WIN "What I Need"

Talladega County Schools

Principal, Ms. Melia Brashear

Superintendent, Dr. Suzanne Lacey

“What I Need (WIN)”. Such a simple statement, but such a complex idea when attempting to meet the needs of 500 students. Like all schools in the nation COVID wreaked havoc on instruction and learning at B. B. Comer Elementary School (BBCES). In the 2020-2021 school year teachers and students returned to a blended schedule. Students attended school 2-3 days a week. Teachers taught with a sense of urgency and students made some gains, but when mid-year data rolled in BBCES noticed that middle to high achieving students had not made the gains which lower achieving students had made. BBCES knew something had to change. After thoughtful consideration and discussion, WIN was born. It began with a slow flame in third and fifth grade, and once success was evident it quickly spread to second, fourth and sixth grades. WIN Time was a time each day where students were placed in a group based on individual needs. Every staff member took ownership of one of these groups and students were provided with what they needed to succeed. WIN was an innovative way to utilize the strengths of each adult within the school to capitalize on the development of reading in each child. “What do I need to succeed?” When asked, the students’ replies were phonics, fluency, writing, word study and vocabulary.