DISD schools focus on year-long success, life-long learning

According to Terrell Elementary Principal Amy Neidert, consistently strong relationships and high expectations help form the early foundations that lead to bright and successful futures for her Terrell Texans.

“Our entire Terrell team of educators and staff are just so excited and encouraged when we see solid results that support our focus and efforts,” said Neidert. “Terrell received a solid B on our last State report card, earning top Distinction honors for performing exceptionally well in the areas of Post-Secondary Readiness, Academic Achievement in Mathematics, and the Top 25% Comparative Closing the Gaps category. This indicates that we’re on the right path…that our students are being well prepared as they advance through our schools, colleges, career programs and the workplace.”

Everyone at Terrell is on the excellence bandwagon, even the school’s youngest students who don’t take State tests yet. “In addition to mastering the basics and learning to think and reason well, we’re also working hard to develop personal excellence in our kids,” said Kindergarten teacher Tina Burnham, referring to her “united team against drugs” campaign. “I saved a bunch of UNT t-shirts that a bus driver generously gave us a few years ago, so our kids could feel the pride of being part of a team…in this case, an anti-drug team. It’s definitely working…as evidenced by their adopted ‘Our Future Is Bright!’ motto.”

Neidert says everything at Terrell centers around strong relationships and high expectations. “Our teachers get to know their students on a personal level and an academic level, creating bonds that are built on trust and respect. That’s huge for our kids.”

Further supporting the premise that excellence at the elementary level leads to long-term success at higher grade levels are the honors amassed in the last round of testing by B. McDaniel Intermediate School, Henry Scott Middle School and Denison High School.

Scott Middle School’s State report card score inched ever-closer to an A, with an overall score of 87. B. McDaniel Intermediate School and Denison High School were close behind with scores of 84 each. Top Distinguished recognition awards earned by the schools were as follows: Scott Middle School – Academic Achievement in Science, Academic Achievement in English Language Arts/Reading, Academic Achievement in Social Studies, Post-Secondary Readiness and Top 25% Comparative Closing the Gaps; Denison High School – Academic Achievement in Science, Academic Achievement in Mathematics, Academic Achievement in English Language Arts/Reading, Academic Achievement in Social Studies and Top 25% Comparative Closing the Gaps. B. McDaniel exceled in School Progress with a score of 89 out of 100, and in Student Achievement with a score of 83 out of 100.

“We have a tremendous team of teachers, campus leaders, curriculum specialists and staff who work incredibly hard to get our kids where they need to be to succeed in today’s complex and ever-changing work world,” said Dr. Henry Scott, DISD Superintendent. “Behind that team, we have the best community and family supporters we could ever wish for. Our kids just continue to improve and excel. It’s gratifying to see. We’re just so thankful to everyone who helps make this happen.”

Kindergarten students in Tina Burnham’s Terrell classroom adopted their ‘Our Future is Bright’ motto after uniting as team members to lead drug-free lives. “Everything at Terrell centers around strong relationships and high expectations,” said Principal Amy Neidert. “Our students are proving that they’re excellent students and equally excellent people…all which indicates we’re on the right path, preparing our students for success at every level.”

Hard work, high expectations and pride in jobs well done were key to B. McDaniel’s recent State academic awards, which included an overall Report Card Score of 84, a School Progress score of 89 out of 100, and a Student Achievement score of 83.

Denison High School students attended the school’s 2019-2020 College Fair in record numbers, a reflection of recent State Distinction awards that included a campus report card score of 84, Academic Achievement in Science, Academic Achievement in Mathematics, Academic Achievement in English Language Arts/Reading, Academic Achievement in Social Studies and Top 25% Comparative Closing the Gaps.

Hard work and positive attitudes helped propel Scott Middle School students to inch ever-closer to an “A” report score of 87 on State testing. Distinction recognition awards included Academic Achievement in Science, Academic Achievement in English Language Arts/Reading, Academic Achievement in Social Studies, Post-Secondary Readiness, and Top 25% Comparative Closing the Gaps.