– information courtesy of VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin
Seven Vance County elementary schools are among 366 schools across eight states to be designated as Certified Opportunity Culture schools for their dedication to advancing student achievement and teacher career development through innovative staffing models.
Vance County Schools began using the Opportunity Culture model in 2016, an initiative of Public Impact, LLC, which has been in business since 1996.
According to information from VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin, Opportunity Culture models allow schools to innovate by extending the reach of their best educators to more students while providing career advancement outside of the administrative pathway. Since 2013, Public Impact’s Opportunity Culture models have been adopted by more than 75 districts in 14 states, leading to significant boosts in student learning outcomes and teacher retention.
These schools have been designated as Opportunity Culture schools:
- Aycock Elementary School
- Clarke Elementary School
- Dabney Elementary School
- E.O. Young Elementary School
- L.B. Yancey Elementary School
- Pinkston Street School
- Zeb Vance Elementary School
This designation highlights our schools’ dedication to an innovative and impactful education, Sandlin said. The newly certified schools hold provisional status based on their performance in the 2023–24 school year, with opportunities to achieve higher certification levels in subsequent years.
Certification is based on four key factors:
- Careful selection for Opportunity Culture roles
- Expanded student access to high-quality instruction
- Strategic incorporation of high-dosage tutoring
- Long-term financial sustainability of staffing models
Casey Jackson is the VCS Advanced Teaching Roles Coordinator. “We are extremely proud of our Certified Opportunity Culture Schools, where educators have boldly reimagined traditional staffing structures to enhance teaching and learning,” Jackson stated. “By earning this certification, these schools have shown that innovative, well-thought-out design not only transforms the educational experience for students but also elevates teachers’ professional growth and support. This achievement is a testament to the power of intentional change in creating lasting, meaningful impact across the entire school community.”
This recognition underscores Vance County’s commitment to creating excellent learning environments for students and providing innovative career pathways for educators. Each school using Opportunity Culture models forms a design and implementation team of teachers and administrators who develop strategies to extend the reach of excellent teachers. The Multi-Classroom Leader role is central to the model, with MCLs leading small teaching teams. Other key roles, such as Extended Impact Teachers and Reach Associates, help expand the impact of high-performing educators.
Learn more at https://www.opportunityculture.org/.
