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National Principals Month Spotlight: Laura Akers of Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy!

National Principals Month Spotlight: Laura Akers of Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy!

October is National Principals Month!  Our Principals are Elevating the Excellence every day in our schools by providing leadership and inspiration.  We’re recognizing one of these amazing leaders each day.  Please join us in thanking them for all they do each day for our students and families, teachers and staff, and communities! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence  #ThankAPrincipal

Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy Principal Laura Akers

Why did you choose to become a Principal?
I became a principal because I have a deep love for children and teachers and a passion for education.  I continually strive to create a positive and nurturing environment where students can thrive and reach their full potential.  I believe in the importance of building strong foundational skills in education and supporting both students and teachers in their growth.  Being able to guide and support both students and teachers in their educational journey is truly fulfilling to me.  I am dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young learners and helping them succeed in school and beyond.  It’s rewarding to create a community where everyone can thrive.  I have worked for amazing principals throughout my career and have been able to take their strengths to forge my own path as an elementary principal.  

What inspires you in your work as a Principal?
I am inspired by the potential of each student and the transformative power of education.  Seeing students discover their strengths and develop a love for learning was so powerful as a teacher, but it is even more powerful now as a principal looking through a different lens.  Additionally, collaborating with dedicated teachers and staff to create a supportive environment fuels my passion for fostering a positive school culture.  Every day, I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students and help them achieve their full potential.  Knowing that I am positively influencing the future generations by creating a safe and supportive learning environment motivates me to continue to be the best principal I can be.  The joy and excitement that radiates from the students when they accomplish something new or overcome a challenge is truly inspiring and reminds me why I chose this profession in the first place.  The opportunity to shape young minds and watch them flourish is a privilege that I am grateful for every day.

How are you Elevating the Excellence in your school?
At Oak Grove, we are elevating the excellence by focusing on the CCSD Key Priorities.  What this looks like in the school is providing ongoing professional learning for teachers to enhance instructional strategies and incorporate best practices.  We are deconstructing standards in our Professional Learning Communities paying attention to the rigor level of that standard and designing engaging and powerful lessons to allow students to master that standard.  We are also continuing our early literacy efforts based on the Science of Reading using Fundations, Heggerty, and decodable texts.  Additionally, each student at Oak Grove has his/her own data folder where growth and progress are tracked and recorded after conferencing with the teacher.  Students will then be charged to lead their own student-led conference with teachers and parents in the spring to explain their progress this year.  Lastly, we are utilizing data-driven assessments to track progress and provide targeted support for students.  We do all of this while encouraging and promoting family and community involvement in our school to support student success.