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District presents Top‑2 turnaround plans; teacher incentives and supports credited with staffing gains
Summary
Polk County staff presented Top‑2 district‑managed turnaround implementation plans for North Lakeland Elementary and Crystal Lake Middle School. The plans emphasize transformational leadership, standards‑based instruction and a positive learning environment; staff said targeted incentives helped increase effective/highly effective teacher rates to
Polk County School District staff presented implementation (Top‑2) turnaround plans Oct. 28 for North Lakeland Elementary and Crystal Lake Middle School, schools that met the state threshold for district‑managed turnaround. Nicole Bennett, regional assistant superintendent, said the plans focus on three pillars: transformational leadership, standards‑based instruction and a positive learning environment that includes PBIS and MTSS supports.
Bennett told the board the district has added targeted teacher incentives and bonuses to attract effective teachers to those campuses. "We are below the district average in needs improvement and unsatisfactory teachers, and we have increased the number of effective teachers at both of those sites as a result of this," Bennett said. When a board member asked about the percentage of effective/highly effective teachers, Bennett reported the rate improved to about 80% at each school from roughly 26% prior to incentives.
The Top‑2 district plan is intended to work with each school's school improvement plan and to meet state assurances required by the State Board of Education. Bennett said supports include instructional coaching, walk‑throughs, staffing adjustments and regular data monitoring. The board encouraged the district to continue mentor‑style support and to ensure principals and assistant principals receive ongoing leadership supports in addition to teacher incentives.
The plans will be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval at its next meeting; staff said the district will continue to report progress and coordinate district and school‑level work.
