McGuffey PK-8 wins Governor’s Momentum Award; school reports gains in early literacy and overall growth

McGuffey PK-8 received the Governor’s Momentum Award for the second consecutive year and reported measurable gains in early literacy and overall student growth during a presentation to the Warren City Board of Education on March 25.

The award recognizes buildings or districts that improved their performance index by three or more points from the 2022–23 report card to the 2023–24 report card and received a four-star value-added progress rating. "This award means so much to our staff, our students, our families, and the administrative team," said Mister Joseph, McGuffey 6–8 pod principal and campus leader.

The presentation said McGuffey maintained a 3-star overall rating from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for 2023–24 while improving the district performance index from 61 to 65, representing about 50 additional test scores at proficient or higher. The school reported progress-component growth that kept a four-star rating and an early-literacy component increase from one to two stars. McGuffey staff said the percentage of K–3 students identified as "off track" fell substantially in several grades: first grade off-track students declined from 41% to 24%, and third grade off-track students dropped from 54% to 35%.

Why it matters: the Momentum Award and reported metric improvements are evidence the school’s targeted literacy and instructional initiatives are changing student outcomes. School leaders said continued focus on early literacy and targeted interventions remains a priority for the 2024–25 school year.

During the presentation, Joseph described schoolwide instructional strategies and supports: participation in professional development (Safe and Civil Schools), the STOIC framework aligned with CHAMPS and PBIS structures, frequent "pop-in" observations to give teacher feedback (436 pop-ins since January 9), and trauma-informed training piloted at McGuffey. Joseph also highlighted student and staff extracurricular successes, including the McGuffey Titanics robotics team advancing to district finals and the eighth-grade boys basketball team finishing 15–1 and winning the AAC championship.

Administrators described family- and student-engagement efforts: buildingwide PBIS incentives, breakfast and reward events, student attendance incentives (students with 95% attendance receive McGuffey dollars or activity rewards every 20 days), and grade-level attendance competitions. The presentation stated that, by the end of the school year, all McGuffey students will have had access to the district Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

Board members offered praise but did not propose new policies during the meeting. Superintendent Shiro and board members acknowledged the school’s staff and returning alumni who now teach at McGuffey. The district’s superintendent said the district will continue fiscal and program planning in an April 2 work session and noted federal allocations — which account for roughly 14% of Warren City Schools’ budget, as reported to the board — are expected to be delivered as scheduled, with no immediate cuts reported to Title I or special education funding for next year.

The presentation included a full video of staff and students; the board showed a shortened version in the meeting and provided a QR code for the full video for board members to view later. The board took no formal action on items presented at McGuffey beyond accepting the presentation and congratulating staff and students.

The board’s members who commented in the meeting included acknowledgments from the board president and several board members praising the school’s results and community engagement.