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Great Expectations Recognizes First-Ever 'Model District'

  • 05/21/15

Norman, Okla. – Great Expectations, a non-profit foundation that provides intensive professional development to teachers and administrators, announces Bartlesville Public School District in Oklahoma, as a Model District – the first school district in the U.S. to hold the title. For the third consecutive year, every school in the district has been named a Model School.

To be named a Great Expectations Model School, over 90 percent of the teachers must successfully implement all of the classroom practices on a daily basis. The school’s principal must also model the classroom practices, and the school needs to serve as a standard from which other administrators and educators can learn.

“To become a Model School is very difficult for most schools, so being named a Model District is a testament to the wonderful work Bartlesville is accomplishing,” said Linda Dzialo, Ph.D, president and CEO of Great Expectations. “The leadership in the district had a vision for the schools, and we applaud all of the educators, students, parents and administrators who earned this recognition.”

The Great Expectations training model is guided by six basic tenets and 17 classroom practices. The tenets and practices provide guidelines for program training and implementation, and they serve as standards for evaluating Great Expectations schools.

The basic tenets include:

  • High expectations
  • Teacher attitude and responsibility
  • Building self-esteem
  • All children can learn
  • Climate of mutual respect
  • Teacher knowledge and skill

More than 50,000 educators have attended Great Expectations training since 1991, and more than 350,000 students are taught by Great Expectations teachers every year. There are currently trained educators in 18 states in America, the Virgin Islands, Mexico and Japan.

About Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a school transformation model that emphasizes a climate of mutual respect and academic excellence. Founded in 1991, the non-profit foundation provides intensive professional training to teachers and administrators that promote improved student self-esteem, attendance, discipline and parent participation –all of which result in improved student achievement. Great Expectations has a presence throughout Oklahoma and seven other states.

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