West Villages Improvement District: Atwater Elementary selected for special project

https://venice.floridaweekly.com/articles/atwater-elementary-selected-for-special-project/

December 19, 2019

Atwater Elementary School in North Port has been invited to participate in the 2019 – 2020 ECTAC Exceeding Expectations (E2) Project. Currently in its ninth year, the project strives to uplift and recognize Title I schools across Florida that are exceeding expectations related to improving student achievement across many benchmarks.

The East Coast Technical Assistance Center is a collaborative network of more than 40 Florida school districts. ECTAC personnel assist member school districts in the development and implementation of the U.S. Department of Education’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I program. Schools that have 50%-100% of their student population qualify for free or reduced lunch are selected for the E2 Project using criteria based on School Grade data obtained from the Florida Department of Education database.

“We are so pleased that Atwater Elementary School has received this recognition,” said Mitsi Corcoran, interim superintendent and CFO of Sarasota County Schools. “Ms. Thro (principal of Atwater Elementary School) and her staff have an innovative school culture and high expectations for student growth. Participation in ECTAC’s E2 Project will only further the gains Atwater’s students have already made. They have our full support and we are hopeful they’ll be selected as an Award School.”

“This is a well-deserved opportunity for Atwater Elementary,” said Chris Renouf, executive director of elementary education for the school district. “Ms. Thro and her team have worked hard to empower their all-stars with tools for continued and lasting success. I look forward to seeing the teachers, staff and students thrive as the school moves through the program.”

“We are honored to participate in the E2 Project,” said Ms. Thro. “Whether it’s exemplifying their H.E.A.R.T (Hardworking. Empathetic. Active Learners. Respectful. Trustworthy.) ideals daily or moving our school grade up to an ‘A,’ I am so proud of each student, teacher and staff member for their dedication to making our school community a great place to learn and grow. It’s a privilege to be a part of such a dynamic school culture. I look forward to collaborating with other districts involved with the E2 Project, as well as sharing Atwater Elementary’ s shining moments with educational professionals around the state.”

Atwater Elementary School represents one of 29 Exceeding Expectations schools out of the 1,972 Title I schools in Florida.

From January to April, ECTAC will conduct interviews and classroom observations at each school participating in the project. After careful, comprehensive review, school observations and interviews with school personnel and families, ECTAC will identify each school as either a finalist or award school. Award schools will be invited to the annual Exceeding Expectations Conference in October in Central Florida.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate