School recognized at IDOE gala in Indianapolis
By Andy Klotz—
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) recognized Grissom Elementary School with a substantial award at the Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala in Indianapolis Friday night. The school received a $105,000 Excellence in Early Literacy grant for being one of three schools in the state that has established strategies and partnerships supporting all students in the mastery of foundational reading skills.
Grissom Principal Brittney Charles, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Director of Public Education and CEO Dr. Chuck Reynolds, MCS Assistant Superintendent Eric Grim and MCS Director of Elementary Education Heidi White were among the district administrators on hand to accept the award. Grissom teachers attending included Heidi Keever, Natalie Gariety, Jen Joslin and Vanessa Goldey, recently named the district’s primary level teacher of the year.
“Our amazing staff has really been working hard the past few years on doing everything we can to help our youngest students master the basics of reading,” Principal Charles said. “Every student is different. It’s our job to meet them where they are and give them the skills they need to be good readers. If we can do that, then we know we are setting them up for success throughout their academic career.”
MCS is one of Indiana’s earliest adopters of the shift to a reading curriculum based on the concepts of the science of reading. This new curriculum, coupled with the school’s focus on its growing preschool program, has helped Grissom students double their year-over-year growth on the IREADY English Language Arts assessments, with the greatest growth occurring in phonics.
Grissom also stood out for its aggressive attack on chronic absenteeism. Through coordinated efforts by the school’s student assistance coordinator, family navigator, front office team, teachers and administrators, Grissom has reduced its chronically absent students by nearly 20%.
“It’s hard to teach kids when they’re not showing up on a consistent basis,” Dr. Reynolds said. “Our team at Grissom has done an exceptional job of engaging families that, for a variety of reasons, struggle with getting their kids to school. Once they’re in school, we have outstanding educators and support staff identifying and assisting students who need help with their reading skills, which is the foundation for successful learning.”
Another key component to Grissom’s success is the assistance the school receives from community partners. Trained volunteers from neighborhood churches, retired teachers and other caring adults come in to the school and tutor students one-on-one or in small groups to enhance their literacy development. Additionally, high quality after school programs run by the Boys and Girls Club, Motivate Our Minds, YMCA and Ball State’s College Mentors for Kids all play key roles in student learning.
“We are so grateful for our wonderful partners and how they are pouring into our kiddos,” Principal Charles said. “The learning taking place during these programs and tutoring sessions is significant, and we couldn’t achieve these gains without them.”
Together, these efforts caught the attention of the IDOE, which recognized schools and individual educators from around the state during its black-tie gala. This is the third year of the event.
“The Educational Excellence Awards Gala is a celebration of the extraordinary impact our educators have on students and communities across Indiana,” Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner said. “These educators are more than just teachers—they’re mentors, leaders and pillars in their communities who have touched countless lives over the years. They deserve to be celebrated like the stars they are, and this event is one way for us to say thank you for the immense difference they make every single day.”
The size of each financial award given at the gala is proportional to the respective school student population, and is funded through the state’s federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant. Grissom will use the $105,000 it received to make building improvements to enhance the learning environment where these programs are being conducted.
About Muncie Community Schools
Serving the local community since 1855, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) educates more than 5,000 students at six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school while also managing several other educational facilities. Through its unique partnership with Ball State University, MCS strives to maximize each student’s potential so he or she can be a positive, productive member of society. Find out more about MCS at muncieschools.org.
