Burks Middle School
Michael Goolsby, Principal
Burks Middle School
300 Crossville St
Monterey, TN 38574
Recipe for Success:
Burks Middle School, located in Monterey, Tennessee, has a population of 282 students with 60 percent being socio-economically disadvantaged and thirteen percent being Hispanic. Nine percent of the population qualifies as English Language Learners; thirteen percent receive special education services. This demographic picture shows the learning barriers that we are trying to overcome. Some of our effective, instructional strategies include a comprehensive Title One program, an after-school program, the use of student data in class planning, teacher involvement in school decision making, utilizing teacher strengths in scheduling, and student ownership of the school and their education.
The school's Title One program has progressed from Targeted Assistance to School Wide so that every student may be served. The 2004-2005 school-wide program offered student assistance in reading, math, and writing through the encore rotation. Math instruction was personalized through the use of the SuccessMaker program as well as classroom instruction. Reading instruction was done through reading circles as well as the SuccessMaker program. The program offered an intensive writing curriculum to ready students for the writing assessment in February. Each of these teachers worked directly with grade level teachers to increase student achievement in these areas through team teaching and helping to differentiate instruction in the classroom.
Burks Middle School received a 21st century After-School program grant in Spring 2002, enabling the administration and faculty to provide enrichment and remediation to students in need as well as a safe place for students to be. Teachers are able to assign students to participate in the after school program if students are not turning in homework or participating in class. Students are able to receive individual assistance when needed in all subject areas.
Teachers and students are made aware of the student data compiled from Spring TCAP testing. Teachers utilize this data in their weekly plans and use the data to differentiate instruction in the classroom. Teachers also make effective use of all teaching time in their planning as evidenced by the plan book. All teachers use the state curriculum to ensure that all topics to be tested have been covered prior to spring testing. Students are also a part of planning, in that they set goals through meta-analysis at the beginning of each year. These goals are based upon last year's test data.
The BMS administration set the tone so that all faculty members know that they are involved in decision-making regarding our school. Teachers know that they are able to speak to administration at any time to express concerns with an open door policy. All teaching teams are involved in discipline decisions as well as teacher interviews.
The Burks Middle School vision statement is to educate the mind body and spirit of each student. We try our best to be true to this vision through the collaboration of students, teachers and administration.