SAULT STE. MARIE. Mich. —Dr. Theresa Kallstrom, JKL Bahweting Anishinaabe School superintendent, received welcome news Aug. 11 from the State Board of Education. JKL School has been released from its status as a "focus school," effective immediately.
A letter from Brian Winston, State Superintendent of Education, said, "Your school's hard work and emphasis on data-driven decisions have narrowed the achievement gap between the top and bottom performing 30 percent of students."
It was that gap that put JKL on the focus school list. Despite winning the Bridge award, being in the top 25 percent of state schools and top 20 NMU charter schools, the gap between the extremely gifted at the school and students who were struggling at the school was too large, according to Carolyn Dale, Dean of Student Affairs and director of federal, state and school programs.
This is the state's way of meeting its goal of 85 percent proficiency for all students by 2021-2022 school year, according to the letter.
It feels "amazing and wonderful" to taken off the list, said Kallstrom. "We're happy because our students are succeeding," she said.
JKL School has been working on closing the gap since 2012 when it was placed on the list, said Kallstrom. Now that the school is off the list, it still has to monitor students, she added.
"This is a testament to a team effort but clearly under Theresa Kallstrom's leadership. She did exactly as she said she would and achieved her objective," Sault Tribe Chairperson Aaron Payment said. "On behalf of the tribe, I want to express my deepest gratitude."
Dale said she is "extremely proud" of all the JKL staff, especially the teachers, who had the bulk of the extra work it took to get off the list.
Kallstrom agreed, adding she is thankful for support from all the staff, the tribe, the JKL School Board and the JKL Fiduciary Committee. She is also grateful to state facilitator Carol Swingle for helping the school look at each and every student individually to see how they could improve.