Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Recognition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Twin Branch Elementary earns Lighthouse School recognition; principal and students showcase gains
Summary
Presenters said Twin Branch Elementary earned Lighthouse School status and Lighthouse Academic Honor Roll recognition; the school reported improved math and ELA scores and a drop in chronic absenteeism since adopting the Leader in Me program.
Twin Branch Elementary leaders told the School City of Mishawaka board that the school earned Lighthouse School certification and this year made the Lighthouse Academic Honor Roll under the Leader in Me program.
The Twin Branch principal (first-year principal) told the board: "The League in the Lighthouse School title was awarded by Franklin Covey to honor the attainment of well rounded leadership models." The principal presented three highlights from a 2025 case study: since 2021, math scores for third, fourth and sixth grades showed a steady increase with "an average of 18% more students meeting the math standards on iLearn," English language arts scores for third through sixth grades increased by 9% over the last two years, and chronic absenteeism decreased by 11%.
Students and staff described school practices the principal credited with the gains, including student-led leadership roles, grade-level mentoring, daily life-skill reminders and use of diagnostic tools (IXL and i-Ready) for tracking progress. A student described morning safety routines and leader patrols that begin at 8 a.m.; another student shared an i-Ready progress report onstage as an example of individual growth.
The principal thanked staff members by name, including a school secretary described as a key support, and highlighted teacher leadership and classroom strategies tied to the Leader in Me framework. The presentation emphasized community service projects the school runs, such as a food drive and an "All for Animals" fundraiser run by student volunteers; the school plans student-run raffles and a greenhouse project connected to a funfair.
The board received the recognition and heard the presentation as an informational highlight; no board action was recorded on the Lighthouse status during this meeting.
Board members and presenters invited board visits to the Twin Branch program and thanked the students and teachers for their presentations.
