Oakbrook Elementary School has received a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools award for the 2018-2019 school year from the Flippen Group.
A statement from the Dorchester District Two said that three years ago the school began began an initiative to transform the campus into an emotionally safe and relationally connected place for students, staff, and parents.
After researching programs used by some of the nation’s most successful schools, Oakbrook chose to join hands with the Flippen Group to bring Capturing Kids’ Hearts to its campus.
Teachers and staff learned processes to increase students’ connectedness with both peers and adults on campus. They learned how to create a classroom environment where students are excited to enter and learn every day.
According to the district, since 1990, campuses across the country have experienced improvements with Capturing Kids’ Hearts tools and processes by creating socio-emotional safety conducive to learning. Openness replaces defensiveness. Judging and feelings of being judged are replaced with acceptance and real connectedness to the school. “Discipline problems nearly non-existent,” and “Academic achievement constantly improving,” are common feedback following Capturing Kids’ Hearts implementation.
Through the Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools awards, the Flippen Group recognizes and celebrates campuses that go the extra mile each day, building an environment where students and staff feel safe and connected. Capturing Kids’ Hearts campuses across the country were considered for these awards. A Flippen Group team visited each nominated campus to gather additional quantitative and qualitative data, and to interview students, teachers, administrators, and parents. They used a matrix of key measurements to gather information during the campus walk-through. Finally, an additional survey was conducted to collect feedback regarding the perceived climate and culture of the campus and its conclusiveness to learning. Following this visit, the selection team reviewed all accumulated data and selected the campuses to receive the Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools awards.
