Reprint from the Progress Times - September 12, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Education Cookbook
Mims Elementary feasts on legacy of honors

 

By Mary Nichols

What makes a school exemplary? Is it the leadership, the faculty, or the students? Maybe it comes from the community, the type of environment, or the communication. Perhaps it involves having passion, determination, goals, or being selfless. These ingredients and attributes mix together like an education recipe until a school finally cooks up something worth savoring.

Mims Elementary School in Mission is one of the exceptional schools in the district that has discovered the ingredients to make a successful school. This little school with big personality has made the Texas Honor Roll of schools for the ninth consecutive year. The Texas Business Education Coalition (TBEC) has listed Mims as one of best performing public schools in the state because of Mims’ ability to maintain high performances in all subjects on the standardized tests. Honor Roll schools must also have the highest percentage of students performing at the state’s most rigorous standard: commended on all tests.

Its sister school, Midkiff Elementary, also made the Honor Roll for the second consecutive year. Both schools will be honored in November along with 296 others in the state in San Antonio. However, something must be cooking right in MCISD, because every year a district school makes the list. In the last five years, Cavazos Elementary, Leal Elementary, Marcell Elementary, Salinas Elementary, and Waitz Elementary have made the Honor Roll. Nonetheless, Mims Elementary separates itself from the pack, with its consistent performance each and every year – for nine consecutive years – with the following ingredients.

Ingredient 1: A Determined Principal

Yvonne Zamora, principal at Mims for the last four years, said each year they wait to receive a call that they’ve made the list.

“Everyone waits anxiously, from the staff to the teachers,” she said. “It is very important to us because it is something we work really hard for. It’s a huge honor for us."

Zamora has been at Mims for a total of seven years and started out as the assistant principal at the school. Her husband, Efrain Zamora, is a counselor at the other honored school, Midkiff Elementary, named after the first principal of Mims.

“I was left a great foundation by Hurla Midkiff,” said the vibrant principal. “We looked at what was established first and what weaknesses there were. Knowing those weaknesses, we are able to give more committed performances every year. We try to beat ourselves and set new goals.”

The school with its maroon-colored brick walls appears small, but upon entering, is large in personality. Colorful, children artifacts cover the first visible walls. There is a mural of a bright, red school with a slogan above it that reads, “Success for every Student.” There is a clean scent mixed with a Crayola crayon aroma. The school has approximately 670 students, grade levels Pre-K through fifth. There are 35 classroom teachers and a total of 80 employees.

As you hear Zamora speak, you can tell she is very much involved in all aspects of her school. When explaining her duties and tasks, she does not speak of them as frustrations, but responsibilities she gladly accepts and enjoys.

 “I like to be visible. I’m out on morning duty, and become the mosquitoes’ breakfast,” she said laughing. The same during lunch and after school, I’m out there with everyone else. If the community sees you, sees you’re involved, sees you know their kids’ names, they feel safe leaving their children with us.”

Zamora walks the cemented pebbled floor, the only school in the district to have such a floor. She walks tall and proud of the learning facility. Children line up in the hall and greet the principal happily, and she returns with a Hello and a first name.

Illiana Juarez, a second grade teacher at Mims, says Zamora has a welcoming nature. Though she is the principal, she treats every employee as a friend or family member.

“It’s a pleasure working at Mims, we have excellent leadership. The open door policy we have is very important,” said Juarez. “Mrs. Zamora is always welcoming our opinions on anything involving the school. What programs work or need to be removed.”

Juarez says the positive working atmosphere is something that Zamora promotes to keep the school thriving.

“We’re like a big family, we work together, and have a positive attitude,” said Juarez. “Mrs. Zamora even bought us t-shirts that say ‘Mims is a happy place.’ She is always stressing how important it is to keep a positive attitude than a negative one.”

Zamora’s consistent communication with her staff is what allows her to figure out what is best for the student.

