FOOTHILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
My name is Dr. Susan Borzych, and I am the new principal at Foothills Elementary School. Previously, I was the principal at Stober Elementary (4 years), and I have been an administrator/teacher in Jeffco for over 19 years at all levels K-12. It is both a pleasure and an honor to work with such a dedicated staff of professionals who are dedicated to the education and success of the whole child.
Foothills Elementary is a Strategic Compensation Pilot School. This means that we are involved in a Federal study to determine whether teacher pay incentives actually improve student achievement. Even though we are only a control school and will not receive any additional pay, we do receive additional support in funding, which has allowed us to have two mentor teachers, one master teacher, and one instructional coach full-time in our building. This provides opportunities for teachers to get assistance in analyzing student data and adjusting the instruction in their classroom to meet the individual needs of ALL students. To this end, Foothills has seen substantial growth in student achievement over the past year. This means that Foothills is no longer a “priority-improvement” school, but rather we are a “performance” school in that we have adequate growth over a year’s timeframe for all students on average. We anticipate this will continue to improve as we embrace the new state standards and technology standards that are designed to prepare students for success in the 21st century.
In order to provide students with adequate technology experiences, Foothills maintains a library consisting of over 60 laptops, a full computer lab with 30 computers, SMARTBoards and document cameras in every classroom, clicker systems in most classrooms, and the availability of digital cameras, scanners, color printers, and other equipment necessary to provide students with the opportunity to use technology as a tool to enhance their learning and to prepare them as they move onto the secondary classroom.
Additionally, Foothills Elementary is a wellness school. We focus attention on our food selections in the cafeteria and focus on the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for all meals that we serve. In connection with our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) system, we also work to provide students with incentives and rewards that are not always food-based. Right now we are working at providing students with appropriate “brain-breaks” in the classroom through physical movement and are ensuring that students receive the required amount of recess and physical education time per week to encourage movement. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, removal of recess is not a disciplinary consequential option. At the same time, teachers are involved in fitness classes after school that help maintain physical well-being.
In connection with wellness and our belief that public education should address the “whole child”, we are working to secure outside funding for a new playground and field. Foothills is one of the only schools in our district that does not have an irrigated field. However, with public school funding being cut, it is nearly impossible for us to expect that funds will be available in the near future to fund such a project. We are actively seeking out grants, corporate sponsorships, and other funding avenues to help us create an outdoor environment that stimulates and encourages movement of all types for students during their recess time.
We maintain an open-door policy at Foothills. Please feel free to stop by anytime for a tour of our facility. For the safety of our students and staff, please remember to check in at the office when visiting Foothills.
Susan L. Borzych, Ph.D.
Principal
Foothills Elementary School
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(303) 982-9324
