So here's an inspirational article about a once-struggling Florida school that pulled itself up from a "D/F" rating to an "A" rating two years in a row (and they expect a third "A" this year). The article explains just how Blanton Elementary--one of the poorest schools in Pinellas Park--managed to make the shift. A large part of the piece showcases the motivation and leadership of the principal, Deborah Turner. And the piece argues that the school actually isn't alone--apparently "nearly 1 in 4 elementary schools across Florida with poverty levels above 70 percent have improved as much if not more than Blanton in the past five years," according to a St. Petersburg Times review of FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) scores. Of course it isn't easy at all--it takes time to get the right people and processes in place, says Oscar Robinson a former area superintendent who originally broke the F news to Turner. But looking at Blanton's story, it does seem to be very possible.
