Brightwood students are “getting caught for being good,” whether turning off a light to conserve energy or sounding out a hard-to-pronounce word. Teachers are armed with a set of stickers that they stick on students for achievement in things such as “decision making” or “environment.”

The school itself could win an award for its pleasant, multi-cultural and inspiring learning environment. A stone fountain gurgles water in the entranceway and hanging from the wall nearby, is a paper quilt third graders made to highlight their families’ heritage.

Skylights and windows fill every space with sun, including a classroom where a group of new and veteran first grade teachers from all around the world – Nigeria, Mexico, New York City, and Spain – meet to plan end-of-the-year trips to Virginia’s Luray Caverns and Baltimore’s Port of Discovery.

With major renovations underway, Brightwood is what a school looks like when parents, teachers, students and administrators design the building. A wall of windows can be opened up so the auditorium’s stage can be used indoors and outdoors. As you walk in the school, there is a Parents’ Resource Room, where groups like the Tellin’ Stories Project and the Ethiopian Community Center connect the mostly immigrant population to adult education, parenting classes, and social services.

Showing off the school’s full-service health clinic, where children get physicals and immunizations, adults get their flu shots, and a young child with cerebral palsy is able to receive medical care between classes so he does not have to stay at home, Principal Wanda A. Fox boasts: “We are what the future of DC public schools can be.”

Guided by a belief that schools are the cornerstone of the community, Brightwood has forged close relationships with nearby churches, charter schools and residents. Noticing that in the summer families living in nearby apartments without air-conditioning would eat picnic meals in the schoolyard, Principal Fox included in the new construction plan a plaza with tables and chairs at the front of the school where families can sit and eat together.

A former teacher and guidance counselor, and 5th generation Washingtonian, Principal Fox has increased parent involvement 300 percent since her arrival in 1999. Once a month, Fox has morning-long roundtable discussions with an average of 30 parents. Teachers and parents also have roundtable to answer questions and solve problems. From Fox, the message to parents is simple: “It’s ok to be critical. But, what are you going to do about it?”

As construction increases dust in the school, a dozen parents are regularly volunteering to help the janitor clean the school.  This detail has not gone unnoticed by a group of 1st graders, who first mentioned “clean” when DC North asked what they like about their school.

Yet there are challenges. With the loss of affordable housing in the community, Brightwood has lost over 100 students. “I have close relationships with the families; I know we are not losing them to other schools - charter or private. Ninety seven percent of them are going to Hyattsville.”

Based on DCPS’s per pupil funding scheme, with the loss of students, Brightwood has had to cut costs by not having a science and music teacher, or a librarian. To fill the newly renovated school with new students, Fox would like to see a serious push from the community for more mixed income housing in the neighborhood.

Principal Fox is also looking for community volunteers to help with art, music, and science/environment/gardening activities, as well as reading assistants after school or on Saturdays for students and parents. Plus, the brand new library needs new books.

Academic Achievement:

Principal Fox is also proud that only two students were referred to special education; a designation Fox says is too often given to African American and Latino boys based on their behavior, not academic ability. 

Improving Student Achievement:

New curricula have been introduced that are more hands-on and experiential, such as Houghton-Mifflin Language Arts Series and Everyday Math, which is one of the most highly acclaimed elementary mathematics programs based on solid research funded by the National Science Foundation. According to Olubusola Ayangbesan, 1st grade teacher, Brightwood teachers have visited other elementary schools to learn from teachers who have been using the program for the last 10 years.

Each week the Principal meets with all the team leaders in a meeting to check-in on goals and timetables. Staff meetings are now spent on professional development training instead of administrative issues.

“Global Village” is a separate wing of the school for 5th and 6th graders who are preparing for junior high school by taking five classes.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA):

There are 50 dues paying members who attend monthly meetings, and the principal is actively working to involve more parents.

Technology:

After construction is completed, Brightwood will be a wireless school, with a media center where students plug away at educational games on new Mac computers. All teachers have laptop computers, LCD projectors, and a classroom phone with voicemail.

Faculty and Staff:

Brightwood has approximately a 10% teacher turnover rate, but has recently lost some favorite teachers and administrators to charter schools offering higher salaries and other perks. Principal Fox has enjoyed seeking out and hiring her own teachers, but has recently gotten many teachers sent to her from DCPS headquarters.

Under new rules of the federal No Child Left Behind law, 11 teachers may be leaving Brightwood if they do not become certified.

All of the teacher aides are current or former parents.

Physical Education (PE):

Students play kickball, soccer, and football in PE class with Mr. Alexander (Mr. A), who rides his bike to work from Springdale, MD and has been teaching health/PE for 19 years at Brightwood. There are no after school sports at this time, due to the school’s emphasis on academics.

Physical Plant/Playground:

When school construction is completed Feb. 2007, there will be three age-appropriate outdoor jungle gyms. Right now, teachers park on the street so that older children can play in the parking lot.

Community Partnerships:

To name only a few of many:

Emery United Methodist

Best Friends, Best Men

Kingsbury School

Centro Nia

Sidwell Friends

Uniforms:

White tops and navy bottoms are required. 

Discipline/Conflict Resolution:

Peer mediation is used daily for addressing student’s issues; 99 percent of referrals come from the children themselves. Instead of detention, teachers refer students to a reflection room for disruptive behavior.  A counselor staffs the room and helps the children reflect on why they broken one of the school’s values, such as responsibility or tolerance, and how to make better choices in the future.

After finding that students suspended from school often stay at home alone, sometimes without a meal and in a dangerous situation, Brightwood now keeps children in the school environment. Parents, teachers, and the school psychologist will craft an individualized plan to support the child’s emotional and physical development, which may include participation in the school’s 8-week family counseling program.

Security:

One guard on duty from 7 am to 7 pm. All visitors must sign-in at the front desk and receive a visitor’s badge.

Brightwood Elementary School
1300 Nicholson St., NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-282-0267
www.brightwooddc.org

Early Childhood/Head Start, Pre-K through 6th

Size: 405 (70% Latino, 28 % African American - 21 languages represented)

Class Size: 23 (average)

Free Lunch: 348

Breakfast: 158