Across Elverado Community School District, something powerful is happening—and it didn’t take years to unfold. In just a short time, intentional changes led by educators Connie Clendenin and Andrea Mize have sparked dramatic improvements in attendance, discipline, and academic growth. More importantly, they have restored something even more valuable: hope.

Clendenin, principal of Elverado’s intermediate and junior high schools, has spent the past year helping guide a focused effort to address three critical challenges facing students—declining attendance, increasing discipline issues, and falling math performance. Rather than accept those trends as inevitable, she and her colleagues asked a simple but transformative question: What can we do better for our students?

The answer came in the form of deliberate, coordinated action.

One of the first steps was implementing a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative at the junior high level. The program created clear expectations for behavior and rewarded students for making positive choices, attending school regularly, and engaging in their learning. Students earned points that could be used in auctions for items they valued—from candy and games to larger prizes like electronics.

The results were almost immediate.

For the first time since before the pandemic, attendance began to climb. Where attendance rates had fallen as low as 60 percent in previous years, they rose to more than 72 percent this year. Even more striking, discipline incidents dropped by an astonishing 95 percent.

“When students are in school and in class, they’re learning,” Clendenin said. “That’s where everything begins.”

But improving attendance and behavior was only part of the strategy. The district also knew it had to strengthen academic performance, especially in math.

That’s where Andrea Mize stepped in. As principal of the primary school and a key leader in curriculum development, Mize worked with a team of teachers across grade levels to evaluate instructional resources and build a more consistent, aligned approach to math and reading instruction. They examined data, researched successful districts, and selected tools that would help meet the specific needs of Elverado’s students.

One of those tools, i-Ready, allowed teachers to identify individual learning gaps and provide targeted support tailored to each student. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, students received instruction and practice based on exactly what they needed to grow.

The impact has been extraordinary.

In eighth grade alone, students demonstrated 120 percent of their expected academic growth in math—more than doubling the anticipated progress. Across grade levels, approximately 75 percent of students met or exceeded their stretch growth goals, and every junior high grade level showed measurable improvement.

At the intermediate level, the pattern continued. Fourth and fifth-grade students showed growth rates exceeding 80 percent in key academic areas, reflecting the power of consistent instruction and focused support.

For Clendenin, the numbers are meaningful—but the human stories behind them matter even more.

She recalls one student who had struggled academically for years and rarely received recognition. During an assembly celebrating student growth, his name was called for showing significant improvement. His face lit up.

“To see his excitement, to see him realize that he could succeed—that was everything,” she said. “Every student has the potential to grow. Sometimes they just need someone to help them believe it.”

That belief has become a cornerstone of Elverado’s approach.

Teachers now meet regularly to review student progress, share strategies, and collaborate on ways to help every student move forward. Students receive targeted interventions when needed, as well as recognition for their efforts and growth. The focus is not just on high achievement, but on progress—on helping every student take the next step.

The changes have also strengthened relationships throughout the district. Students feel more connected. Teachers feel more empowered. The entire school community is united around a shared mission of growth.

“It’s contagious,” Clendenin said. “When students see success, they want to keep improving. When teachers see growth, they want to keep pushing forward.”

This momentum comes at an exciting time for Elverado. With strong community support, the district is preparing to build a new K-8 facility that will bring students and staff together on a single campus, creating even greater opportunities for collaboration and innovation.