Rigorous coursework, a premium on students' health and social-emotional well-being, a caring and highly qualified staff, and extracurricular and enrichment opportunities. For these and many other reasons, Jason Lee Middle School of Tacoma, Wash., has been named the winner of the 2016 Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award. Chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, Jason Lee serves as an example of how dedication to educating the whole child can profoundly affect the success of a school and its students, staff, and community.
The urban middle school, which serves 584 students, has experienced a transformation since receiving a federal School Improvement Grant in 2010. Today, the Center for Educational Effectiveness reports that Jason Lee's performance exceeds comparable high-improving and high-performing middle schools in the areas of collaboration and communication; high standards and expectations; effective leadership; parent and community involvement; curriculum, instruction, and assessment; focused professional development; and cultural responsiveness.
In addition, the school saw double-digit increases in reading, math, writing, and science achievement after just one year of implementing the whole child approach to education. Jason Lee's faculty credit their success to the school's central vision and mission, which is aligned to the Tacoma Whole Child Initiative, and its emphasis on distributed leadership.
Students are engaged and supported every step of the way: Jason Lee offers an orientation camp for incoming 6th graders, a five-week summer academy on character education and physical health, and advisory classes and mentoring programs. The school also places a premium on mental health, employing two full-time counselors, a psychologist, and an in-school coaching interventionist for students who struggle with executive functions.
Students, staff, parents, and the community are deeply invested in Jason Lee's growth and success. Thanks to multiple partnerships, Jason Lee has been able to extend the learning day and year, granting students what equates to an additional half year of instruction over their middle school careers.