Atlantis Elementary collaboratively develops common goals as well as a shared mission and vision.  Progress is frequently measured school wide on the common SMART goals. Teachers work together in focused teams with common planning to increase student learning. This collaboration is successful through honoring team norms, supporting each others’ professional development needs, and sharing best practice. Teacher leaders present at the district, state and national levels. Every teacher develops a Professional Growth Plan (PGP) with action research based on team SMART goals. This is in conjunction with student and community feedback and analysis of student learning. This process creates an interdependent community where all members are accountable.

Using the district wide model of the continuous school improvement cycle, PLC teams develop common assessments aligned with expectations for student learning.  To ensure student achievement, rubrics focused on essential outcomes clarify criteria for quality work. Collective inquiry of results assist in planning optimal differentiated instruction; intervention or acceleration designed for every learner. Our high performing collaborative teams are committed to continuous improvement among peers, learners and families.

Atlantis’ classes are built around the needs of our students: we have multi-grade, exceptional education inclusion, as well as self-contained exceptional education classrooms.  Utilizing these diverse learning environments, coinciding with daily needs-based flexible grouping across grade levels, naturally creates a culture where everyone is accountable for the success of all students. Students reflect on their own progress through self-assessment (i.e. exit slips, rubrics, journals) and evaluation of progress in goals is articulated in student-led conferences. Teachers share knowledge with families through workshops, such as Math/Science Make and Take, FSA night, and literacy nights.

1. Monitoring student learning on a timely basis.

Atlantis PLC teams focus on the 4 guiding questions:

• What do we want students to learn?
• How will we know that they have learned it?
• What will we do if they don’t learn it?
• What will we do if they have already learned it?

Teams analyze data to inform instruction and eliminate learning gaps.  We develop and evaluate common assessments using teacher-generated rubrics. As a PLC, we support each other with instructional strategies to address areas of need as measured by the formative and summative assessments. PLC teams articulate vertically across grade levels and subject areas to develop plans that meet the needs of all learners establishing a clear purpose and priority for instruction.

We develop SMART goals to focus instruction on essential learning outcomes. All members of the school community work to set goals and monitor progress in an ongoing manner. Student outcomes are tracked using a data wall as well as computerized data monitoring system to develop individualized progress monitoring plans that provide intervention and enrichment opportunities.

2. Creating systems of intervention to provide students with additional time and support for learning.

Atlantis uses a whole school approach to meet the needs of our learners.  Teachers open their classrooms before and after school to offer help sessions. Local high school interns, parent volunteers, and retired teachers invest time working with small groups and tutor individual students in need of additional support.

PLC teams identify and utilize the strengths of each individual teacher to plan a daily scheduled Walk to Intervention (WtI) program based on MTSS data. Learners are able to receive targeted interventions to address skill gaps and receive enrichment during the school day. The Individual Problem Solving Team (IPST), consisting of district experts, administration, and teacher leaders, meets to collaborate regarding students who need further intensive intervention.

3. Building teacher capacity to work as members of high performing collaborative teams that focus efforts on improved learning for all students.

Atlantis is committed to providing quality instruction for all learners. As such, best practice sharing is a component of each faculty meeting.  Our PLC provides the foundation for specialized grade level PLC teams. Teams work collegially to develop essential outcomes and analyze common formative/summative assessments to determine student needs. Team members meet weekly during common planning times to share strategies and discuss the needs of students, thereby strengthening the effectiveness of instruction.

As a result of focusing on improved instruction, teachers continue to grow as professionals to help Atlantis students achieve success. While focusing on the four essential questions, teachers utilize research based techniques to provide differentiated, high quality education for our learners. Faculty members also collaborate outside of the school to share with district, state, and national groups.

Additional Achievement Data

Florida FCAT Scores - Percentage of students at proficiency

Grade 3	Math (School/State)	Reading (School/State)
2008	89/76	85/72
2009	87/78	81/71
2010	93/78	83/72
FCAT 2.0
2011	69/56	69/57
2012	69/58	77/56
2013	69/58	69/57
2014	60/58	80/57

Grade 4	Math (School/State)	Reading (School/State)	Writing (School/State) 3.0 and above
2008	86/71	85/70	68/77
2009	81/75	86/74	85/85
2010	88/74	82/72	91/94
FCAT 2.0
2011	61/58	68/59	95/81
			Increased to 3.5 and above
2012	56/60	65/62	33/48
2013	69/61	65/60	64/57
2014	65/63	61/61	55/53

 

 

 

Grade 5	Math (School/State)	Reading (School/State)	Science (School/State)
2008	81/61	83/67	61/43
2009	80/62	85/71	71/46
2010	70/63	76/69	68/49
FCAT 2.0
2011	60/56	58/58	60/51
2012	57/57	58/61	55/52
2013	52/55	49/60	59/53
2014	60/56	69/61	65/54

 

 

 

Grade 6	Math (School/State)	Reading (School/State)
2008	74/53	82/63
2009	74/55	84/66
2010	80/57	82/67
FCAT 2.0
2011	69/53	71/58
2012	70/53	71/57
2013	68/52	64/59
2014	61/53	61/60
State School Grade
2007 A 2008 A 2009 A 2010 A 2011 A 2012 B 2013 B 2014 A

As measured by our standardized state assessment (FCAT), Atlantis students have outperformed students in the state of Florida on a consistent basis. Our school has seen an increase of learners eligible for free or reduced lunch, from 31% in 2005 to 58% in 2014. As a Professional Learning Community, we continuously adjust to meet the needs of our changing student population. For example, after a review of 5th grade FCAT data, teacher leaders and our principal attended intensive professional development (national/state conferences) and increased participation in district-level Professional Learning Communities in order to learn and share best practice with peers. Teachers with exceptional education certification were reallocated to the 5th grade team to bring additional instructional expertise, and increased intervention time was provided on the schedule for struggling students.

With the implementation of new ELA and Math Standards, our Professional Learning Communities have focused on planning lessons using the Backwards Design Model, which starts by looking at the standard, what students would be able to do when demonstrating mastery to the full intent of the standard, what instructional implications would need to be addressed to teach the standard, and then analysis of student products for evidence and next steps in instruction.

 

Faculty and Staff Achievement
Brevard County Teacher of the Year 2007, 2010, and 2013
Brevard County Employee of the Year 2006
Brevard County Mentor of the Year 2007
Brevard County Employee of the Year Finalist 2011, 2010, 2007
Four Teachers honored as “Exemplary Science Teachers” by the Space Coast Science Education Alliance
Elementary Math PRISM Teacher Award
Recognized for Percent and Support of National Board Teachers
Discovery STAR Educators
School Recognition
Gold Rated Positive Behavior School
One of Twelve Schools Featured in Samuel Casey Carter’s book:
 On Purpose: How Great School Cultures Form Strong Character
Excellence in Visual Arts Award (awarded twice)
Florida Power Media Award
Governor’s Challenge Physical Education “Champion School” Award
School Age Child Care Gold Key Award
Cafeteria 5-Star Award
Florida 5-Star School Award
Keep Brevard Beautiful Award
Rated an “A” School in Florida
Achieved Annual Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind
Nationally Recognized Character Education School