Kimball Elementary School

MESPA Home > Honors > Minnesota Schools of Excellence > 2007-2008 Validations > Kimball Elementary School

Jon Clark, principal

2007-2008 MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence
Kimball Public Schools, ISD #739

"When school funding is always an issue we lose sight of the great things that are happening in education. By completing the process in the Minnesota School of Excellence program, we reaffirmed that Kimball Elementary School has excellent students, staff, and leadership and that our parents and the greater community of Kimball support the work we do."

Jonathan Clark is the principal of Kimball Elementary School, which serves approximately 410 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 6 who live in Kimball and several smaller nearby communities. The school provides all-day every day kindergarten at no cost to parents. Housed within the school is an Early Childhood Family Education program, an extended day before and after school program, and a district operated day care facility. An active Partners in Education (PIE) parent group works closely with the school to provide assistance both in supplemental resources and fund raising. PIE membership is represented on building and district committees such as the site-based management team, curriculum advisory committee and the district staff development committee.

Appearing in every classroom, in school newsletters, and lettered on a banner waving outside the school is the vision statement of Kimball Elementary School. Using a team approach, the vision was recently developed: “Kimball Elementary School is a welcoming and caring community, committed to a vision for all children to be challenged to reach their highest potential. Staff, parents and community share the responsibility with students to promote academic excellence and positive social interaction. Our goal is for all children to emerge as responsible life long learners.” One example of how all stakeholders share the responsibility to promote excellence is the use of curriculum focus nights. During these reviews teachers, parents, administrators, and students share the strengths and weaknesses of a particular program under review. Through this process everyone’s perspective is shared and valued.

Over the past two years, members of the school have worked with an outside consultant on staff development activities related to self-reflection for growth. Observations from Clark, the building principal, of teachers in their classrooms, also provide staff with a time to reflect on both strengths and weaknesses. Staff have embraced this approach to improvement. As a reminder of the goals they strive for, they have printed on their name badges “RICCH” – Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Communication, and Humor. Kimball Elementary School is positive and resilient; students and staff members continue to strive to improve academic performance and overall school quality.

As principal, Jonathan Clark believes "It is important for schools to look at what truly makes our educational system great. The standards that are reviewed as part of the MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence recognition process acknowledge those qualities of excellence we all already possess and help guide us in ways we can improve. When school funding is always an issue we lose sight of the great things that are happening in education. By completing the process in the Minnesota School of Excellence program, we reaffirmed that Kimball Elementary School has excellent students, staff, and leadership and that our parents and the greater community of Kimball support the work we do. Kimball Elementary is looking forward to celebrating this achievement with the community of Kimball."

Kimball Elementary Minnesota School of Excellence Celebration:
May 6, 2008
1 p.m.

Kimball Elementary School will hold a celebration to honor its Minnesota School of Excellence validation on Tuesday, May 6. The celebration will begin at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow. The community has been invited to participate and this will be a vibrant, active event – with children, families, school staff, and community dignitaries. The focus will be on the students. Special t-shirts have been ordered for them, and the seventh grade class who helped as sixth graders with the school’s validation also will be present.

In addition to the community of school parents, community and education dignitaries will include: Kimball Mayor Tammy Konz; Superintendent John Tritabaugh, Kimball School District; and MESPA Executive Director P. Fred Storti, who will present the Kimball school community with a Minnesota School of Excellence plaque.

Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association

1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108

651.999.7310 MN toll free 800.642.6807

Fax: 651.999.7311 E-mail: mespa@mespa.net