Bessemer Academy’s can-do culture boosts school rating
Kate Shanahan
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” —Henry Ford
Students and teachers at Bessemer Academy in Pueblo, Colorado know they can.
Last year, Bessemer Academy jumped up a rating for the first time since 2012—from priority improvement to improvement. They were one of only five schools in the district to move off of turnaround. The big secret: a positive attitude.
“The dedication of my team, their positive ‘we can do it’ attitude, and their ability to take and implement feedback was key to our growth.”
Teachers at Bessemer embraced a new math curriculum with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm. Every week, you’d find teachers digging into standards and planning lessons together. Collaboration is key to Bessemer’s school culture. “The culture and climate was developed to support student learning and a ‘can-do’ attitude,” says Assistant Principal Jaime Schwab.
ANet Coach Meredith Stolte supports the teams with targeted professional development and strategic best practices. Assistant Principal Schwab hails her as “the absolute best coach in the world to tell us how to ‘get ‘er done.’”
According to Meredith, “The leadership team at Bessemer has an unwavering focus and belief in students, and they do whatever is necessary to support teachers. They are the model for balancing learning, growth and urgency.”
This year, the feeling of optimism at Bessemer is stronger than ever. Congratulations to all of the students and teachers on their academic success!