Whole Brain Teaching at Oscar J. Pope Elementary School!

I will begin my sixth year of teaching and fourteenth year in the Polk County public schools at the school I attended from Kindergarten to sixth grade, Oscar J. Pope Elementary School.  I worked at this school for the 1997-98 school year as a para educator in the Emotionally Handicapped 3-5 classroom.  In 2000, I returned as the terminal operator where I remained until 2006 when I earned my Bachelor's of Science degree and began teaching.

Oscar J. Pope Elementary is a unique school in that it provides services to students in regular and exceptional education programs.  The student population generally remains under 500, and 91% of students receive free or reduced price meals.  Three years ago, Oscar J. Pope Elementary received an "F" from the Florida Department of Education after many years of consistently achieving an "A" or "B".  For the past two years, Oscar J. Pope Elementary has earned a "B" from the Florida Department of Education.  Oscar J. Pope Elementary implements the Positive Behavior Support program which I find aligns very well with the Whole Brain Teaching program and the teachings of Harry Wong.

I have used Whole Brain Teaching in my classroom for the past three years, and I look forward to another wonderful year with the program.  I am excited about introducing the program to my new colleagues and spreading the good news about the program.