POINTS OF PRIDE: Perry Community School District

Superintendent Ubben

 "Each day holds a surprise.  But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when  it comes to us.  Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy.  It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity."              

By Henri Nouwen

The day I visited Perry Community School District held a surprise - how very much I felt welcomed into the high school with its beautiful artwork and displays of photos.  It was a joy to visit Perry and reconnect with my own children's first principal, Lynn Ubben, who now serves as superintendent at Perry.  With a district nearly 50% diverse, Mrs. Ubben says, "Our students have learned to blend - seeing each other by friendships and not by race."  

The district experienced two very positive steps this year: taken off the ‘Watch’ list for reading and removed from being a ‘District in Need of Assistance’ (DINA) for mathematics. This is due to significant improvements in student achievement among the elementary, middle, and high school and real "points of pride" for this very diverse school district.  These strides are only made by dedicated teachers who are willing to put in the extra time to make student achievement a priority along with leaders who lead the charge.

Demographics:
FRL  72%

ELL  19.4%

Migrant 3.5%

Immigrants 3.2%

14 languages ranging from American sign language to Burmese, Karenni, Kurundi,        
     Russian, Swahili, Tigrinua and Vietnamese 

46% Hispanic

1:1 grades 3-12
Enrollment:  Approximately 1800

Middle School leaders

7th grade team

Visiting with grade level teams truly tells the heartbeat of a school and Perry is no exception.  Collaborative teams meet daily and Professional Learning Communities every two weeks.  This year's emphasis in on formative assessments and how to differentiate using the data. The Middle School Principal is proud of his staff and says, "The wide range of learners creates diverse teachers" who are well-trained in meeting the learning needs of their students.  

4th grade team

The 4th grade team says that the best part of Perry is the people with whom they work.  They believe it is fun to see the journey of both students and teachers.  In the words of one teacher, "Everyone is on a roller coaster, but it is great to see one another grow and learn from experiences."  There are two second year teachers on this team who feel that they don't just have one mentor - they have four. This all adds to the sense of teamwork that keeps Perry moving forward.

Rose with her loving and caring ways

It was great to be able to visit the ELL classroom of Rosemarie Navarro.  Rose has many stories to tell of her extensive work with a population from other countries.  She has worked with the "Lost Boys from the Sudan" to most recently, students who ran to a plane leaving El Salvador, avoiding bullets as they refused to join gangs.  She says this is the first year she is working with a student who was born and raised in a refugee camp.  Working by her side is Tony Alaya, a Perry graduate, with the dream of being a teacher.

Tony with his desire to teach

"Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together."    - Jacquelyn Woodson

Perry is working towards developing positive ways for all students, no matter from where they come, instilling a desire to learn how to walk through this world together.  A beautiful and important aim being implemented by a beautiful school district.