Peabody School makes excellence an everyday thing
2005 School of Excellence
Of the American
New principals inherit many things within the walls of their new schools. Some are challenges, some are success stories.
When Peabody School Principal Chereyl Turner Spann took over for the departing Myrtle Reed, she found a valuable resource that many schools long for, but do not have.
“One thing that Principal Reed wanted to do and accomplished was to hire as many young, black male teachers as she could. I inherited them, and it has been really helpful,” Spann said.
While male teachers have certainly been an asset, all of Peabody’s administrators, teachers and students have helped the school make one of the state’s most dramatic improvements in test scores over the past two years.
The improved performance and continued dedication to academic achievement has earned Peabody the distinguished honor of being named the 2005 School of Excellence by the St. Louis American Foundation.
Spann and her school will be honored during the Salute To Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Banquet on Sept. 9 at America’s Center.
Spann said Peabody’s afterschool program, which runs from January to April, is a key to the academic improvement of her students.
“We focus on basic skills – reading, writing and math – and we incorporate some science too,” she said.
“We emphasize to the students from the first day of school that if you put nothing in, you will get nothing out. We firmly believe that everyone can learn and everyone can improve upon themselves.”
During the afterschool sessions with students, Spann said teachers determine any problems students might be having with the standardized tests.
“We started teaching them what they need to know to take the test and do well,” Spann explained.
An example, she said, is that a test might use the word “beneath.”
“Our kids know the word ‘under,’ so we make sure they know the right terminology so they understand the question they are being asked. We change any reason a student might have to not do exceptionally well.”
Since computers were integrated in classrooms in 2001, Peabody student achievement on the MAP tests has skyrocketed. In 2002, test scores increased dramatically from 7 percent to 25 percent in communications arts and from 9 percent to 53 percent in science. Third-grade test scores increased even more in 2003 to 80 percent in communications arts and 96 percent in science. Fourth-grade scores improved to 62 percent in math and 74 percent in social studies.
“The students here are held in high regard, and they know that we have high expectations for them,” Spann said.
As for her male teachers, she says that boys in her school “can sometimes relate to them better.”
“Sometimes they like to talk man-to-man,” she said.
When it comes to discipline, she said, “guys respect a deeper voice, sometimes.”
Just as important is the fact that the students respect themselves and their school and work to always improve themselves.
Spann said, “I think the students appreciate that we have very open classrooms and that we want them to get comfortable, roll their sleeves up and attack learning.”
The Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Banquet begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 at America’s Center with a reception. The dinner and program will begin promptly at 7 p.m., and post-banquet entertainment kicks off at 9:30 p.m.
Net proceeds are used to fund scholarships for local minority students.
VIP/Corporate tables of 10 are $1,250 or $125 per ticket.
General seating tables of 10 are $750 or $75 per ticket.
For additional information, call (314) 533-8000, extension 301.
