Goose Creek, S.C. – Westview Middle and Elementary schools recently welcomed educators and leaders from across South Carolina as part of a statewide recognition program. The two schools were selected as Learning Labs by the South Carolina Department of Education as part of the state’s Collective Leadership Initiative, a program that highlights successful leadership models in schools. This year, only two schools were chosen from 28 schools across eight districts, making Westview schools a model for others to follow.
Recognized for Teacher Retention and Growth
Both Westview Middle and Elementary schools have seen impressive growth in teacher retention and student outcomes, with Westview Elementary’s state rating jumping 10 points since last year. The schools were praised for their strong focus on teacher-led decision-making and collective leadership practices, which have fostered a culture of empowerment, collaboration, and innovation.
“Collective leadership is not an extra; it’s just what we do here,” said Erika Wyatt, principal of Westview Elementary. “We empower all to help lead and have a voice within our school. We’re so excited… We can’t wait for them to walk away with ideas to take back to their schools.”
Teacher-Led Decision-Making for School Improvement
The Collective Leadership Initiative encourages the distribution of decision-making across all staff members, from classroom teachers to custodians, with the goal of improving both teacher retention and student achievement. At Westview, this approach has created a strong sense of community and ownership within the school.
“We have very low turnover from year to year, and I think a lot of that is due to the collective leadership, the distributed decision-making, allowing people to have agency in their classrooms,” said Dr. Taylor Bradley, principal of Westview Middle School. “Our teachers feel comfortable to take risks with their students and innovate.”
Westview Elementary was the first school in Berkeley County to join the initiative, where every staff member is part of a leadership team. These teams include a collective leadership team, academic team, culture team, and community team. Ashley Hoffman, Westview Elementary’s reading coach, explained, “We want everyone’s voice to be heard and help lead the school.”
Empowering Students and Teachers
At Westview Elementary, students also participate in leadership activities, working with staff to analyze their data and continuously challenge themselves to improve. This collaborative approach encourages growth among both students and teachers.
“When I involved all of our staff, they were able to help lift and help us grow,” Wyatt said. “The more people we get involved, then we see change. We’ve noticed that in our culture, in our academic data, and in how our systems flow within our school.”
The culture of leadership is not only impacting students but also inspiring teachers to pursue further education and leadership roles. “Even some of our shy teachers stepped out of their shells and took on big leadership roles, which is awesome,” said Marissa Chappell, a third-grade teacher at Westview Elementary. “It’s just inspired me to become a leader of my own.”
A Collaborative Approach to Education
Throughout the learning lab visits, schools from across eight districts had the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions and panel discussions with teachers. Both Westview Middle and Elementary schools emphasized that empowering teacher leadership is essential, but their focus remains on providing the best learning environment for students.
Bradley expressed his vision for the future of the school: “We want families to want to come here. The systems that we put in place for culture and encouragement of students and student growth are all things that I think everybody could benefit from.”
The initiative continues to inspire collaboration among schools statewide, and both Westview schools look forward to learning from the visiting educators as much as they hope others will learn from them.
