Enter... and Feel the Warmth
By Patricia Broderick and Allen Raymond

Visualize, if you will, a symphony orchestra. The violins play as one, led by the concertmaster in the first violin section, who is first among equals.

As the music builds, the cellos add their glorious tone while the woodwinds may introduce the theme. Concurrently, the brass sections add harmony and depth while the percussionists contribute special touches as they keep the beat.

Coordinating it all, of course, is the conductor who, over many days and many hours, has patiently coached and rehearsed the highly-trained and experienced musicians, melding them into an enthusiastic, connected and harmonious whole – a community of artists.

Finally, the moment for the concert arrives, the moment when the connections among the musicians, plus the inspiration of the conductor, create the breathtaking beauty that touches the soul. Yes, that's a symphony…but, in reality, we have just described a "Basic School."

The "symphony concept" is, indeed, the single not-so-secret ingredient in a Basic School that sets it apart from other schools – it is not individual teachers playing solos within their classrooms, or within the grade levels they teach. It is not a building, nor is it a curriculum. It is people.

A Basic School is, in fact, a community of learners. It is children learning from teachers, teachers learning from children and everyone learning from everyone else – especially, teachers learning from teachers.

Such a Basic School – and this month we visit Hoffman Trails Elementary School in Hilliard, OH, – is peopled by a community of intimately connected, highly trained and extraordinary performers – artists, really – who happen to be teachers. Like musicians, they are professionals who, through practice, are determined to perform better tomorrow than they did today.

Many other schools have equally committed teachers, of course. The difference in a Basic School is its emphasis on "community," where all of the teachers are learning from each other, and communicating with each other all of the time. It can only be described as a colossal team effort, providing a boatload of connections across the curriculum and across the grades.

Always innovating, as they reach out to each other, teachers in a Basic School may see the need – as happens often at Hoffman Trails – to create ad hoc groupings when three fourth grade teachers, for instance, might have identified four or five children in each classroom who could perhaps be reached more effectively if they were grouped together.

So, for 45 minutes, one teacher takes that group, while the other two teachers regroup the remaining students – and away they go.

It is the willingness – the eagerness, really – to work together in harmonious innovation, and with messianic across-the-curriculum or across-the-grades zeal, that makes a Basic School….well, basic. At Hoffman Trails, it's a way of life.

Like musicians, everyone in a Basic School – including teachers, principal, support personnel – is constantly "practicing." For educators, however, such practice, as we all know, goes by another name: It's called "Professional Development."

And, obviously, just as a symphony needs a conductor to bring it all together, a Basic School needs a principal with quiet passion… and vision… and talent… to bring it all together. And that is where Denny Thompson, the principal at Hoffman Trails, plays an enormous role.

"I see myself as a choreographer," Denny says, "orchestrating what happens." The team meetings, the literacy meetings, the school improvement meetings are riveting, and the teams set their own agendas. It's very intense.

"I've surrounded myself with really talented people and, just as they orchestrate what happens in their classrooms, I try to orchestrate everything that happens within our building."

It was four years ago when Denny Thompson and Patrick Callaghan, (now Director of Elementary Curriculum for the Hilliard Schools) journeyed to Washington, DC, to study various "frameworks" for elementary schools.

"At that time Patrick and I were both opening new elementary schools in Hilliard," Denny commented, "and we really liked the Basic School idea. It's common sense, it's doable and very easily translatable to students and parents."

The fact that Basic Schools are not cookie-cutter institutions, and no two are alike, is reflected in the fact that Patrick opened a multi-age school, and Denny opened a traditional K-5 school.

But what is a Basic School? Ten years ago – in 1995 – the late Dr. Ernest L Boyer, legendary president of the Carnegie Foundation For The Advancement of Teaching, and originator of the Basic School concept, described it this way:

"The purpose of the Basic School is to keep the urge to learn alive in every child."

In his book, The Basic School: A Community for Learning (John Wiley/Jossey-Bass, 1995), Dr. Boyer wrote, "We call this school 'basic,' first of all, because it takes the push for school reform back to the beginning, to the first years of formal education. And," he added, "it is 'basic' because it gives priority to language and suggests a core of knowledge with coherence."

Walking through the halls of Hoffman Trails today is like walking into the pages of Dr. Boyer's book. But, to teach in a Basic School – or to be principal in a Basic School – is no walk in the park. Denny Thompson knew what he wanted this school to be, and in building his staff he looked for individuals who were better than he at what they do.

As he said, "We're staff driven; I feel like I lead by following," adding that he's thrilled at the ease with which the tenets of the Basic School accommodate today's nationwide emphasis on assessment and high standards.

"We understand the standards," he told us. "They're really our friends as we work to implement our school improvement plan."

"The uniqueness about our school," Denny continued, "is the combination of veteran teachers and new teachers. They really enjoy each other and learn from each other. And our veterans are wise enough to know that the younger ones are probably better trained than we were."

"We don't teach to the tests," Denny added. "We test to find out where children are weak and then, with data-driven decision making, we teach to the weaknesses. But we never lose track of the State's content standards."

At Hoffman Trails Elementary the intensity and dedication of teachers and staff to the Basic School concept is reflected in what one hears when informally walking the halls.

"We are working smarter – much smarter than we have in the past," Denny told us, "to provide a personalized learning situation for each student."

Fifth grade teacher Henry Rauhaus, a strong believer in the Basic School concept, reported that when he walked into the school for an interview two years ago he "immediately connected."

"I have never been more excited about coming to school," he exclaimed. "When you come through the doors you feel the warmth. Teachers want to come to school. The kids are wonderful. Walk around here; feel the love."

Tammy Redmond, fourth grade teacher added: "This isn't a charade we're putting on for your visit today. These children are really excited about being here. I really do believe they know this is their home away from home."

The staff, in advance of Teaching K-8's visit, was asked to list one or two reasons why Hoffman Trails Elementary is so "special."

One called it "a true community of learners, of all ages." Another said, "When students feel safe, so many good things can happen." Still another wrote, "I have never been in so many productive and communicative staff/literacy meetings in my career!"

Finally, one teacher added: "The sight of Mr. Thompson sitting at his desk in the hall, talking to kids – that is really awesome."