“I’ve always said that it’s not what is convenient for us, but what is good for the student,” said Zamora. “Each meeting starts with that concept. We are frank and discuss what needs to be changed. We learn from each other and are constantly communicating.”

The organized clutter on Zamora’s desk reveals the never-ending paperwork. Her table-sized, work planner is covered in writing of upcoming meetings and events which she must take part in. In the background, she has an Easy Button seen in the Staples TV commercials, with the idea if pushed, things become easier. Zamora admits she hadn’t even seen the commercial because of her limited schedule.

“I like what I do. If I didn’t then I wouldn’t be able to do my job,” she said holding the easy button. It is very stressful; there is always something new or more demands. But, it’s fun, I wake up in the morning, and get to do it all over again.”

Ingredient 2: Skilled Faculty and Staff

Though it’s obvious Principal Zamora puts in her fair share of work, she gives full credit to her faculty and staff for the school’s exemplary status.

“The people that work here are very unselfish, and give up their time,” said Zamora. “Some people think school is over at 3:30 p.m. If you look at our parking lot at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., we still have many cars.”

Zamora said that Mims’ teaching staff is the first to arrive at school and the last to leave. This commitment, according to Zamora, is what helps the school excel, especially when the teachers take on dual responsibilities.

“Our teachers get here earlier than other teachers in the district,” said Zamora. “I don’t ever hear anyone complain when taking on more duties. It’s what is expected, and they do it with a smile on their face.”

Mims teachers get involved with programs like UIL (University Interscholastic League) and Destination Imagination, morning and afternoon duty, tutoring and make sure that all school programs are running successfully.

“Even the office staff and the custodians contribute,” said Zamora, smiling. “I just got a memo from all the teachers wanting me to thank all the custodians for keeping the classroom so clean.”

Ingredient 3: Positive Learning Environment

Having strong leadership and well-trained faculty and staff are important, but the type of learning environment set for students is crucial. At Mims Elementary positive ideals are projected throughout the school. This can be witnessed, walking toward the third grade sector. You can’t help but notice the posters and banners hanging on the walls of the small courtyard. The posters and banners burst with encouraging words like ‘Be positive,’ or ‘Beat the TAKS’ (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills), along with the school’s code of values.

This type of environment is what helps the school score so high in all aspects of its state testing. According to Zamora, teachers become stressed on day one of school about TAKS. To ease their minds, they look at their previous testing data to plan what to focus on, creating less stress and panic. They also have different activities to help relax both teacher and student.

“We do lunches for the teachers and pep rallies for the kids,” she said. “Everyone in the faculty is required to put on a skit or a routine for TAKS. We do it for the students’ enjoyment to help calm them before testing.”

Adding to the positive environment are the parents and the community. During the summer, a School 101 workshop for parents was set-up to explain procedures and the education program. Mims had a good turn-out and several parents showed up and took interest in their children’s education. Zamora believes this makes student learning that much smoother.

“Our parents are very involved. We send something home with the student and the parents help them,” she said. “Joining forces with parents gives us an amazing product.”

Ingredient 4: Hope and Goals

For continued success, Zamora has already begun to address one weakness, the lack of math proficiency at the school, with a program called Fast Math, which will have students on a computer for at least 10 minutes a day to strengthen their math skills.             Continued success, Zamora believes, will also depend on the strong foundation developed by her pre-kinder and second grade teachers.

“Those teachers get our students prepared for when they come into the testing grades,” she said. “Students come in reading at their grade level or above it; it’s outstanding.”

In the future Zamora hopes to make the TBEC Honor Roll for the 10th year.             “We are constantly trying to improve, because there is always more,” she said. “The commitment from our staff is superb, and they make sure our students get the best education possible.”

 Mix together and Enjoy!

Mims Elementary has found the secret recipe for an exemplary school, consisting of a bit of courage, a sprinkle of passion, and a dash of dedication. They also add a drop of love, a squeeze of teamwork and two handfuls of communication and understanding.