Desert Willow Elementary

Demographics

Percentage of students*

Why Desert Willow Elementary was nominated

Desert Willow Elementary and its district are part of the national Opportunity Culture initiative, in which schools extend the reach of excellent teachers and their teams to many more students, for more pay, within regular budgets. The school has achieved high-growth learning results for its students; it posted the highest growth in the state in the literacy proficiency rate among medium-size schools, and the 31st-highest growth in the literacy rate. It received Certified Opportunity Culture® School status, Level 1, signifying a focus on student access to instruction led by Multi-Classroom Leader® teaching teams and incorporation of small-group, high-dosage tutoring into daily schedules. The foundation of the Opportunity Culture model is the Multi-Classroom Leader role, an excellent teacher who leads a small teaching team, providing instructional guidance and frequent, on-the-job development, while continuing to teach part of the time. The school uses this and other teacher and paraprofessional team roles to reach more students with excellent teaching.

Student experience design

*Every student feels known, valued, and supported in a safe, inclusive environment *Students are held to high academic expectations while receiving the support needed to succeed *Learning experiences promote active engagement through thinking, discussing, and writing *Students develop academic ownership—understanding their learning goals and tracking their progress *Classrooms foster collaboration, respect, and strong relationships among peers and teachers *Instruction builds confidence, independence, and resilience in learners *The overall experience provides students with a lifelong love of learning

Core Practices

Core Practices	Length of Use
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles	3-4 years
High Quality Instructional Materials	5+ years
Tutoring	3-4 years

All Practices

Adaptive Learning Software

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Peer To Peer Support

SEL Curriculum

key reasons for innovating

Artifacts

New Mexico Vistas