Charlotte Jaycees Award Charlotte School Teachers

The Charlotte Jaycees have awarded three teachers in the Charlotte Schools on their annual Ten Outstanding Young Charlotteans list. The teachers named are: Emma Barnes, Hawk Ridge Elementary; Jeffrey Joyce, Northwest School of the Arts; and Mary Katherine Patton, Selwyn Elementary. The Ten Outstanding Young Charlotteans list honors area residents ages 21 to 40 who have shown outstanding performance in personal improvement, financial success or economic innovation, social improvement, philanthropic contributions, politics or government service, scientific or technological contributions, legal reform, cultural achievement, academic leadership, moral and religious leadership, athletic accomplishment, success in the influence of public opinion.

Mrs. Barnes is a second grade teacher at the Hawk Ridge Elementary in the Charlotte Schools. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree and is on the Advisory Board for Reach Out and Read Charlotte. Mrs. Barnes was named to the list for her work in establishing a book drive at Hawk Ridge to collect gently used books for Reach Out and Read Clinics. Her book drive has now been developed for all Charlotte Schools' elementary programs.

Mr. Joyce, a social studies teacher at the Northwest School of the Arts, is an active participant in the Yale Teaching Project. Due to his work on this project, Yale has made him their local recruiter and hopes he can expand the program throughout the Charlotte Schools. He was named to the list for his work in the relief efforts for Tsunami and Katrina victims.

Ms. Patton is a second grade teacher at Selwyn Elementary and is the former recipient of the First Year Teacher of the Year at Selwyn Elementary. She was named to the Ten Outstanding Young Charlotteans list for her work in Katrina and Rita relief. Through Ms. Patton's efforts, two Charlotte Schools Billingsville Elementary and Selwyn Elementary raised $25,000 for the Red Cross. She was also able to help convince Lowe's to issues a matching donation, as well.

Charlotte Schools Continue to Raise Test Scores

High schools in the Charlotte Schools have continued their five year trend of higher test scores. The results of the end of the course test for the 2005-2006 school year show that a higher percentage of students performing at or above grade level this year compared to last year. Charlotte Schools' high schools now have 64% of all students performing at or above grade level. The greatest improvement in scores was seen at three Charlotte Schools, East Mecklenburg High School, Independence High School and Vance High School. Each high school had an approximate increase in scores of 6%, raising each well above the 50% of students at grade level performance. Other high schools in the Charlotte Schools that have shown improvement include Garinger High School, West Charlotte High School and West Mecklenburg High School. However, none of these high schools reached the 50% mark.

It is believed that these improvements are the result of Charlotte Schools' reforms over the past few years. School reforms have aimed to place more resources in the classroom, use a lead teacher model in the schools, improve the schedule to allow more time in core subjects, and improve overall teaching standards. Some schools in the Charlotte Schools system have introduced additional measures, such as after school study groups and Saturday tutorials. Others have begun to divide the high school into small specialized sections that can give greater focus in core areas.