Audelia Creek Surprised with TAP Founder’s Award

Texas elementary school wins $50,000 for exceptional implementation of TAP system

When Audelia Creek Principal Mike Savage took his seat at the opening presentation of the 10th National TAP Conference, along with his TAP Leadership Team, he had no idea that his school would be the star of the show. But after Lowell Milken began his surprise announcement of the 2010 TAP Founder's Award, the tables started to turn. Funded by the Lowell Milken Family Foundation, the TAP Founder's Award is presented annually to one school for exceptional implementation of TAP's comprehensive system of school reform. As an added bonus, the honor comes with a $50,000 cash prize to help achieve TAP goals in subsequent school years.

"May I have the envelope, please?" asked Lowell Milken as about 900 people sat on the edge of their seats. "The 2010 TAP Founder's Award goes to ... Audelia Creek Elementary School!"

"By achieving teacher and student advancement at consistently high levels, Audelia Creek Elementary is well-deserving of the TAP Founder's Award," Lowell continued. "Principal Mike Savage and his team have created a culture of excellence that has inspired everyone to reach new heights."

Audelia Creek Elementary takes the stage to receive the $50,000 TAP Founder's Award. Pictured from left to right are: TAP Founder Lowell Milken, Principal Mike Savage, Master Teacher Frank Patranella, Mentor Teacher Angela Pippins, Master Teacher Ganges Mathew, Assistant Principal Tonja Frazier, Mentor Teacher Jennifer Smith, Mentor Teacher Anissa Clayton, Texas TAP Executive Director Tammy Kreuz, Texas TAP Regional Coordinator Tami Jenkins and Texas Education Agency Associate Commissioner for Educator and Student Policy Initiatives Jerel Booker.

Since adopting TAP in the 2005-06 school year, Audelia Creek Elementary — where 81 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged — has been transformed into a stable, stimulating learning environment yielding high achievement for students and teachers alike. Before TAP, Audelia Creek was barely clinging to an "academically acceptable" state rating, largely due to a poor teacher retention rate of 33 percent. Principal Mike Savage's strong leadership was brought in to turn the school around, and as he said, "TAP had all the elements to make this school better." These elements include multiple career paths, ongoing applied professional growth, instructionally focused accountability and performance-based compensation.

"I am just elated," said Savage. "TAP's embedded staff development, rubric for evaluation, as well as multiple career paths, student and teacher growth and economic incentives have made a clear difference in my school's success. In TAP, you are always striving to get better and help teachers and students achieve."

The Proof's in the Performance
Strengthening teacher skills and collaborating as a team has resulted in significant student learning gains. In every year of TAP implementation, Audelia Creek has received the highest "value-added" score of "5," indicating "far above average" results compared to its peers in the state. The school's state ratings have reflected this achievement: Two years of TAP showed a jump to "recognized" status from "academically acceptable," and in the 2008-09 year, Audelia Creek received the highest state rating of "exemplary." This translates into an 80 percent increase in student proficiency since the inception of TAP (from 44 to 83 percent). TAP implementation has also made it possible for Audelia Creek to increase its teacher retention rate to a remarkable 92 percent, which has a direct bearing on student achievement.

"TAP takes the 'No Child Left Behind' concept and throws it into a whole new perspective," said Charlicia Lewis, a career teacher and parent at Audelia Creek. She participated in an inspirational video with other staff and students shown at the TAP Conference about the transformation of the school through TAP. "Not only is the child not being left behind, but the child is also exceeding above and beyond in a TAP school."

The TAP Founder's Award started recognizing outstanding TAP schools in 2008. Recipients are selected without their knowledge by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, which operates TAP, based on extraordinary distinction in the following areas: full and proficient implementation of TAP's four elements, achievement according to state or federal measures, and notable recognition as a center and resource of best practices. To be eligible for the TAP Founder's Award, schools must be participating in TAP for at least three years.

The TAP Founder's Award yields lasting benefits that will strengthen the individual school and support its teachers by means of prominent public recognition; opportunities to substantively interact on issues of teacher quality and student learning with leaders from government, business and academia; and stipends for attendance at conferences.

For more information, visit www.tapsystem.org.

COMMENTS

Pam Ogle, pamelaogle@comcast.net, July 19, 2010
The students at Audelia Creek are fortunate to have a dedicated staff under the leadership of Mike Savage. Keep up the good work!

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