Kudos to the faculty, staff and students of Olmsted Falls Intermediate School for being recognized by Battelle for Kids as one of the top 15 schools out of 830 schools participating in the SOAR, Battelle for Kids’ school improvement collaborative.  OFIS was recognized in the "High Progress" category for its academic progress in multiple grade levels and subjects over the last school year (2011–2012). The Top 15 schools awarded for High Progress were given this special recognition because of the exceptional levels of growth achieved with their students.  
 

Olmsted Falls Intermediate School was formally presented with the 2012 SOAR Award for High Progress at a special reception in Columbus. Olmsted Falls Intermediate School Principal Mr. Don Svec accepted the award on behalf of his staff at the formal award presentation. Pictured below (L to R) are Acting State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Sawyers, OFIS Principal Don Svec, and Senior Vice President of Human Resources for the Battelle Memorial InstituteTom Snowberger.  
 



A local celebration and recognition event was held for faculty and staff at OFIS on November 28th.  To view a gallery of photos from the local reception, please click HERE.




Olmsted Falls City School District as a whole was also recognized with the 2012 SOAR District Award for Significant Progress. Superintendent Dr. Todd Hoadley, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jim Lloyd and Olmsted Falls Board of Education President Mr. Jim Weisbarth accepted the award on behalf of all faculty and staff of Olmsted Falls Schools.

 

In 2002, Battelle for Kids launched SOAR—a statewide pilot to introduce value-added analysis to participating Ohio school districts and demonstrate how value-added information can improve teachers’ and schools’ impact on student learning. Over the past 10 years, as the demands for higher expectations and results have increased, SOAR expanded its scope of services to become a comprehensive school improvement collaborative, offering an array of services, professional development, and benefits to Ohio school districts.

 

Today, SOAR represents 120 Ohio school districts, approximately 30 percent of the state's students in grades 3–8. SOAR is one of the country’s largest value-added initiatives and is a centerpiece of successful education reform on behalf of students.

Battelle for Kids is a national, not-for-profit organization that provides strategic counsel and innovative solutions for today’s complex educational-improvement challenges. Our mission-driven team of education, technology, communications, and business professionals specializes in creating strategies that advance the development of human capital, the use of strategic measures, the implementation of effective practices, and communication with all stakeholders in schools. We partner with state departments of education, school districts, and education-focused organizations to advance these strategies with the shared goals of: improving teaching effectiveness and student progress; informing instructional practice in real time; recognizing and rewarding teaching excellence; and aligning goals and maximizing impact in schools. For more information, visit www.BattelleforKids.org.

 

 A Closer Look–SOAR Awards Criteria