Rivera Elementary reports declines in behavior incidents and gains in early reading amid targeted improvement work

Rivera Elementary School staff presented a targeted improvement update to the Denton ISD Board of Trustees on Jan. 14, describing behavioral, instructional and community changes the campus has implemented since being designated a targeted campus.

Principal Rachel Sullivan and campus leaders told trustees Rivera serves roughly 625 students (recently rising toward 675) and that 90–93 percent of students are economically disadvantaged. Sullivan said the school organized a guiding coalition to address student culture, campus systems and community perception and that the coalition’s work has driven rapid operational changes.

One core strategy was a STAR expectations camp to explicitly teach behavior in common areas and staff training at the start of the year. Sullivan reported that office referrals fell from 252 in the first semester of the prior year to 51 in the current year. Rivera also implemented a "welcome team" process to meet new families on the student’s first day on campus and link them with counselors, behavior specialists and social workers to address needs immediately.

"We're a very diverse campus," Principal Rachel Sullivan said, describing the student population and why the campus focused on systems to support students and families.

Rivera staff described new family‑facing programs and community partnerships that provide experiences many students had not previously had, including evening visits to Downtown Denton, meals and book distribution through local businesses, and donated items to fill a campus food pantry and clothes closet. The campus also developed a Phoenix Garden in memory of a former student.

Instructionally, Rivera partnered with district reading recovery staff and neighboring campuses to support kindergarten through second grade. Campus leaders reported first‑grade reading progress: 36 percent of first graders were on or above grade level at the start of the year, rising to 62 percent at the midyear checkpoint, and 44 percent of first graders had made a year’s growth in reading in one semester where reading recovery supports were concentrated.

Rivera staff said they will present a full targeted improvement plan in February focused on adult systems such as observation and feedback cycles, professional learning communities and strategic staffing to sustain student growth.

Trustees, regional education staff and representatives from state offices toured Rivera before the report and praised campus staff for the turnaround work. The board received the report for information; the targeted improvement plan will return for formal approval in February.