Red Rock principal cites instructional consistency and community support as keys to students’ academic improvement

ROYAL CITY — Improving reading and math comprehension for elementary school students involves consistency in instruction across all grades, with minimal interruptions, said Melissa Stevenson, principal of Red Rock Elementary in Royal City. 

“One of the things that my reading coach says is, not every kid has to love to read, but we need to make sure they know how to read,” Stevenson said. “Of course we want them to love to read, but they need to know how to read, and that’s our job.”  

Red Rock Elementary received three school improvement awards from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction earlier this month, for its work with low-income students, children learning English and from one or more ethnic groups.  Red Rock was one of eight Columbia Basin schools that received awards.  

Children in kindergarten through the third grade attend Red Rock, and Stevenson said it’s important that all teachers are working with the same materials and philosophy.  

“We're all on the same page. We don't have anyone that's just doing their own thing,” Stevenson said. “It’s important that there’s a systematic approach across the building, versus just at one grade level or one classroom. We have been developing what we call a multi-tiered support system for all kids to access their learning at their own individual level.” 

Children are allowed to move up to the next grade level when they’re ready, she said. 

“We have a lot of flexibility. We have curriculum that’s been vetted, and a lot of district support as far as resources go,” Stevenson said. 

Teachers meet periodically to talk about what they’re doing, and to review test results and other assessment tools. 

“The assessment data drives decisions that we make, and staff would agree with that,” Stevenson said. “We make decisions on the data we get from the kids.”  

Teachers are most affective, she said, when they work together.  

“We have a pacing calendar, and everyone is expected to follow the pacing calendar, so kids get through the same amount of instruction in the classroom across the hall, and we get through all of our units,” she said. “We have a reading and a math instructional coach that support us with that.” 

A teacher is assigned to work with children who are falling behind, she said. There’s also support through the Royal School District’s special education department and its counselors. 

Red Rock teachers don’t do much of their instruction online, Stevenson said. “We limit screen time here,” she said. “Very rarely would you see our kids on screens. Unfortunately, some of our assessments have to be online, but we limit it.” 

Royal City makes a difference too, she said. 

“We have a supportive community, supportive parents, and a safe community,” Stevenson said. “For the most part, I feel like we all feel very safe. We get tons of participation whenever we have giving trees, or (holiday) baskets for families, (projects) like that. We get more than we would ever anticipate. The community definitely shows up.”  

    Red Rock Elementary was recognized by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for improvement in multiple categories.