“Great School, Great Teachers, Great Staff… Making Great Things Happen”

Any great leader knows that it takes great people to make them a great leader! I have been in education for over 20 years and I am proud to say that Great Falls Elementary School is a great place to be! The faculty and staff at Great Falls Elementary are some of the most dedicated and selfless educators that I know. They are here when I arrive in the mornings and here when I leave in the evenings continuing their daily drive toward creating a better tomorrow by educating the children of today!

Student success is our number one priority and we believe that all students are our students. Teachers and staff collaborate with teams across the curriculum including fine arts. These collaborations integrate the curriculum for deeper learning and include special activities such as: Fine Arts and Fitness Friday (FAFulous Friday), Math & Science Fairs held in April, Jump Rope for Heart, Read Across America Dr. Seuss Day, our Career Awareness Fair, Field Day, and FLEX scheduling for research projects between librarian and classroom teachers.

Teachers collaborate with interventionists and fine arts teachers to plan intervention strategies designed to increase student achievement. Data results and student performances are shared to determine areas of emphasis for remediation. Plans are developed and implemented to meet students’ needs and provide additional support. Students’ progress is monitored and intervention plans are adjusted to meet the needs of individual students. There are no limits to the amount of effort that this staff will go through in order to ensure that all students are successful.

Not only does our faculty and staff collaborate, but we also have collaboration between students. Our 4th graders serve as book buddies for 1st graders! Our 5th graders worked with our Pre-K students helping them learn how to create PowerPoint presentations.

As principal, I am proud to say that we have a collaborative leadership model. Grade level team leaders serve as leaders of their team and as a voice as they meet to discuss the district and school’s vision, mission, goals, and dreams. I intentionally ask administrators, teachers and staff to assist and participate in leadership decision making, organizational planning and activities designed to build their capacity to grow professionally. I am proud to say that I have several staff members who have sought leadership degrees and are currently seeking administrative positions in education! I always provide experiences that are designed to build their knowledge and skills in leadership.

I am extremely proud of the technological achievements of our school. In 2012 we were named a Microsoft Pathfinder School and in 2013 a Mentor School. The faculty and staff of Great Falls Elementary are committed to creating educational opportunities where education has no boundaries and creativity abounds; with research based instructional strategies expanding the capacity of the minds of educators and students, fueled with technological enhancements designed to create world class students.