Sharing Success

Chipeta is a school that is proud of her many successes and shares her strategies with others to promote success for all.  Through the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) in the district, we share successes and strategies with other schools.

Chipeta representatives participate monthly in district-level department meetings.  We have the opportunity to discuss effective instructional practices.  Staff presentations at these events have included how to use science notebooks, creating and using writing rubrics, positive behavior support programs, using Math Exemplars, in-depth student research reports, and implementation of Response to Intervention (RtI).  Member of our staff teach professional development courses, including ones on brain-based learning, working with visual-spatial learners, and differentiation for gifted learners.  They facilitate book studies for the professional and personal development of district personnel, and mentor new teachers.

As part of the effort to create competent new teachers, Chipeta participates in the Teacher Education Program with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  Teacher candidates spend the school year observing, learning, and practicing effective techniques.  In addition, Chipeta teachers welcome students who are part of the BOCES teacher training program.

As a state exemplary site for the RtI process, observers from across Colorado visit our school to glean ideas for program implementation and development.  We also have statewide visitors to our award winning library.  In-district visitors observe our structure and delivery of the Read Naturally intervention program.  Chipeta’s open-door policy extends to our PTA meetings where parents and leaders from other schools observe our procedures.  The PTA leadership has shared financial resources with schools in need of playground equipment and books.   

In the event that we receive the Blue Ribbon School award, we will post our application on the district website since it contains many of our successful practices. As active participants in the Colorado educational community, we recognize the power of collaboration.  We will continue to openly share with other schools because we know that no child should be left behind.