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Irving Elementary fifth-graders praised by feds
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Irving Elementary School’s significant increase in reading scores impressed a U.S. Department of Education official who visited the school Thursday.

“You have a lot of be proud of,” Todd Zoellick said at an all-school assembly.

Bloomington District 87 school Superintendent Bob Nielsen showed teachers and Zoellick that the percentage of fifth-graders who met or exceeded Illinois Standards Achievement Test reading standards has nearly doubled since last year. Last year, 46.4 percent of fifth-graders met or exceeded the standards, but this year 84.4 percent did.

Zoellick, the deputy education secretary’s regional representative, said his stops this week in the Twin Cities are among visits he makes to hundreds of schoolchildren each month. His territory, which covers six Midwestern states, has about 10 million children, he said.

Zoellick, said he is a bridge between the “real world” classrooms and lawmakers and officials in Washington, D.C.

Nielsen’s news prompted the school’s faculty and staff to applaud the students.

“I hope you have a sense of how proud I am of you,” Nielsen told the teachers.

The results are more than just numbers; they represent skills students have learned, said Teresa Hill, assistant superintendent of curriculum.

Low-income, black and Hispanic children made especially notable strides in closing the achievement gap between them and the rest of the student body, Nielsen said.

“That is a phenomenal achievement rate,” he said.

Principal Rich Stempinski said fifth-grade results represent a building process. The same group of students showed improving scores as they moved through third, fourth and fifth grades.

When this group of students reached third grade, 59.3 percent met or exceeded state reading standards. That rose to 75.9 percent when they were in fourth grade and 84.4 percent when they were in fifth grade, he said.

“What we had in place is really taking effect,” Stempinski said of reading improvement programs and other intervention efforts.

Nielsen said Irving was at a low about 11 years ago when he first joined district, and it has steadily improved over the years.

“I wish I could express how proud I am us this. It’s indescribable,” Nielsen said.

All six District 87 elementary schools made adequate yearly progress this year as defined by the state under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Bloomington Junior High did so for the first time, Nielsen said.

Improvements have been made at Bloomington High School, but work remains to be done there, he said.

Zoellick spent Thursday visiting District 87 schools. He plans to visit Unit 5’s Glenn and Oakdale elementary and Parkside Junior High schools and Normal Community High School.

Take a look
Todd Zoellick, left, a representative of the U.S. Department of Education, talks with Austin Atchison, 9, a student in Jolynn Plato's fourth grader class at Irving Elementary School, Thursday, September 25, 2008. (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
Rich Stempinski, principal at Irving Elementary School, left, talks with Todd Zoellick, a representative of the U.S. Department of Education as Zoellick toured area classrooms Thursday, September 25, 2008. (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

RNMOM wrote on Sep 27, 2008 10:51 AM:

" Awesome job. I volunteered some at Irving a few years ago and was impressed then by what a "community" they have and by their teachers, administration and staff. It would be great if they could share what works so well with other educators so all our kids can reach this kind of achievement. "

happyone wrote on Sep 26, 2008 7:38 AM:

" Congratulations to all at Irving school. You are showing what hard work and cooperation can do. All children want to achieve and I am so proud of the work you have accomplished. These children will continue succeeding with the foundation that has been laid. "

mwillis71 wrote on Sep 26, 2008 6:45 AM:

" Great job to the teachers and students! GrnEggsNham: Congratulations to your son. As a Security Forces Officer in the Air Force he will be well suited to join the police force when he gets out. I bet you are very proud.

(I hope that the pantagraph online will attempt to post some of my comments or I will simply delet my account and stop supporting them!) Please delete this portion before posting. I am just sick of writing and getting no posting!!!!! "

GrnEggsNham wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:08 PM:

" WTG IRVING SCHOOL ... my son attended when he was young and became a security officer with the United States Air Force upon graduating BHS in 2000 !!!!! "
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