Ross Elementary leads the nation

Five years ago, Ector County ISD took the leap to adopt Opportunity Culture® staffing and instructional design, an initiative from Public Impact designed to extend the reach and impact of the most effective teachers on a campus. This year Ross Elementary took that to the next level, quite literally, by becoming the first school in the nation to earn Level 3 Certified Opportunity Culture School® status. The historic milestone reflects the school’s intentional efforts to create an environment where innovation and teamwork could thrive.

“This achievement is an incredible honor,” said new Ross Elementary Principal Amanda Anderson who served as principal intern at the school last year. “It reflects the dedication and commitment of the educators who have poured their hearts into serving Ross students.”

“We congratulate Ross Elementary on being the first in the nation to reach Level 3,” Public Impact® Co-President Bryan C. Hassel said. “Ross has shown how to make this team staffing and instructional design, with higher pay and accountability for student results, become simply the way a school does things – a great example for other schools around the country.”

In the Opportunity Culture model, the most effective teachers are selected to lead a campus team, providing daily support and feedback to the teachers on their team. They become responsible for the learning all of the students under the umbrella of their team, not just those in their own classroom. In short, Ross redesigned leadership roles so outstanding teachers could continue teaching students while guiding and coaching their colleagues.

“Creating an environment that fosters both student and teacher growth requires immense trust and time,” said Master Team Reach Teacher™ Beth Pittmon. “By investing in best teaching practices through intentional coaching, modeling, and feedback, we allow every student at Ross the opportunity to learn from a high-impact educator."

“This achievement was made possible because we embrace collaboration - learning from one another within our school while also building meaningful partnerships with other campuses,” said Multi-Classroom Leader® Valarie Shreves.

When asked about earning the Level 3 certification, staff members repeatedly use the terms shared beliefs, high expectations, and hard work. Rated an F by the state in 2019, Ross Elementary has shown consistent growth to its high B rating today. That was the goal as more than 10 years of data and research shows that Opportunity Culture certified schools were two to three times more likely to exceed learning growth expectations schoolwide. Additional proof is seen the most recent round of the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment awards where 18 Ross Elementary teachers earned designation, 11 of them at the Master Level.

Staff members say, for parents, this certification is reassurance that their children are learning in a school committed to excellence. The school has systems in place that allow its strongest educators to extend their impact by coaching and supporting other teachers, ensuring high-quality instruction reaches every classroom. Families can feel confident that their children are receiving an engaging, personalized education from teachers who are continuously learning and improving together. Ultimately, this means more opportunities for students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

"It affirms that the work we do every day to challenge, support, and empower our students truly makes a difference,” said Master Team Reach Teacher Myrna Zuniga. “I’m proud to be part of a team that is committed to always striving to provide the best possible education for our students."