"I'm Going to College"

- "NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY" at Washington Elementary
Author: Burke Staheli, Washington Elementary

Just a few weeks back, a little kindergarten boy at our school walked up to his teacher's desk with the question, "Can I borrow your stapler?" The teacher replied by handing the stapler to the boy who immediately tried, without success, to cram it into his pockets, which were already filled with pencils, erasers, and other school supplies. As he waddled back toward his desk he was asked by his teacher what he was going to do with all the stuff that was in his pockets. His answer was instant, and powerful, "I'm going to college, Mrs. Burrell."
This school year, Washington Elementary in Washington County has adopted the "No Excuses" University model of education as we help each of our students build bridges to college through a combination of a Culture of Universal Achievement and the development of Exceptional Systems that promote resolutions rather than excuses. "No Excuses" University is a network of K-8 schools developed by Jeff King and Damon Lopez, former principals of Los Penasquitos Elementary School in California. Schools involved in the network share the common pledge that "we are committed to creating schools that know no limits to the academic success of each student." In practice, the No Excuses model has provided that "I can't wait to go to school" spark that all students, especially those from at –risk circumstances need to succeed.
It has been said that to change a school culture, one must first change the conversations. At Washington, our conversations are focused on learning and preparing students for college. From the moment students set foot on campus, they encounter symbols communicating the non-negotiable expectations that each of them will Put Forth Great Effort, Behave Responsibly, and Achieve Impressively. These expectations also carry over to teachers who have committed, more than ever before, to being "in the resolution business, not the excuse business."
No Excuses University Schools are characterized by the following traits:
1. A Universal Belief and Commitment that Every Child Achieve Academic Success: At the foundation of a "No Excuses University" (NEU) is the belief and commitment that every student, even those thought to be At-Risk and perhaps without promise, will achieve high levels of academic success, and by doing so will successfully prepare themselves to graduate from college. NEU staff members believe at their very core that these goals are possible and they display a daily commitment to making - what is but a dream to some, a reality for all. As a principal, this makes goal setting easy because the goals are always 100%. Then the work begins!
2. Maverick Spirit: No Excuses University Schools don't always live by the Status Quo! Having a Maverick Spirit means approaching your work with a bold confidence and doing what is right no matter the cost. Those with a Maverick Spirit take great pride in creating opportunities for every child to be successful, especially when others claim that doing so is impossible.
One of the goal setting philosophies common to each network school, is the creation of a B.H.A.G. (A Big Hairy Audacious Goal). Much like a team that starts the season out each year with the goal of winning a state championship, a school B.H.A.G. should be the ultimate of goals, it should keep the entire school energized and focused and it should require tremendous effort and a little luck to accomplish. At Washington we have extended the B.H.A.G. philosophy into our professional learning communities setting both team and individual big, hairy, audacious goals that help us to stretch ourselves and dream a little.
3. Academic Results: The one and only standard that "No Excuses University" schools judge themselves against is academic results. Make no mistake-Washington Elementary still provides an enriched, balanced, and supportive environment for children, but these characteristics fade in importance if every child is not first experiencing impressive academic success.
This intense focus on academic achievement has been an eye-opening shift in philosophy for our school, especially for me, the principal. In the past, I was content with students being content. I had the belief that if their bellies were full and they had smiles on their faces, school was a success. But as I looked at my own past in elementary school, and then looked at the success cycle of any child, I realized that nothing can match the confidence building power of truly "getting it" when it come to academics.
4. Conversation: At "No Excuses" University schools, conversations among teachers, staff, children, and parents unfailingly focus on learning and preparing for college. At the local grocery store or the gas station, the talk and the vision are a future that includes a post-high school education for our students. These conversations are critical, especially for students coming from a low socio-economic background where the vocabulary of a future college education may never be uncovered. Talking about college and preparing for college early in life creates a vision for all students regardless of economic class. NEU's have a single goal related to student achievement, and casual conversations that take place around campus every day and all day reinforce that commitment.
5. Powerful Symbolism: Probably the most visible , and the most fun element of a "No Excuses" University school is the symbolism related to preparing for college. From the moment students and parents step foot on campus, they encounter symbols that communicate the expectation and belief that each of our students are capable of doing well enough in school that they can one day attend college.
Within the school, each classroom has partnered with a college or university from across the country. At Washington, partnerships have been established with schools such as Ohio State, Oregon State, LSU, Boise State, and USC. Many of our classes have developed local ties with (in no particular order) BYU, Utah, Utah State, Southern Utah and Dixie State. On Mondays, are students wear the colors of their respective colleges and throughout the week, students repeat school fight songs and cheers. Students take online tours of the colleges and many classrooms receive weekly mail from their universities. This symbolism even extends to our school spirit shirts, which are emblazoned with the individual college graduating years of each class. This year's kindergartners, for example, are the class of 2025. It's never too soon to start talking about college.
Recently, our school held a Homecoming Parade celebrating each of the colleges and universities represented at Washington Elementary. Students painted faces, made banners, and created upbeat cheers to share as they marched around our school track to the rhythm of their school fight songs in unison with claps from the hands of their parents. The vision of the students marching together created a moving statement of what we might be capable of if we keep expectations high, believe in the ability of every child to succeed, and accept no excuses from any of our school stakeholders.
Michelangelo once said that "the greatest danger for most of us it not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that our aim is too low and we reach it." At Washington, we are enthusiastic about the No Excuses University model for education. We understand that the greatest gift a teacher can give a student who brings challenges to school is to first support the child, and then demand exceptional effort and responsibility. No Excuses!