CFHS Receives RecognitionThe U.S. News & World Report's Best High Schools in the Country list ranks Chagrin Falls High School No. 14 of 832 high…
CFHS Receives Recognition
The U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools in the Country list ranks Chagrin Falls High School No. 14 of 832 high schools in Ohio. Nationally, the school ranks No. 367 of 19,400 high schools in the country.
Chagrin Falls High School received “gold” status by the news organization based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. To produce the 2014 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, U.S. News teamed up with the Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research, one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world.
In addition, the high school was named one of The Washington Post’s Most Challenging High Schools in America list. The newspaper ranks schools through an index formula that’s a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. There are more than 1,900 schools on the list this year.
Chagrin Falls High School ranked No. 12 among high schools in the state of Ohio.
Facilities Input Requested
The Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools is interested in gaining feedback from the community to gauge perceptions on their educational programs and other issues, including options for improvements to the elementary schools. There is a facilities survey that can be accessed on the homepage of the district website at www.chagrinschools.org that residents are encouraged to complete.
The data collected from this online research study will assist in making decisions for the future of the schools. Residents are asked to complete the 10-minute survey that includes a variety of long-term options for the district by May 28.
“This survey is vital to our town, our schools, our future,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “We continue to engage our constituents in an ongoing conversation about the facility needs within our district. The district master plan has supported our work as we have prioritized permanent improvement expenditures for the next fiscal year. A crucial next step is understanding the desires of our community moving forward. This survey will provide valuable insight for the administration and Board of Education in making decisions moving forward. We ask for your support in not only completing the survey, but encouraging others to do so as well.”
Results of this survey will be shared with the community this summer.
Distinguished Principal of the Year
Dr. Rachel Jones, principal of Gurney Elementary School, has been named the 2014 Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) Distinguished Principal of the Year.
“Jones was nominated and selected by her fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators,” said Dr. Julie Davis, OAESA executive director.
OAESA annually recognizes one middle school principal and/or one elementary school principal as Ohio Distinguished Principals of the Year. These principals represent Ohio in the National Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal program in Washington, D.C. In addition to representing the state at the national conference, the recipients serve as leaders in our state by presenting at workshops, taking speaking engagements, participating on committees at the state level, and they receive a monetary award that may be used entirely at the principal’s discretion.
The Distinguished Principal Committee, with assistance from the OAESA staff, reviews all of the candidates. They are seeking elementary or middle-level principals with at least five full years of service who exemplify quality leadership in education. Quality, educational leadership is defined by criteria and standards set in the following categories: leadership and management; parent and community relations; high standards for students; school atmosphere; and personal and professional growth.
Nominees completed an extensive written application addressing each of these areas. Three finalists were invited to Columbus for an interview with an OAESA committee. Finally, as Dr. Jones became one of two finalists, a visitation team conducted an on-site evaluation at Gurney Elementary this past month. It has been a yearlong process that is ending with Dr. Jones and Gurney Elementary School receiving the prestigious recognition.
“The ‘Gurney Experience’ includes a welcoming, challenging environment in which the entire staff is committed to improving student growth. This experience has been thoughtfully shaped by Dr. Jones and her team,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “She is a high quality educational leader that daily positively impacts young people. She has created an amazing educational culture for learning and growth for students and staff members. Programs are implemented with complete fidelity and support each making a positive impact on her building. She promotes staff leadership and empowers our teachers to be actively engaged in building and district improvement.”
Dr. Jones has been the principal of Gurney Elementary since 2001. The school currently has approximately 540 students and 70 staff members. She has recently completed the National Board Certification Pilot Program for Principals and achieved her doctorate in 2006; all personal, professional development activities she has used to continuously improve as an educator.
A graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor degree in elementary education, the University of Akron with both a master’s of leadership and a doctorate of education leadership, Dr. Jones previously held positions of an adjunct faculty member with Ursuline College and the University of Akron, taught in Hudson City Schools and served as an assistant principal with Twinsburg City Schools.
When asked what she is most proud of in her years as principal, Jones said, “I am most proud of the school-wide initiatives that we’ve developed at Gurney. They’ve become self-sustaining programs by empowering our teachers to be leaders. Responsive classroom, buddy classes, kinesthetic classroom kits, and Response to Intervention (to name a few) all have been implemented over the past several years and I have seen incredible results that benefit our young, individual learners.”
“The school culture among staff, students, parents and community is exemplary,” said third-grade teacher Sheri Halagan. “Dr. Jones works tirelessly to create a positive family-like atmosphere in our building. She does not rest until problems are solved and creates an atmosphere of trust, respect, and caring.”
Dr. Jones will be honored at the OAESA Annual Awards Dinner on June 18 during the organization’s professional conference. In October, Dr. Jones will represent Ohio at the National Association of Elementary School Administrators National Distinguished Principal Program in Washington, D.C., for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia, plus private and overseas schools.
Dr. Jones was the principal when Gurney Elementary won the OAESA Hall of Fame School Award in both 2004 and 2012. In addition, she received the Root Endowment Scholarship for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Research in 2006.
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools now has three Ohio Principals of the Year. Rebecca Holthaus was honored as the Ohio Middle Level Principal of the Year in 2013. Bob Hunt was named Ohio High School Principal of the Year in 2007.
