"Hernando Hills Elementary School Principal Recognized"

That's the way Principal Stephanie Gilder addresses a problem at her second and third grade school.

     Her creative leadership style has propelled her to earn DeSoto County School District's 2015 Administrator of the Year. Her efforts have also been recognized by the Mississippi Department of Education as the top education administrator for the 1st Congressional District. This second award makes her one of four finalists for the Mississippi Administrator of the Year. The winner will be announced in April.

     To get more rigor and relevance in her classrooms, Gilder developed an instructional improvement observation known as "The Blitz." Using a simple spreadsheet, she documented teacher and student behaviors by making spot checks on each classroom every hour and every day for one week. 

 

     "We noted behaviors such as whether the teacher was standing or seated, actively facilitating or teaching, and if teachers were monitoring student productivity," Gilder said.
     The results were astounding. Teachers were shocked to learn what "best practices" they were or were not using.
     "These data-driven revelations impacted the entire faculty and gave me an opportunity to develop a plan of action with each teacher emphasizing quality over quantity, meaningful engagement versus busy work," she said. "In the following weeks, I saw a valiant effort on each teacher's part to make every minute count."
     "Mrs. Gilder always puts her students first," said Annaleigh Minor, a 2nd grade teacher at HHES. "She supports her staff. I drive from Memphis to be a part of this team. Our school is like a family, it really is."

     Lauren Germany is a 3rd grade teacher at HHES. "Mrs. Gilder is our go-to person regarding curriculum. She gets teachers to work smarter, not harder, and she shows us how through excellent professional development and modeling good instructional decisions," she said.
     Hernando Hills Elementary School has an "A" accountability rating by the Mississippi Department of Education, but Gilder is quick to say this is due to her teachers.
"I would put my teachers against any teaching team in the country," she said. "They make this school a success."

"Light It Up Blue"
in 4th Year at Hernando High School

     "Small Town, Big Deal" hosts Rodney Miller and Jann Carl came to HHS to showcase how HHS's Interact Club and Chick-Fil-A's Leader Academy painted their town and their school blue to celebrate autism awareness.
      This nationally syndicated web-based program brings attention to inspirational events happening in small towns across the country. When the hosts were made aware of the community-wide effort to "Light It Up Blue," "Small Town, Big Deal" producers decided to feature the school and the community on an upcoming episode.

      As students filed into the gym for an "autism pep rally," they were given blue mustaches.
     HHS teachers Holly Neel and Angela Gregg are Interact Club sponsors. Each year they help their students top what they have done in the past.
      A pizza eating contest, a 5K run, and sponsors will help the Interact Club raise money for the ARC of Northwest Mississippi, a grassroots advocacy organization for children and adults with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities. Students are also working to help provide a Retrieving Freedom therapy dog for a child with autism each year as well as assisting Oak Grove Central Elementary School complete a sensory room.

Schools Recognized by PREPS for Excellence

Sarah Doss-Thomas, Shelia Riley, Supt. Milton Kuykendall, Ann Jolley and Milton Nichols accepted an award from PREPS for DeSoto County Schools being an "A" District.

     Eleven Desoto County Schools received special recognition for performing significantly better academically than projections anticipated. 

PREPS award winner high school Principal Chris Fleming, LHS.

    Seven DCS Middle Schools were recognized including: Center Hill Middle, DeSoto Central Middle, Olive Branch Middle, Horn Lake Middle, Lake Cormorant Middle, Lewisburg  Middle, and Southaven Middle. They were given plaques by the PREPS (Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools) Value Added Awards Program, under the direction of Mississippi State University.  Four DCS High Schools also received awards, including Center Hill High, DeSoto Central High, Lake Cormorant High and Lewisburg High. The principals were also recognized by DCS board members.

     Board members came forward with Supt. Milton Kuykendall to receive a  PREPS "A" District Award for the district's accountability rating.

     In different categories of learning, the students at those schools performed better than students at other schools of similar socioeconomic circumstances.

     "It is an honor to be recognized for our teachers, students and parents' efforts and to have such a strong showing for DeSoto County Schools," said Supt. Milton Kuykendall.

High school principals receiving PREPS Awards were, from left to right, Doug Payne, CHHS; Cory Uselton, DCHS; and Rhonda Guice, LCHS.

DeSoto County Schools
 2015-16 Tentative Calendar

December 21, February 12, February 15, March 28, May 23, and May 24 are scheduled makeup days.   State law requires a student schedule of 180 days. The calendar is subject to change due to emergency conditions.

DeSoto County Schools
Earns High Marks on Accreditation

Every five years DeSoto County Schools goes through a rigorous review  to earn full accreditation.  A seven member team  from  AdvancED  visited the schools in the district and interviewed principals,  school board members , staff and parents.  Lucy Hasselman, director of accreditation for DCS, facilitated their review. AdvancED, formerly known as SACS or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, gave the district high marks because of parent involvement, instructional practices,  special needs services, the PERKS program and facilities.  DCS finished above the national average in all areas, including teaching and learning impact, leadership and resource utilization. These marks renew DCS' accreditation through the middle of 2019 when the process will begin again.

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