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CHARTER SCHOOLS TODAY www.charterschoolstoday.com

THE ALEXANDER PINNACLE CHARTER COMPANY, INC The Highest of Achievement ReusingPoint and Revitilizing

THE MAG A ZINE FOR CH ARTER SCHOOL EX ECU TIVES

Pinnacle Charter The Philosophy in a Nutshell When it comes to what Dr. Wiener thinks about the “No Child Left Behind Act” as it pertains to highly qualified teachers, he believes there needs to a be a little room to allow charter schools to determine what a ‘highly qualified teacher’ is. At Pinnacle, they take teacher certification seriously, with 92 of their teachers already licensed and the other three currently seeking it.

The Highest Point of Achievement Produced by Eric Gunn & Written by Jim Barlow According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, pinnacle is the highest point of achievement. Federal Heights, Colo.based Pinnacle Charter School makes living up to that name its top priority. Its goal is to help all students reach their highest point of achievement, and, so far, they have been successful at doing just that. This school aims to foster a love of learning in their students, and encourage its graduates to attend college or participate in another postsecondary learning experience.

Keeping one eye firmly focused on the future, this school runs on an annual budget of around 12.3 million, serving the needs of students ranging from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school, which first opened in 1997, started out with only 400 students. Today, they have grown to 1730 students, with 95 teachers. Leading the team at Pinnacle Charter School is Dr. William K. “Doc” Wiener. He’s an education veteran who brings 46 years of experience in the education field. He began teaching in 1963 and has also served as an assistant principal; a school psychologist; the director of educational, vocational, and transition programs in a juvenile correctional facility; and in higher education.

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“You need a little bit of slack, but not a waiving of all requirements,” explains Dr. Wiener. “A certificate tells the public that the person is licensed by the state to do what they are doing.”

Teachers at Pinnacle use the Core Knowledge Sequence approach in the K-8 program to teach their students. This approach places an emphasis on building upon knowledge as the student moves along. Students also focus on the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. They also participate in such specials classes as computers, art, music, and physical education. Depending upon the grade level, classes are also available in choir, orchestra, community service, and a college preparatory program and advanced placement classes for high school students. In addition, the school participates in competitive sports, offering such options as basketball, volleyball, football, cross country, cheerleading, soccer, and wrestling. The school also offers before- and after-school programs, as well as summer program options.

High school students at Pinnacle are able to take such electives as journalism, computers, foreign languages, and music. All students wear uniforms and have library access.

The students also have the opportunity to participate in Service Learning activities which focus upon such activities as recycling and other environmental and social issues.

Student Council is also available as are opportunities for Drama and Art. When it comes to disciplinary issues, the school follows the Love and Logic system, as well as a Positive Behavior Support Program. Dr. Wiener finds that Pinnacle does not have as many disciplinary issues as other schools their size would normally experience.

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Influential Voices “We emphasize that education does not stop when you get your diploma,” says Dr. Wiener. “We get students thinking in the direction of college during their Middle School years. Some of our graduates have even gotten full-ride scholarships.”

Rather, the school tries to instill in all of its students the belief that it is possible for them to go to college. Recent alumni of the school have been accepted at such institutions as Colorado State University and the University of Denver.

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Parents are also an influential factor in the overall success of the school. While Pinnacle places no requirements on the amount of participation that is required from a parent, it has no shortage of involved parents. The school does make an effort to reach out to parents and ask them to volunteer, whether by helping out in a classroom or on a field trip, and it has an active list of about 500 parents who do participate on occasion.

The school urges parents to be active in finding ways to get plugged in, serve in the classroom, serve at special events, participate in and support fundraising, and become a Pinnacle community partner.

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The school also offers parents a training program where they can study the Love and Logic model and learn how they can apply those skills at home.

Because it sees parents as one of the most crucial aspects to a child’s school success, it invites them to attend training, participate in school functions, and be supportive and communicative with their child about the importance of education.

The Teacher Factor The Administrative Team at Pinnacle places a high level of importance on

Thank you Pinnacle Charter School!

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their teaching staff. The school provides them with a professional development day once per month.

They also work with them on decision making, school improvements, planning, and building a professional learning community. There is also an emphasis placed on working with the teachers to demonstrate how to use assessment results. By doing this, the school is more accurately able to pinpoint those students who are performing below grade level.

students, but relying on one test is putting all your eggs in one basket.”

“To base a judgment of your success or lack of success on one test seems ludicrous to me,” adds Dr. Wiener.

“We do a variety of assessments to determine a good base line of where the students are. Then we know whether we need to work on specific skills. We all need to be accountable for the progress of our

In the years to come, the school has plans to continue on the path it has been following: a path of growth. Dr. Wiener would like to see a higher teacher retention rate, and he hopes that teachers will see the vision of the school and make a commitment to help them get where they want to go. He would also like to see the

Along with the teachers, the students and school are also supported by staff members and a team of school counselors and psychologists. The school has made all necessary efforts to get the right people into such key positions, to help ensure student success.

Looking Forward

One of the magnificent qualities of charter schools is that they are often greenhouses for instructional innovation. This is certainly the case with the partnership forged between Pinnacle Charter School and Regis University. Together, they have been growing a top notch Professional Development.

Some of the features of the school include: • Regis University Teacher Education students become part of the school’s community by completing all of their courses, field study, and student teaching at Pinnacle.

• Pinnacle’s teachers have the opportunity to become certified as Regis instructors and teach classes for the teacher education students in their school.

• Focused faculty development is provided by Regis and Pinnacle for one another.

What a grand way to grow outstanding teachers!

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school become a high growth institution, according to the State’s new academic growth model.

“In five years, I see us getting into the high performance/high growth classification in our academics and occupying a new high school building” he adds. “I also see improvement in achievement, athletics, teacher retention, and funding.”

COMPANY AT A GLANCE Established : 1997 Staff : 95 Students: 1730 Leading the School : Dr. William K. “Doc” Wiener

www. pinnaclecsi.org

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CHARTER SCHOOLS TODAY

Winter 2008

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Pinnacle Charter 1001 W. 84th Avenue Federal Heights, CO 80260 United States