2002 - A Great Place to Work Award Winner
By Vickie Dickneite
March 06, 2008
Camdenton R-III School District
Just exactly what makes Camdenton R-III such a great place to work? For starters, the pay’s good. Teacher compensation has increased over $6,000 in the last five years. Add in Career Ladder money and teachers earn above the state average. And that’s not counting a possible bonus check at the end of the school year. You see, teachers are rewarded for attendance. For a teacher who’s been at school every day, that bonus amounts to $550.
So good pay is one factor. Teaching is a tough profession. To get the job done, teachers need tools and training. They get both at Camdenton. Teachers are equipped with an abundance of tools. When surveyed over 95% of the faculty stated they had ample instructional materials. The training is in place too. More than 90% of teachers said they benefited from the district’s professional development efforts. The district is focused on taking reading instruction to the next level. It’s already paying off. Camdenton is recognized around the state as a leader in teaching reading skills.
Along with all these tangible items, district leadership knows that “pats on the back” are appreciated. So at every board meeting a cook or custodian; a secretary or a bus driver – who’s been nominated by peers – is honored by the Camdenton School Board. They do the same for teachers, rolling out the red carpet here at Tan Tar A for their Teacher of the Year banquet each spring.
It’s kind of a mutual admiration society. MSIP questionnaire data showed that the Board of Education unanimously believed the district had quality teachers. Parents overwhelmingly expressed satisfaction with their children’s teachers. And I’m not making this up. More than three fourths of the district’s middle and high school students said their teachers were doing a good job. Now that’s a vote of confidence.
The Board, the parents, and the students are right. The experienced faculty – the average teacher’s been with the district 15 years - and the staff at Camdenton R-III are doing a good job. And here’s how we know. For the past two years Osage Beach Elementary has been on the state’s Top Ten list of highest performing schools. That’s good. Camdenton High School has been on the Top Ten list for three consecutive years. That’s remarkable. Just a couple of months ago Camdenton earned the state’s “Distinction in Performance” Award. The district had to meet 11 of 12 performance indicators and show consistent gains in academic performance.
Did we mention that 42% of graduates score above the national average on the ACT. Or that the district’s dropout rate is about half the state average. Or that over 63% of graduates enter a 2 or 4 year college.
Practical Parenting Partnerships is honored to present Superintendent Ronald Hendricks and the Camdenton R-III School District with the 2001-2002 Great Place to Work Award.
