By Mark Tallman

Sunflower Elementary School in Paola USD 368 was named as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education. It is one of four Kansas elementary schools and 356 schools across the country recognized for performance on state assessments or nationally normed tests.

Nearly half of Sunflower students scored in the two highest levels on state assessments, noted as Effective and Excellent in preparation for postsecondary success. The statewide percentage is about 33 percent. The percentage of Sunflower students scoring at the lowest level on state tests was less than half the state average. 

The combined percentage of Sunflower students from low-income families (41) and students with disabilities (25) is similar to the state average. The school serves about 380 students in grades three through five.

To learn how Sunflower achieved their results, I visited with Superintendent Matt Meek, Principal Staci Wokutch, and six teachers.

Science of Reading

The first thing Sunflower leaders stressed was the commitment to the Science of Reading approach to teaching literacy. This approach has been emphasized by the Kansas State Board of Education through accreditation, teacher training, licensure, and assistance to local schools. The Science of Reading is based on various disciplines, including education, psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience. 

Sunflower teachers said they embraced this approach to better meet the needs of all students. "We knew what we were doing with whole language wasn't working, because you have a select group of kids that were doing fine, but then you have this large group of kids that are really struggling,” said Fourth Grade Teacher Lisa Cerros. Teachers explained that reading is not a natural human skill, and while some students are easily able to pick it up, many students struggle if they don’t know the rules of language. The new approach gives them those rules.

"Phonics allows a mathematical approach to reading because it's very systematic," said Malinda Chappell, Fifth Grade and Interrelated Teacher, who is also the district’s Teacher of the Year. "It's so empowering because you don't have to guess. You don't have to just use context clues.” Because reading is so fundamental to learning other subjects and skills, Sunflower educators say their attention to reading skills supports student success in all other areas, like math and science.

Student Focused Interventions

Sunflower uses a common approach often called Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) that compliments general classroom instruction with time set aside for specific interventions based on individual student needs. Sunflower calls that time WIN, or What I Need. Educators say their WIN process offers more individualized help because more people are involved.

“The big difference here is that everyone, from the music teacher and the library teacher and the paras, to every classroom teacher, has been trained and has the ability to take groups, and we hold it at a universal time,” said Chappell. “So, we have something like 27 different groups that the kids can go to. We're able to specialize so much more directly and really pinpoint that next step the student needs to take.”

Sunflower groups students from different grade levels with similar needs. Wokutch said they were worried about how older kids might feel being in a group with younger students. To stress to students that the goal is meeting individual needs, they make sure that the highest level groups aren’t taught by the older grade teachers. “And we find that sometimes those older students can be leaders in a way they wouldn’t be with their own grade,” Wokutch said. They found that intervention time can also help students get enrichment or move ahead faster.

Teachers stressed the system relies on frequent monitoring of student progress and students are shifted among groups based on their needs. There is also a heavy focus on students following their own progress and using the same language about meeting their goals.

7 Mindsets Program

Just as important as academic instruction and support is giving students the mindset to be successful, a concept repeated over and over. “I want to reflect the growth mindset that we have here at Sunflower,” said Fourth Grade Teacher Ivy Poetter. “We want to do the best for our students, and that also means they have the grit and they buy in to what school is about. It’s building that student efficacy, students feeling like they're empowered to do it.”

To foster this empowerment, Sunflower uses the 7 Mindsets program for social and emotional development, an educational framework designed to foster personal growth, mental health, and well-being among students and educators. The seven mindsets are: Everything is Possible, Passion First, We Are Connected, 100% Accountable, Attitude of Gratitude, Live to Give, and The Time is Now. Sunflower teachers say the program has been well received in the community. “We see parents using the same terms,” said Cerros. 

Other steps to connect with students include Panther Time activities when teachers share lessons in hobbies or interests, student surveys, special efforts to connect with students who don’t seem to have strong connections, an emphasis on field trips and guest speakers to give students broader exposure, and a special point to greet each student individually every day.

A Community of Support

Sunflower educators stressed several other factors supporting the school’s success. Thanks to a strong community endowment and district funding, they have unusually wide opportunities for professional development, such as state, national and even international conferences. They credit an “amazing PTO” for helping support field trips and other activities.

The teachers said they felt respected by administration, had great opportunities and had support to try new things. Leaders returned the compliments with praise for the whole staff.
Finally, the teachers commented on their positive relationship with other staff members, who have embraced the same goals, programs and mindset. “Our staff is hard-working, but there is an environment here that is joyful,” said Chappell. “I think the Sunflower is a fun place to come to school. It's just a joyful place to learn."