partnership of choice Applications due March 1 It’s 5:15 in the morning. Do you know where your principal is? If your son or daughter attends the Hilton Quest Elementary School, then the most likely answer is out running. Lydia McCabe, Quest’s new principal, happens to be an avid marathon runner who begins each day with a quick six miles. From the looks of it, it is a good thing that McCabe is pretty speedy, because there seems to be a whole lot going on at the school on West Avenue. For those who are interested in becoming part of the school of choice, the window of opportunity is growing smaller, with applications for the Quest Elementary School due no later than March 1. "There is always a waiting list," said Barbara Carder Pierce, director of school district communications. "Anyone who is interested in Quest should go ahead and submit the application and follow up with a phone call to the school." Quest, which offers kindergarten through sixth grade, was founded in 1994. It is a multi-age school designed by parents, teachers and students with a population of about 400 students. Quest Elementary students are grouped in three age-ranges: Primary kindergarten through second grade; Elementary grades two through four; and Intermediate grades four through six, creating a multi-age environment where children work together and grow at a pace that is developmentally-appropriate. The child stays with the same teacher at least two years. Each teaching team is composed of two to four teachers establishing a consistency which means students are well-known and return to a familiar environment and routine each year. McCabe, who came to Quest last July, said she was drawn because of the school’s growing reputation and her own commitment to the multi-age environment. "I truly believe that all kids do well in this type of setting," said McCabe. Her background includes 14 years of experience as principal for Brookside Elementary and Parkland Elementary in Greece. Under her direction, the two Greece schools merged into one and became a signature school for math and technology. With half of the school year under her belt, McCabe is a believer in what the Quest school stands for. "It is hard to take a traditional school and make it into a school like Quest," said McCabe. "From the start Quest has had the parents as equal partners in education and it shows by the incredible level of parent involvement." Teachers also make up a big part of the equation. Darrel Dupra, who has worked in the Hilton School District for 17 years, is one of the school’s originators. He said the school has met the lofty expectations of its founders. "We had very idealistic goals," said Dupra. "We wanted to create a school that would better meet parents needs and produce ideal graduates. I think the type of kid we wanted to nurture is graduating from our school." Dupra said a big part of the school’s success is the active role students play in mapping out their own learning. "We’re fostering an environment where students are in charge of their own learning and the adults are here to help in the learning, but not necessarily leading the process," said Dupra. In Dupra’s classroom, students get the chance to learn through real life experiences. Depending on when one visits, the students may be engaged in constructing classroom furniture, planning an upcoming archeological dig, or writing to their senior citizen friends at Hilton East. Whatever they are doing, the students have had a say in it. Dupra’s students help map out each day, writing down what and when things will be done. Students and their parents meet with the teachers at least twice a year. After the first 10-week mark the student, parents and teacher map out individual goals. Ten weeks after that the teacher produces an in-depth report on the student’s progress. Further into the school year, all three constituencies meet again and finally the teacher presents an end-of-the-year narrative on how goals were accomplished. While this process and other requirements on Quest teachers can make the school day longer for the faculty, Dupra said, "it is a school of choice for teachers just like it is a choice for students." It is the school’s unusual nature that makes McCabe’s job a little different than many principal positions. Quest did not have a principal for the first four years of its existence. "When we created Quest we tried to eliminate anything that could be a roadblock for success and in some cases that can be administration," said Dupra. However, Dupra finds Quest’s new leader to be anything but an obstacle. He is impressed with her willingness and enthusiasm to help out in the classroom and interact with the students. "Lydia is high energy, very efficient and supportive," said Dupra. "She wants the position to help meet kids’ needs." McCabe, who grew up in Virginia and comes from a family of educators, said she couldn’t imagine it any other way. "I try to be in the classroom as much as possible," said McCabe. "I view my role as a facilitator. I like to be where the kids and the action are." Benjamin McCracken and his family decided to join the action two years ago. As far as his mother, Debbie, is concerned, Quest has been a great experience for the whole family. "It has been awesome, absolutely awesome," said McCracken. "I think that kids just achieve more and succeed knowing that parents care and are involved." |
