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Kingsborough and Park Terrace principals report improved attendance, expanded WIN/PLC instruction and PBIS alignment
Summary
Principals Kirsten Thompson (Kingsborough) and Pauline Benjamin (Park Terrace) reported attendance improvements, described targeted interventions (check-in/check-out, WIN groups), and outlined district-wide work to align K–2 instruction through PLCs, CKLA fidelity, and a shared PBIS framework.
Kingsborough Elementary Principal Kirsten Thompson and Park Terrace Principal Pauline Benjamin told the board the district’s K–2 work emphasizes consistent curriculum delivery, improved attendance, and targeted small-group interventions.
Thompson said Kingsborough was identified through New York State assessments and that the school’s improvement plan centers on reducing chronic absenteeism, strengthening family relationships, and improving early literacy by implementing the CKLA Tier 1 program with fidelity. She described a structured attendance protocol tracked through school tools, a check-in/check-out intervention using volunteer staff, and WIN groups that group students by skill level for targeted instruction. "We have 15 adults in the building … and they volunteer to participate in this program," Thompson said of the check-in/check-out support.
Thompson presented benchmark tracking that shows growth between fall and midyear assessments and said the school aims to maintain and improve an approximate 90.8 percent attendance target.
At Park Terrace, Benjamin said K–2 alignment with Kingsborough is a major focus. She described joint administrative meetings, shared PLC schedules and shared PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) planning developed over a summer work day. Benjamin highlighted a district initiative of ‘‘golden tickets’’—community partners reward students in public settings for demonstrating expectations and the students bring the ticket back to school to be recognized. "We now have a common PBIS handbook across both of our buildings," she said.
Benjamin reported schoolwide gains on last year’s math and ELA benchmarks, described expanding WIN rotations to include math with a dedicated math teaching assistant, and said attendance at Park Terrace has improved to about 91 percent (up from 88.8 percent two years ago). She listed specific tactics: early outreach to families, shuttle-bus stop additions, daily reporting for targeted students and community resource referrals through the counseling team.
Both principals emphasized ongoing data use in PLCs to align instruction, track progress, and adjust interventions. The board president praised the cooperation between the two principals and their focus on a few high-impact priorities.
No formal board action was taken on the reports; the presentations were informational.
