10/26/04
Major corporation, Cargill, recognizes excellence in education
by Joe Nathan
Principals like Emily Acosta Thompson, Meredith Davis and Nell Collier had big smiles last week. That's because Warren Staley, Chairman and CEO of Cargill, handed them $11,000 checks to honor their progress at improving student achievement, and increasing family involvement.
Educators often are criticized, and sometimes penalized, for a lack of progress. But recognition and praise for progress are vital. This was a central part of the three-year, Schools First project created and carried out by Cargill and the Center for School Change, where I work.
Eleven schools, all serving high percentages of low-income students (at least 60%, and in many cases more than 80%), were honored last week.
Zanewood, where Acosta Thompson is principal, is in Brooklyn Park.
Her school increased the percentage of students in the school for at least a year, scoring at grade level in math by 26%, from 46% to 72%.
Zanewood also increased the percentage of families attending evening family math activities from 50% to 92%. More than 70% of the students are low income and students of color in this suburban school.
Meredith Davis is principal of Sanford in south Minneapolis.
This school enrolls 79% low -income students, and more than 75% minority students. Sanford increased by 30% the percent of students enrolled for a year, who passed Minnesota's 8th grade Basic Skills reading test, and increased the percentage of families attending open house and parent conferences from 20% to 80%.
Nell Collier is principal at Cityview, a North Minneapolis school where 86% of the students come from low -income families, and 1/3 of the students do not speak English at home. Cityview increased the percent of students making a year's worth of progress in reading from 13% to 50%. Parent attendance at conferences grew from 72% to 81%.
How? First, Center for School Change staff helped each school develop one specific, measurable goal in academics and one in family involvement. Sample goals: "increasing the percent of students making a year's worth of progress by 20%," or "increasing the percentage of families attending evening conferences by 30%." Effective organizations, whether for profit or non-profit, develop such goals. But schools often have well intentioned, but imprecise goals, like "increasing student achievement," or "preparing good citizens."
Each school received $5,000 to plan ways to reach their goals.
One school did not complete its plan, and withdrew. Cargill gave the other 11 schools $35,000 for workshops, visits to successful schools, and new textbooks or other material to use with students. Overall cost - less than $100 per student per year.
Center for School Change staff met regularly with educator-parent teams from each school, and convened the teams together twice a year (including once at year at Cargill's headquarters). Teams were important, because 10 of the 11 schools had a new principal over the period.
Mr. Staley, Cargill's CEO, told educators last week he was "very pleased" with the results. And judging from the educators 'smiles, they were, too. And, they were delighted that a major corporation recognized and honored their progress.
Joe Nathan directs the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He can be reached at jnathan@hhh.umn.edu.
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