Ralph Witters Principal's Corner
It is truly my pleasure to work with students, parents and staff at Ralph Witters Elementary in the Hot Springs County School District. It has been said that it takes a "village" to help a child become a successful, productive adult, and we at RWE take that partnership seriously.I have 2 children, both who have or are attending HSCSD, allowing me to experience education from all perspectives.
Living in a small community is not new to me, and something I enjoy. I grew up in a wonderful small farming and ranching community called Joes Colorado. I graduated from Hesston College in Hesston Kansas with an early childhood education degree, to move on to Sterling College in Sterling Colorado, to complete my BS in Education. I received my Masters of Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.
Please stop by RWE and visit us anytime you are able. We welcome the opportunity to serve the students of HSCSD in partnership with all of you.
To contact Mrs. Brown, email her at:
or call Ralph Witters Elementary 864-6561
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At Ralph Witters Elementary,staff members take part in Professional Learning Communities to better help students.
Hot Springs County School District #1 Professional Learning Community by definition:
Hot Springs County School District #1 in partnership with students and community operates under the principles of a professional learning community. This process by definition involves all staff members working together in teams to reach common goals for which they are mutually accountable. The goals must be strategic, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound (SMART goals). These goals are updated and revised using student achievement data at routinely planned intervals throughout the school year. Following review, the team researches best practices to improve student performance and adjust instruction. The district believes that the key to improved student learning is continuous, job embedded learning for teachers.
3 Big Ideas of a Professional Learning Community (PLC)
1. Focus on Learning
The fundamental purpose of the school is to ensure high levels of learning for all students. This focus on learning translates into four critical questions that drive the daily work of the school. In PLCs, educators demonstrate their commitment to helping all students learn by working collaboratively to address the following critical questions:
1) What do we want students to learn? What should each student know and be able to do as a result of each unit, grade level, and/or course?
2) How will we know if they have learned? Are we monitoring each student’s learning on a timely basis?
3) What will we do if they don’t learn? What systematic process is in place to provide additional time and support for students who are experiencing difficulty?
4) What will we do if they already know it?
2. Build a COLLABORATIVE CULTURE
- No school can help all students achieve at high levels if teachers work in isolation.
- Schools improve when teachers are given the time and support to work together to clarify essential student learning, develop common assessments for learning, analyze evidence of student learning, and use that evidence to learn from one another.
3. Focus on Results
- PLCs measure their effectiveness on the basis of results rather than intentions.
- All programs, policies, and practices are continually assessed on the basis of their impact on student learning.
- All staff members receive relevant and timely information on their effectiveness in achieving intended results.
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The Ralph Witters Site Council includes the following members:
Scott Coale--Kindergarten
Kevin Gerber--1st
Cathy Titmus--2nd and CCC
Kati McCumber--2nd
Eacel Leonhardt--3rd
Jennifer Axtell--4th
Gayle Mead--Community
Deborah Brown--Principal
