The School District of Lee County has announced 21 schools have achieved Level 1 Certification in Marzano High Reliability Schools. Level 1 certification means these schools have created a “Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture,” which is the foundation for improved student achievement and effective day-to-day school operations. The five-level Marzano High Reliability hierarchy and framework transform schools into organizations where teachers and leaders take proactive steps to ensure student success.

Teacher leaders and school leaders opted into a six-day High Reliability Schools Academy over the 2022-2023 school year to collect data, analyze data and develop an action plan to fulfill each indicator for Level 1. The Level 1 Certified Schools join a cohort of 11 previously Level 1 certified schools in the District and 672 Level 1 Certified schools across the United States

Representatives from the district and the 21 schools were honored this week by Marzano Resources at the High Reliability Schools Summit in San Antonio, Texas.

The schools achieving Level 1 Certification are:

• Buckingham Exceptional Student Center, Principal Dr. Vicki Gohagen-Mosley

• Allen Park Elementary, Principal Melissa Booth

• Colonial Elementary, Principal Eric Washington

• Fort Myers Beach Elementary, Principal Dr. Traci Kohler

• Franklin Park Elementary, Principal Dr. Mia German

• Gateway Elementary, Principal Cherry Gibson

• Harns Marsh Elementary, Principal Cynthia Hernandez

• Lehigh Elementary, Principal Jackson Morgan

• Mirror Lakes Elementary, Principal Amy Bobak

• Patriot Elementary, Principal Elizabeth Feliciano

• Pelican Elementary, Principal Clint Garlick

• Spring Creek Elementary, Principal Jillian Fiora

• Tortuga Elementary, Principal Jennifer Shonak

• Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts, Principal Melissa Layner

• Mariner Middle, Principal Dr. Mason Clark

• Three Oaks Middle, Principal Forrest Walker Jr.

• Trafalgar Middle, Principal Leigh Ann Cain

• The Alva School, Dr. Nathan Shaker

• East Lee County High, Principal Tony Allen

• Lehigh Senior High, Principal Darya Grote

• North Fort Myers High, Principal Debbie Diggs

The School District of Lee County is also proud to recognize four teachers for achieving High-Reliability Level 1 Certification. High Reliability Level 1 Teacher Certification means that educators understand and implement a model of instruction, engage in deliberate practice related to growth goals, and monitor the impact of instruction on student achievement.

The four teachers are:

• Anastasia Graflund, Professional Development

• Laura Jordan, Caloosa Elementary

• Katie Marquis, Professional Development

• Mindy Stoddard, Professional Development

The High Reliability Teacher Program encourages and celebrates teacher effectiveness. The multi-level certification process recognizes the advancement of a teacher’s pedagogical skills and knowledge in the effective use of instructional strategies, student learning, and feedback. To achieve Level 1 Certification, teachers must submit a variety of tasks that are scored by current and retired educators with proven success in improving instruction.

Certification is determined by Marzano Resources analysts in cooperation with school data teams. Using the HRS framework and indicators, schools can drive sustained, positive, and significant impacts on student achievement by synthesizing multiple complex initiatives into one harmonious system.