MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — Sisters, we need to talk about the state assessment results. Despite everything we have poured into this school, Capstone students scored at roughly the same level as children at schools that do not have a mindfulness yurt. We gathered Tuesday for what Blakely called “a deeply necessary wine.”
“Frankly, the data is offensive,” said PTO President Blakely Whitmore-Vance, holding up a bar chart she had printed on linen cardstock. “We have a Peloton in the teachers’ lounge. The teachers do not use it. But it’s there.”
For the record, we have invested more than $1.2 million in academic enrichment over the past five years. That includes the mindfulness yurt, a 3D printer (it has printed a very cute small Stanley cup), and our $14,000 mural Reading Is a Journey (Sponsored by Brad’s Law Firm). If that isn’t an investment in learning, we don’t know what is.
We voted 14–0 to hire an out-of-state consulting firm to find the root cause, with one abstention because Margaux had to get to barre. The firm’s preliminary finding, that “maybe kids just learn at kid speed,” was not what we were looking for, so we have asked them to go back and find a different answer.
Open discussion was so productive. Hospitality Chair Tinsley Crawford-Hale suggested the test itself may be “not on-brand.” Wellness Chair Margaux Delacroix-Beasley believes the children’s energy was disrupted by mercury retrograde and the cafeteria’s fluorescent lighting. Kinsley asked whether the scores could simply be re-done, but nicer. All excellent points.
We also checked in with the teachers, who said the students are bright, curious and doing just fine, and that what would really help is more time to teach, fewer assemblies, and possibly some glue sticks. We are so grateful for their input. That’s why we’re launching a Teacher Listening Tour at the country club. Cocktail attire.
Good news: we have approved an additional $22,000 for a Test Score Glow-Up Gala, with proceeds going to a second study to find out why the first study was so expensive. We are so close, sisters.