Roosevelt Elementary showcases student growth, Makerspace and new grant

Roosevelt Elementary staff used the district board meeting on Feb. 19 to showcase student work, diagnostic gains and campus programs that staff say support the district’s goals for equity and 21st‑century learning.

Principal Jenny Whitaker and teacher leaders presented Diagnostic 1→Diagnostic 2 I‑Ready data showing movement from lower bands toward proficiency; staff highlighted vocabulary gains and said the school aims to continue moving students from the yellow band into the green on the next diagnostic. "We're seeing the growth from diagnostic 1 to diagnostic 2," Whitaker said, and staff framed that work as the result of collaborative PLC work and tiered supports.

Teacher Wendy Howard and Makerspace lead Lisa Manelang described hands‑on engineering and coding projects: third graders built and programmed a Lego 'cave car' and fifth graders designed assistive mechanisms to enable a classmate in a wheelchair to bowl with peers. Manelang said the Makerspace was recently awarded a supplemental learning grant (transcript phrasing '20 first century supplemental funding grant'), which staff said will help fund equipment and programming.

PTA president Jennifer Bagley and other site volunteers described family engagement events (book fairs, STEAM week and a readathon) and plans for an April open house and a new library/maker reading garden. Students Jesse and Dua spoke directly to trustees about substantial I‑Ready growth — Jesse said he showed 117% growth in I‑Ready math and Dua said she exceeded her annual typical growth in I‑Ready reading — and staff and trustees praised student work and community involvement.

Trustees and staff discussed next steps such as inviting trustees to visit the new library and holding teacher observation and collaboration sessions to sustain gains. No board action was taken on the school presentation; it was offered as an information item.