Winona Elementary School student Harper Smith, 10, reads in the library Wednesday. Winona Elementary School expects to see a 30-point jump in accountability ratings.

For more than a year, Winona Elementary School Principal Jason Caldwell and his team have been on a mission. Their goal: to turn the school around, through building partnerships in and with the community.

After two years on the state’s “Improvement Required” list and earning an “F” letter grade last year, the district said that preliminary data indicates the campus will not only meet state standards, but will earn a “B” letter grade. They expect a 30-point jump from a 55 to 85 on the “A-F” accountability score.

Caldwell credits the school’s new leadership team, as well as partnerships throughout the community, with the success of the turnaround. He said Superintendent Cody Mize gave his team the support they needed to make it happen.

Some of the successful partnerships include the Turnaround initiative the school implemented last summer with the University of Texas at Tyler’s College of Education and Psychology and a professional development program for teachers through UT Austin.

“I think you’re actually beginning to see where partnerships (paid off),” Caldwell said. “Now we’re going to move forward. We’re focused on not just passing, but bringing everyone up.”

His leadership team consists of Associate Principal Audra Latimer, who has taken on reshaping the school’s approach to discipline, and Associate Principal Johnny Walker, who has created a renewed focus on curriculum. The school also has a new English as a Second Language team, which has help ESL students see huge improvements.

“It was really exhilarating to see the hard work pay off,” Walker said. “We didn’t expect that big of a jump, but it’s validating that hard work pays off and we get to see that growth.”

Caldwell said the new approach to discipline saw disciplinary referrals reduced by 64% from the previous school year’s 891 referrals at a school with 500 students.

“Students were in class more, and campus morale improved,” he said.

Pre-K teacher Tebra Hopson said that while the task of reinventing the school was daunting, it was also exciting.

“The main thing when you’re working with children with discipline problems is relationships,” Hopson said. “If they don’t think that you care, they’re not going to behave. If you’ve got parents on your team, you’re 90 percent there.”

Hopson’s approach to discipline comes from a place of seeking teachable moments. She said that instead of simply punishing a child, she and her teaching assistant will use that opportunity to model good behavior for the students. They put on a short performance showing what the poor behavior looks like and then demonstrate better ways to solve interpersonal problems.

“We put on a really dramatic show of it, then we talk about it,” she said. “That sticks with them.”

Hopson also said redesigning the curriculum to better meet state standards is making a difference. The school has eliminated redundant material and focuses on curriculum designed to offer better growth. Hopson said that with the new material, it feels like they no longer waste valuable teaching time on material that no longer fit the state’s metrics.

Caldwell said they plan to celebrate among teachers and staff next week and that the district has several events planned as the first day of school approaches.

Accountability ratings are set to be released in mid-August.