Sappington Elementary reports improved student growth; board spotlights students and staff
Loading...
Summary
Sappington Elementary leaders told the Lindbergh Schools Board they surpassed a winter math benchmark for multilingual learners, highlighted high SEL survey results and recognized a teacher and support staff of the year.
Dr. Takisha Parker, principal of Sappington Elementary, told the Lindbergh Schools Board on Feb. 19 that targeted instruction and coaching helped the school "surpass our goal" on winter benchmarks for multilingual learners in math, and she credited teachers and newly engaged instructional staff for the progress.
Parker and Assistant Principal Stephanie Werner presented fall–winter I-Ready and SEL data showing movement from below-grade categories into on-grade-level performance. The presenters said the building’s leadership set a goal on Nov. 19 to reduce the number of multilingual learners who were two or more grade levels below in math from 20 to 15 by the January diagnostic. According to the presentation, the winter diagnostic result was reported as "not 15 students, 9 students," and presenters described that outcome as exceeding the stated goal.
The presentation highlighted several interventions: adding math coordinator Mackenzie Blackburn to collaborative team meetings, targeted small-group instruction and ongoing data conversations with instructional coaches. Werner said the school continues to monitor progress, adjust interventions and prioritize "visibility, relationship building, and restorative conversations" to strengthen student trust and engagement.
On social-emotional learning, presenters credited two full-time elementary counselors with rising participation in lessons and student supports; Parker and Werner pointed to a Panorama survey showing 93% of students reported having a trusted adult districtwide and 86% within the building. They also described community partnerships—lessons from First Community Bank, a virtual farm visit and a service project with Circle of Concern Food Pantry that yielded 788 donated food items.
The board also recognized individual achievements at Sappington: Mary Nahn was named support staff person of the year and received a certificate and a $30 spirit-store gift certificate; Jen Eilers was named teacher of the year and recognized for her social-emotional learning work at the school.
Student representative Stella reported on extracurricular successes, including the Lindbergh Flyers earning third place in the kick category at UDA Nationals and the opening of the high school musical "Mamma Mia." The board paused briefly after the recognitions to allow families who attended only for the awards to leave.
The presentation concluded with gratitude to staff and a request that questions about the data be directed to building leaders; board members praised the emphasis on using data to identify and support individual students.
