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Blue Ridge Elementary Principal keeps TAKS promise and performs as a mime
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| Blue Ridge Elementary School Principal Deirdre Holloway performs as a mime for students. |
By DIANE TEZENO
Blue Ridge Elementary School principal Deirdre Holloway promised students she would perform as a mime if the campus achieved “Recognized” status.
Holloway, a graduate of Sam Houston University and Prairie View A&M University, made good on her promise when the Texas Education Agency released TAKS results and the FBISD elementary school learned its academic rating had risen from “Acceptable” to “Recognized.”
“Students thought it was funny. I stood on the stage from 10:45 until 1 without moving. Of course I took a couple of breaks,” Holloway said of the challenge.
The Missouri City area elementary school was one of 23 schools in the district to achieve “Recognized” status based on student scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
“I was really emotional, my staff worked really hard and overcame the challenges,” Holloway said of the school’s rating.
The school achieved an “Acceptable” rating in the previous two testing years.
Eighty percent of Blue Ridge Elementary students received passing TAKS scores in reading, 84 percent passed math, 91 percent passed writing and 86 percent received passing scores in science in the 2008-09 school year.
“I had a student who has been out of school for 2 years. The beginning of the year was challenging with academics and home life. This child passed all sections of the TAKS test. The smile on her face was enough satisfaction for me,” Holloway said.
Students throughout the school have expressed pride in the school’s accomplishments, according to Holloway.
“We do mini-assessments on Fridays. On Mondays when I walk down the hall, students stop me to brag about their scores,” Holloway said.
An assistant principal in the Aldine School District for six years, Holloway joined FBISD in 2004.
In her 3 years as principal at Blue Ridge, she has used innovative and creative ideas to encourage students to strive for and teachers to encourage academic excellence.
Dressing up and performing as a mime is only one of the many cutting-edge methods the FBISD educator has used to engage students in the learning process last year.
Each time TAKS scores came in, Holloway came up with a new idea to heighten student excitement and celebrate student’s efforts.
“I wore my hair crazy one day and on another day I stood on McHard Road holding a poster stating ‘I am proud of my students and staff with TAKS scores,’” Holloway said
The 38-year-old principal received the thumbs up from many drivers who drove by and witnessed her show of appreciation to students and staff members for their hard work in preparing for standardized TAKS tests.
Thinking out of the box is nothing new for Holloway, who also ate a chocolate-covered bug for students to show her appreciation for their academic efforts in the last week of school.
The school’s achievement has boosted the self-confidence of students and given them a sense of ownership in the school, Holloway said.
“The students know ‘I can do it,” the Blue Ridge principal said of her student’s response to their efforts.
In addition to the hard work of staff and students, Holloway credits parent involvement, tutoring, new resources, regular Data Team meetings and the support of Rolls-Royce, a local business partner, for the school’s achievement.
“Every at-risk child was also assigned a mentor,” Holloway said.
“We have many challenges when you are a TITLE 1 school,” said Holloway, who doesn’t let the challenges become a stumbling block.
“We create an action plan and stay the course.”
On the heels of her school’s recent success, Holloway has set her eyes on the school’s next goal, attaining “Exemplary” status and becoming a Blue Ribbon school.
“We just need to keep working hard to reach higher scores,” Holloway said.
Holloway, a graduate of Sam Houston University and Prairie View A&M University, made good on her promise when the Texas Education Agency released TAKS results and the FBISD elementary school learned its academic rating had risen from “Acceptable” to “Recognized.”
“Students thought it was funny. I stood on the stage from 10:45 until 1 without moving. Of course I took a couple of breaks,” Holloway said of the challenge.
The Missouri City area elementary school was one of 23 schools in the district to achieve “Recognized” status based on student scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
“I was really emotional, my staff worked really hard and overcame the challenges,” Holloway said of the school’s rating.
The school achieved an “Acceptable” rating in the previous two testing years.
Eighty percent of Blue Ridge Elementary students received passing TAKS scores in reading, 84 percent passed math, 91 percent passed writing and 86 percent received passing scores in science in the 2008-09 school year.
“I had a student who has been out of school for 2 years. The beginning of the year was challenging with academics and home life. This child passed all sections of the TAKS test. The smile on her face was enough satisfaction for me,” Holloway said.
Students throughout the school have expressed pride in the school’s accomplishments, according to Holloway.
“We do mini-assessments on Fridays. On Mondays when I walk down the hall, students stop me to brag about their scores,” Holloway said.
An assistant principal in the Aldine School District for six years, Holloway joined FBISD in 2004.
In her 3 years as principal at Blue Ridge, she has used innovative and creative ideas to encourage students to strive for and teachers to encourage academic excellence.
Dressing up and performing as a mime is only one of the many cutting-edge methods the FBISD educator has used to engage students in the learning process last year.
Each time TAKS scores came in, Holloway came up with a new idea to heighten student excitement and celebrate student’s efforts.
“I wore my hair crazy one day and on another day I stood on McHard Road holding a poster stating ‘I am proud of my students and staff with TAKS scores,’” Holloway said
The 38-year-old principal received the thumbs up from many drivers who drove by and witnessed her show of appreciation to students and staff members for their hard work in preparing for standardized TAKS tests.
Thinking out of the box is nothing new for Holloway, who also ate a chocolate-covered bug for students to show her appreciation for their academic efforts in the last week of school.
The school’s achievement has boosted the self-confidence of students and given them a sense of ownership in the school, Holloway said.
“The students know ‘I can do it,” the Blue Ridge principal said of her student’s response to their efforts.
In addition to the hard work of staff and students, Holloway credits parent involvement, tutoring, new resources, regular Data Team meetings and the support of Rolls-Royce, a local business partner, for the school’s achievement.
“Every at-risk child was also assigned a mentor,” Holloway said.
“We have many challenges when you are a TITLE 1 school,” said Holloway, who doesn’t let the challenges become a stumbling block.
“We create an action plan and stay the course.”
On the heels of her school’s recent success, Holloway has set her eyes on the school’s next goal, attaining “Exemplary” status and becoming a Blue Ribbon school.
“We just need to keep working hard to reach higher scores,” Holloway said.
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