Grace Elementary School is located in Lake Mary, Florida and has a vision of enabling students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens through authentic learning experiences. The mission emphasizes developing skills like critical thinking, problem solving, self-expression, and a desire for lifelong learning through best teaching practices and differentiated instruction. The school has a K-5 curriculum focused on how students learn being as important as what they learn, with an emphasis on problem solving in math and developing strong writers in English. Innovative ideas include personalized education, active and technology-enhanced learning, small class sizes, and community involvement through after school programs. Governance follows a parent cooperative model with tuition and donations providing financial support.

1. Grace Elementary School
1 Coachman’s Dr.
Lake Mary, FL. 32746
407-320-6850
Office hours: 7:15-3:30PM
School Hours:7:50-2:20
School Principal: Dr. Rebecca Johnson
Assistant Principal: Mr. Donald Shaw

2. Vision Statement:
Our vision at Grace Elementary School is to provide
authentic learning experiences that will enable and
empower students to become lifelong learners and
productive citizens.

3. Mission Statement:
Through high professional standards and commitment all staff and
administration at Grace Elementary School will encourage individual
excellence and achievement of all children in regards to:
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills
• The understanding that how children learn is just as important as
what they learn.
• A positive self expression and self image
• Best teaching practices designed to effectively deliver core
curriculum content standards
• A desire for lifelong learning
• A climate that believes all students can learn
• Differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.

4. Kdg. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Covered Hallways
Cafeteria Auditorium Front office
Administration
Media Center

5. Curriculum
• How we learn is as important as what we learn. With
that in mind I would develop a common Curriculum
with clear, intelligible standards that are aligned with
appropriate assessments which are critical to school
improvement.
• Teachers need time to plan common units and
assessments with professional development
opportunities aligned with the curriculum(pg426).
• Mathematics will be based on Singapore math styles to
encourage problem solving and concepts.
• English is designed to create good writers that are capable of
expressing information in an accurate way with proper
resources.

6. Innovative Ideas
• Personalized education- providing variety of means and methods to meet the needs of all
students
• Active learning- students learn best when engaged
• Classroom technology- use of variety media devices for anywhere learning
• After school programs/ community use of schools- variety of support and services
• Small class sizes= students feel they are part of an intimate community
• Portfolio based assessments
• Cooperative learning- encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning and
others
• Project based learning- tackle real world problems as a team
• Block scheduling- larger time segments allow students to enjoy richer learning environment
• Global connections- distance learning
• Looping- provides stability, reduces anxiety
• Parent involvement- partnership to learning
• Internships- school-to- career programs give relavence to the curriculum
• Community service learning- strengthens social and technical skills for real life
• Peer instruction/peer tutoring- enhances students own learning
• Life skills academics- conflict resolution, character development
• Role playing- simulations emphasize the real world and require student involvement

7. Governance and Finance
• At Grace Elementary the parent cooperative
model works best. Parents are the
members of the corporation, elect the
members and approve the budget.
• Tuition based school with scholarships
• Parent donations and funding

8. Future Graduates
Students at Grace Elementary School are expected to
be socially and economically independent citizens who
think creatively and critically. Our students will know
how to think well and communicate their thoughts
clearly which will help them in virtually all life’s
contexts.