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Medford school honored again Jefferson wins 2nd state award By VICKI GUARINO One award just leads to another, say the victors at Jefferson Elementary School. For the second year running, the state has honored the west Medford school as a Program of Merit. Jefferson was one of 12 Oregon elementary schools earning the distinction this year, becoming one of a rare few earning back-to-back recognition. In notifying the school, state Department of Education specialists noted Jefferson's "remarkable record." The honor is based on gains shown in scores on standardized achievement tests. "I honestly think it's success breeding success," says Sue Rogney, teacher in the Title I program -- a federally sponsored anti-poverty program addressing the educational needs of children in low-income families. Rogney says the 1999 win inspired students to do even better on tests last winter. Those scores led to the new, year 2000 merit award announced last week. Oregon's Program of Merit spotlights successes at schools in low-income neighborhoods. It is part of a nationwide recognition program. Last year, Jefferson received the honor after posting large test score gains in the preceding year. This year's award followed because of continue gains shown in tests taken last spring. Staff at the 500-student school credit the gains to years of academic refocusing and concentration on the academic elements of the tests, especially reading. But the gains last year had another significant aspect, says Rogney. The tests came along shortly after the school won the first Program of Merit honor. Because of the award, the school atmosphere was different. Banners had gone up congratulating the students, says Rogney, making the tests a significant event. Students were reveling in the attention. "You should have seen their chests puff out," Rogney recalls. "And that just made everyone else want to live up to that." Kids were clearly more serious about the tests and intent on doing well. Teachers had worked not only on academics, but on test-taking strategies. Students followed the strategies, such as crossing out all the clearly incorrect answers in a difficult multiple choice question to better focus on the possibly correct answers. "We actually saw kids cross out the answers. They used these strategies the teachers had told them to use. "It was amazing. I wouldn't have done that when I was in school. The kids were really paying attention to what the teachers were teaching," Rogney says. The successes in teaching now began taking shape eight years ago, says Jefferson Principal Pamela Jones. "They didn't do that to go for the award," says Medford schools Title I program coordinator Meridel Hedges. "They went for school achievement. And it's not just one thing. It's a number of things and the whole school -- the principal, the teachers, the students and parents -- being very, very focused." Jones was the school's media specialist when the campaign began. The centerpiece was an emphasis on reading skills, because so much class work is dependent on reading ability. The school has even found extra money to hire parents to work in the school as reading coaches. "Just that little boost makes a big difference," Jones says. The Program of Merit award gives Jefferson $1,000 to use on such "boosts." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA