Echo Lake neighbors hear from school principals

Left to right: Principals Paul Shanahan, Stephanie Clark, Bill Dunbar

The Echo Lake Neighborhood Association got a virtual tour of their public schools at their November meeting at Shoreline City Hall.

The speakers were three principals for the schools that neighborhood children attend: Echo Lake Elementary, co-principal Paul Shanahan (co-principal Mary Koontz was unable to attend); Einstein Principal Stephanie Clark; and Shorewood Principal Bill Dunbar.

Each principal talked about their school and highlighted some of the areas which are unique. They discussed the communication and coordination among the schools and the work that is done to align the curriculum for a seamless transition from level to level.

They also keep an eye on kids who are having a hard time and make sure that they receive attention and services as they move from one school to another.

Paul Shanahan said that there are twenty home languages spoken by Echo Lake students. Echo Lake identifies students by six different ethnic categories. White students are in the majority at 48.4%, with Asian students second at 23.6% of the population. Shanahan said that with half of the population from five different ethnic categories, it creates a rich, cultural diversity at the school.

30% of Echo Lake students are on free or reduced lunch prices, which is higher than the district average of one in four students living at the poverty level.

Echo Lake is proud of its community partnerships which include 12 Power of One volunteers, authors from Third Place Books, and Kids University from the Dale Turner YMCA.

Stephanie Clark talked about the Edible School Yard project started by an Einstein teacher. All the kids participate and every class has a plot. The kids are proud of their work. She said that during the summer, volunteers from Tent City, which was then located down the street at Calvin Presbyterian, tended the garden. The solar panels on the school roof installed by the NEED program are producing energy. (See previous story)

Bill Dunbar said that Shorewood has nine Board-Certified teachers, with five pending. Shorewood has a graduation rate of 89% on the four year plan and 95% on the five year plan. 75% go to college, with 39% going to Shoreline Community College.

25% of Shorewood freshmen did not attend Shoreline Schools. Dunbar said that the demographic of the school is changing. "I speak Spanish every day." Shorewood has 48 home languages.

In state-required tests, Shorewood students were low in math, particularly the Special Ed and Low Income categories. Hispanic students scored low in math and reading.

When they analyzed the achievement data, they found that the highest failure rate was in freshman year. "Once they got behind," Dunbar said, "they never caught up."

So Shorewood identified 72 freshman at academic risk and put them in an after-school Homework Club, with six teachers and four admin staff. They were able to cut the failure rate dramatically.

Meeting chair Dale Lydin commented that it was a pleasure to have all three principals at the same time. He said it was clear from the friendly banter that the principals have a good relationship and good communication and that works well for the kids.