The PTO budget for 2015/16 is 50% greater than last year. Why the big increase? 
Last year, Principal Lewis presented an emerging need to the PTO - a professional Interventionist. This faculty position could be part-time or full-time as funds allowed, with efforts supporting teacher interventions throughout the school. Up to now, interventions have been led by teachers with guidance and resources from the Literacy Coach.

Who receives Intervention? 
Intervention focuses on students who are struggling to meet grade level requirements in math and reading. Teachers are required to spend significant time with these students on intervention activities. The new Interventionist would assist our exemplary educators with tools, resources, plans, and even leading the interventions.

How does this impact the classroom? 
Interventions will happen in most classrooms regardless of whether the school has an Interventionist or not. However, the Interventionist can increase their effectiveness. Ideally, our teachers would feel supported, students could meet their educational goals more readily, and, in classrooms where interventions are succeeding, all students could benefit from increased teacher resources and heightened overall classroom performance.

Mrs. McCann, our Literacy Coach, has provided a more detailed picture of this new position:
"The Interventionist will work daily from 7:45-11:30. The roles of the Interventionist may vary depending on the needs of the students in each classroom. Some of the possible roles include:
1. Provide research-based interventions to small groups of students in each grade that need additional support in reading, writing, or math;
2. Work cooperatively with classroom teachers to ensure needs of each student will be met;
3. Communicate regularly with parents and professional staff regarding the educational needs and progress of students; and
4. Work with Literacy Coach in designing intervention and monitoring response to intervention for students who are struggling."

If this is really needed and intervention is required, why don't we have this already? 
Schools serving low-income populations receive federal funding for these types of services. However, schools like Lockeland that do not meet these income requirements rely upon school district funding, and this funding does not currently include an Interventionist for our school. Peer schools within MNPS have bridged this gap by raising funds within the school community to hire an Interventionist.

The Lockeland PTO has always responded to the needs of our teachers and administration as they have sought resources to ensure that all our students succeed. In April 2015, the PTO voted to include in our budget a part-time Interventionist salary for the 2015/16 school year. This new teacher will start in the Fall, with funding provided by the InvestLDC! campaign. The PTO is excited to meet this need of our students and will continue to be part of the conversation as the Interventionist works with our school this year.