Mustang Trails Elementary and Mustang Creek Elementary were recently named Great Expectations Progressive Schools. To qualify as a progressive school, 80 percent of the staff members must be trained and must implement the Great Expectations practices in the classroom. Both schools are working toward Great Expectations Model School status, where all teachers have been trained and implement the GE practices 100 percent of the time.

Trails Principal Sondra Bivens and Assistant Principal Holly McKinney accept a certificate from Curt Parker with Great Expecations.

Great Expectations is a professional development program based on the 17 best practices for the classroom and a climate of mutual respect. The basic tenets of Great Expectations are: All Children Can Learn, Climate of Mutual Respect, Building Self Esteem, Teacher Attitude and Responsibility, High Expectations and Teacher Knowledge and Skill.

Meggan Wilson, principal at Mustang Creek, said the school has been working toward becoming a model school for three years.

“We have been working toward this goal for the past three years,” she said. “Teachers give up their summer to attend the four-day workshops. They allow visitors to come into their rooms to observe teaching practices at work and they attend training throughout the school year. Creek received a three-year scholarship from the Oklahoma State Department of Education for Great Expectations training. At the end of this summer, all of our staff members will be trained. We will spend the next school year working on 100 percent implementation of the practices.”

Last year at Mustang Trails Elementary, the staff committed to becoming a Great Expectations Model School by 2011. They also received a three-year grant for summer training. Holly McKinney, assistant principal, said 21 teachers completed the training last year. Fourteen more are scheduled to attend over the summer bringing the total to 91 percent of Trails teachers trained by August.

Mustang Creek Principal Meggan Wilson accepts a certificate from Curt Parker with Great Expecations. Creek was named a GE Progressive School recently.

“In addition to attending the GE Summer Institute training sessions, we had ongoing professional development throughout the school year that allows the teachers to network with each other and learn new and exciting implementation ideas for their classroom,” McKinney said. “Great Expectations has helped us create a climate of mutual respect that fosters an environment conducive to high academic

achievement. The principals, teachers and students love coming to school and parents feel confident in sending their children to us.”

Mustang’s other elementary schools, including Mustang Valley Elementary, Mustang Centennial Elementary, Mustang Elementary and Lakehoma Elementary are Great Expectations Transitional Schools. At least 50 percent of the certified staff are trained in GE methodology and are implementing 100 percent of the practices.