Award recognizes exemplary school program models with positive student outcomes
Published in the November 11-24, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Zachary Corriea
Photo by Marty Cheek
Math teacher Patricia Finck helps Britton Middle School eighth-graders Jennavieve Roush and Aiden Gustaveson through an algebra problem.
Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Steve Betando, Trustee Ron Woolf and several Britton Middle School staff will travel to San Diego in early December to receive the distinguished 2015 California Golden Bell Award for innovation in education in its school programs.
“The Golden Bell Award recognizes exemplary school program models with positive student outcomes,” Betando said. “For Britton, the California School Boards Association found the structures of support and success is throughout the school for students no matter who they are, where they come from, or what assets they have. Britton not only creates opportunities for great success, the school develops thinking and practices for students to thrive in high school and adulthood.”
For the past few years, Britton has been adding and strengthening student programs, such as math enrichment, math-engineering-science-achievement, history enrichment, the morning English language program, among other subjects. Britton has also implemented school-wide mathematics and English tests to collect data and determine which programs the students should participate in.
The awards program highlights the best practices in education in all areas of operations, instruction, and support services, including:
• Seeking out and recognizing key governance practices that support, sustain, and inspire the creation and continuance of exemplary educational programs.
• Recognizing and supporting educators who invest extra energy and time to make a demonstrated difference for students.
• Focusing on the commitment to ensure that the needs of all students are met.
Photo by Marty Cheek
Britton 8th-grader Jennavieve Roush ponders an algebra problem in Patricia Finck’s class.
A validation team from the CSBA did an in-depth review of documentation and a site visit to affirm that Britton programs are data driven, demonstrate positive gains for students, innovative or exemplary, aligned with board vision and supported by the local school board, sustainable over time, and effective and can be replicated.
This is Britton’s second high honor this year. The middle school received a 2015 California Gold Ribbon Award May 29 at a ceremony lunch held at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.
Britton math teacher Patricia Finck said the innovative programs make a difference and that students in her classroom who would normally fail assignments began to earn B and C grades. “The students feel more comfortable,” she said. “The programs address more problems that we can’t normally address in the classroom.”
One example of innovation is how the Britton MESA Club is working with San Jose State University to encourage students to get excited and engaged in science, math, and technology, said George Flores, a science teacher at the school. The club aims to encourage students who are not interested in science. In MESA, students meet every week to conduct fun and exciting activities, such as making wooden gliders, bridges, and constructing stethoscopes.
Many MESA students go on to college but Britton science teachers Flores and James Levis said their main goal was to “simply excite the students with science.”
Britton staff constantly strives to improve existing programs and bring back old ones that proved to be successful, said Principal Chris Moore.
“Our plan is to meet all kids where they’re at to help those that need help and those that need an additional push (such as advanced students looking for enrichment),” he said.
Glen Webb, Britton’s previous principal and now director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for MHUSD, did most of the work assembling parents and staff to create the best plan for the campus’s programs.
“Rather than just teaching in the middle, our school has embraced the mission of meeting students wherever they may be and having something in place to move them forward,” Webb said.
Betando is satisfied to see Britton receive recognition for its programs which help student success at all levels.
“What I am most pleased about is that the CSBA naming Britton as a proven model school so that other schools can replicate the strategies that really work,” he said. “Our school staff has developed very effective practices over time and is willing to share its hard work with any school community that wishes to visit.”
The Britton program was built with a strong community and through the hard work of a very caring staff, Betando said. The staff challenged themselves to create positive engaging experiences for all students, and when students have difficulty, the student support network is used for any need, he said.
The Golden Bell Awards Luncheon will be held Saturday, Dec. 5 at annual CSBA Conference in the San Diego Convention Center. All California school board members and superintendents, as well as visitors to the conference, will have the chance to see Britton staff receive the award, Betando said.
“We hope that the good work of Britton can help other schools with their work toward developing successful programs,” he said.
This story was written by Zachary Corriea, an 8th-grade student at Britton Middle School.
