Georgetown School Recognized with 2013 IMPACT Award

Hyde-Addison's leadership team was honored with the 2013 IMPACT award from the DC Achievement Network (A-Net) for its thoughtful and reflective efforts that drove results and success among students at the Georgetown elementary school, according to District of Columbia Managing Director Justin Jones.

Jones told Patch that Hyde-Addison was one of the very first schools the Boston-based group began working with in DC during the 2008-2009 school year. Schools choose to partner with A-Net, paying for the consulting services out of their own budgets. A-Net, which focuses on closing the achievement gap, works with schools to serve them based on their level of need.

Jones said he would discourage anyone from thinking that Hyde-Addison's achievements could be written off because the school is in Georgetown and its students may have more resources at home that students at other network schools.

"The reality is, when we dig in that data, we see how they are moving students from point A to point B. They really are driving results," he said.

A-Net partners with schools to evaluate current systems, expand and further develop existing practices, create new planning tools and then use data to drive achievement, Jones explained.

For newer or struggling schools A-Net assistance can be very hands on. But over time, especially with established schools, A-Net works to build capacity within the school so that consultant act more as a sounding board for new ideas or to offer innovative approaches to interpreting complex data.

Jones said teachers and leadership at Hyde-Addison have been very driven and "thoughtful" in their approach to developing a school culture that supports students in advancing their levels of achievement.

"We were selected for our proven track record in moving students' academic achievement, our high levels of collaboration, our on-going professional development and growth culture for teachers, and our visionary work around developing innovative practices to drive student achievement and results.  We are very honored and humbled to receive this award," Principal Dana Nerenberg wrote in the school newsletter.

This is the second year the Achievement Network has given the IMPACT award, last year it went to DC Prep, a charter school.