News Summary
Waterloo Elementary School has been awarded $10,000 as a finalist for the NIET Founder’s Award, recognizing its commitment to educator excellence and student success. This prestigious award spotlights exceptional educational practices and will culminate in a grand prize announcement of $50,000 in 2025. Under the leadership of Principal Emily Freeze Parks, the school’s performance has notably improved, achieving ‘Excellent’ and ‘Good’ ratings in recent years, showcasing significant advancements in educational quality.
Waterloo Wins $10,000 as a Finalist for Prestigious NIET Founder’s Award!
In the heart of Laurens County, Waterloo Elementary School has proudly announced that it has been awarded a whopping $10,000 for being named a finalist for the NIET Founder’s Award. This exciting recognition puts the school among the top five schools across the United States, showcasing their amazing work in fostering educator excellence and paving the way for student success.
What is the NIET Founder’s Award?
The NIET Founder’s Award, which was established by Lowell Milken in 2008, honors a single school each year that has showcased exceptional implementation of the principles set forth by NIET. The award not only highlights the school’s dedication to educational quality but also serves as a beacon to encourage other institutions to adopt similar strategies that lead to better results for students. Waterloo’s achievements will be celebrated even further when the grand prize of $50,000 is announced on February 27, 2025, during the NIET national conference.
A Leader in Education
A large part of this recognition can be attributed to Principal Emily Freeze Parks and her dedicated team, who have worked tirelessly to create a wonderful atmosphere of learning. Their strong leadership has undeniably produced a profound impact on the students. Alongside them, the district’s Superintendent, Dr. Jody Penland, has been a driving force advocating for educator effectiveness to enhance student learning experiences.
Raising the Bar for Academic Excellence
Waterloo Elementary’s journey to excellence is impressive. Just a year ago, the school held a rating of “Below Average”, but through hard work and dedication, it has elevated its status to “Excellent” in 2023 and “Good” in 2024. This remarkable transformation has led to the school earning the highest achievement accountability rating in Laurens County School District 55 for two consecutive years. Out of approximately 250 students, an incredible 90% qualify as “pupils in poverty”, making their success all the more remarkable.
Collaboration is Key
One of the standout features of Waterloo Elementary is its emphasis on collaboration. The school has partnered with NIET since 2020, focusing on building strong instructional leadership among school leaders. This partnership expanded in 2023, as Waterloo incorporated the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement, a proven method that has resulted in greater student achievement and higher graduation rates across South Carolina schools.
Teachers Learning Together
Each week, teachers at Waterloo gather in professional learning communities, where they engage in meaningful discussions led by a master teacher. This time is spent crafting effective lesson plans and devising instructional strategies that yield results. Sessions are centered around data-driven discussions, connecting the dots between the data and effective teaching practices.
Empowering Educators
The focus on tailored support and coaching has fostered an environment of trust and respect among educators, allowing them to grow professionally. Teachers at Waterloo are becoming skilled at analyzing student data and skills to adjust their instruction accordingly, developing a more personalized approach to education.
Looking Ahead
Waterloo Elementary School is on a mission to continue modeling NIET’s practices while championing the professional growth of its educators and the success of its students. The journey doesn’t stop here, as the school stands shoulder to shoulder with other finalists from Tennessee, Louisiana, Indiana, and Texas, all vying for this prestigious title. It will be an exciting wait until the big announcement in 2025!
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Additional Resources
- Golaurens: Waterloo Wins $10,000 as a Finalist for NIET Founder’s Award
- KWWL: 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher Award Winners Announced
- Golaurens: Waterloo Elementary Celebrates 2023 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School Award
- Google Search: NIET Founder’s Award
- WCF Courier: Waterloo Schools Energy Efficient Award
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Educator Excellence
