Points of Pride: Fort Dodge's Duncombe Elementary & Middle School

Fort Dodge School Mission:  To provide quality learning experiences and build relationships that develop productive citizens ready for the future.

One of the district-wide initiatives in the Fort Dodge School District is Rachel's Challenge.  According to rachelchallenge.org:  "Rachel's Challenge is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating safe, connected school environments where learning and teaching are maximized. Based on the life and writing of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine tragedy in 1999, Rachel's Challenge provides a continual improvement process for schools designed to awaken the learner in every child. This organization motivates and equips students to start and sustain a chain reaction of kindness and compassion that transforms schools and communities." They believe this can be attained by one act of kindness.

District Demographics:
Enrollment:  3500
Free and Reduced Lunch:  60-65%
1 Early Learning Center
4 Elementary Schools (K-4)
1 Middle School (grades 5-8)
1 High School with an Alternative High School onsite
1 Career and Pride Center at the Central Administration Office

My first stop was at Duncombe School (enrollment 320 with grades K-4).  Many of the staff were wearing PBIS shirts with the motto of:  Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe - BE A DODGER!  

Jen Lane and Jeri Ayala

Next stop was a visit with the Kindergarten teacher Jeri Ayala who enthusiastically explained about the shift to CGI - Cognitively Guided Instruction in Math.  CGI is a philosophy NOT a curriculum.  It focuses on problem-solving where students must explain their thinking and how to prove their answers.  Instead of memorization the students take the process with them to transfer learning and conceptually understand math.  CGI provides a whole tool box for students to use to solve problems.  Instructional practices are enhanced through staff development time focused on collaboration between teachers and through instructional coaching by a trained coach.  The K-3 Innovation Grant provides coaches to give "just in time feedback" as they move instruction forward to enhance student achievement.

"Piggy Opera" performed by Grade 1

My final activity at Duncombe was a stop in the gym for a preview of the Piggy Opera performed by first grade.  Parents were invited to attend later in the afternoon.  In Duncombe, family engagement is emphasized with activities that include sharing reading strategies followed by families returning to classrooms to read with their child. 

Next was a visit to Fort Dodge Middle School with just under 1100 students grades 5-8.  It is a new building which opened for business in 2013 and united buildings that were originally organized in

grades 5-6 and grades 7-8.  The Fort Dodge community is growing as evidenced by new restaurants and ag businesses along with new shopping ares on 5th Avenue South.  With their spectacular new middle school, they are poised to grow even more.  The MS is organized into color-coded pods creating a strong team environment.  The lower level has Grades 5-6 and the upper level Grades 7-8.  A visit to Daven Provin's classroom reminds visitors that: "The most important tool for success is the belief that you can succeed."  Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are defining power standards for instruction.  As Ms. Provin explained, the tech coach is helping her rethink her sequence of curriculum with an emphasis on using leading questions that lead students to apply what they are learning from the past to today.

 Some of the classrooms have varied tables and chair heights to best meet the learning styles of students.  White board tables enhance student engagement and the LMC has as many computers as books.  The MS auditorium seats 650 with movable areas to seat an orchestra.

Advancements are also taking place at the Fort Dodge High School (just under 1200) which is working on Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) in the PLCs with a focus on providing rigorous and relevant instruction to their students.

The Fort Dodge School District has much in which to take pride.  A focus on acts of kindness is evidenced in Fort Dodge's tradition of taking their chain links with each link identifying an act of kindness from all schools and proudly displaying them at the football stadium. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is quoted as saying: “Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” True education is taking place in the Fort Dodge School District.