscious effort to have more professional learning during those times…connected back to instructional strategies…connected back to engagement.”
Peters also noted Jefferson’s push to offer more acknowledgements for both students and staff.
“The other piece that we’re doing with a lot of our actions are trying to do more acknowledgements…more recognitions…of our staff…of our students,” says Peters. “Helping them to understand the work that they do as a student…how it gets their results. Work that we’re doing with their strong minds…they’re learing…work that they’re doing with those bodies that are in control…how that then translates so it’s not just happenstance that learning happenings.”
The elementary recognizes students through their ‘Jaguars of the Week’ program, where a teacher nominates a student for their academic and behavioral successes. Teachers also can receive ‘Jaguar Staff Medallions’ as a way to recognize their efforts.
