About the Exemplary Practice Schools Program

The second annual Exemplary Practice Schools program took place in fall 2024. The program was designed to highlight outstanding school improvement practices in one or more area(s) of the West Virginia Standards for Effective Schools. Schools with demonstrated improvement on the Balanced Scorecard measures were invited to apply for recognition. Eligible schools submitted an application that included a narrative describing the unique and effective ways they implement a school practice to make a difference for their students.

Past Winners

2024

Sherman Elementary School was chosen based on how Standard 2, Instructional Leadership: Ensuring the Effectiveness of Instruction Leads to Student Achievement, was implemented. This includes:

• Principal ensuring implementation of high-yield instructional strategies
• Staff leading and assuming responsibility for overall academic success
• Students engaged in age-appropriate leadership opportunities

Mountaineer Middle School was chosen based on how Standard 5, Equitable Opportunities to Learn and Effective Instruction, and Standard 6, Frequent Monitoring of Student Progress, were implemented in the school. Mountaineer Middle School has designed a highly effective model for tiered intervention called "REAL Time." It addresses all students’ needs with flexibility that allows teachers to design unique supports at each grade level.

• REAL time stands for:
  • R: Relate subject matter to the world
  • E: Empower students to take charge of the learning, think critically, and question
  • A: Actively engage in subject matter to increase the depth of knowledge; and
  • L: Learn content standards to mastery and beyond

United Technical Center was chosen based on how Standard 2, Instructional Leadership: Ensuring the Effectiveness of Instruction Leads to Student Achievement was implemented. United Technical Center:

• Is committed to excellence in education through the dedication of faculty, students and administration to instructional leadership
• Promotes a shared vision of engaging students in a dynamic and effective learning experience, where the students become the leaders in their own classrooms
• Believes in student agency, and understands true learning occurs when students are actively engaged in the decision- making process about their education
• Empowers students to take ownership of their educational journey through age-appropriate leadership opportunities, including student-led initiatives and peer-tutoring