We recently got the chance to visit the students and staff at Stout Elementary. A
small, quiet school secluded in a peaceful neighborhood near Washburn
University, Stout has a dedicated team of staff members that help
provide a sense of community within the
school. The level of engagement between teacher and student is matched
only by the level of engagement between staff members. Everyone works
together like a well-oiled machine to produce the best possible outcome
for Stout’s nearly 250 students, and the result is giggling, happy
faces, eager to learn…even on rainy Mondays.
Despite the dreary
weather, Stout’s students and staff came to school ready to be
productive. But productivity no longer means listening to a teacher
lecture for hours on end about grammar and long division. Such
strategies have been replaced by small group skill-building, hands-on
learning, and by using the latest in classroom technology. These
measures help ensure that students are engaged, participating, and even
having fun throughout their lessons.
Another feature that sets
Stout Elementary apart from many other Topeka schools is the numerous
volunteers that visit regularly. Stout has more volunteers than any
other school in the district and their impact on the school is
substantial. The volunteers provide students with opportunities to work
one-on-one with an adult, receiving extra help and guidance while they
learn. The volunteers also assist the school’s busy teachers, making
copies, preparing teaching materials and performing other clerical tasks
so the teachers can focus on one thing: students. The volunteers come
whenever their schedules permit; some come several days a week, while
others come once every two weeks. But one thing is for certain: their
help is appreciated by teachers and students alike.
Our visit to Stout was simply wonderful--- even the cold rain couldn’t dampen our spirits at this remarkable school! Cohesive staff members, delightful children and community volunteers that invest in our students make Topeka Public Schools a great place to be!
If you would like information on volunteering in our schools, visit http://documents.topekapublicschools.net/communications/visit/VISITvolunteerApplication.pdf
