Central Elementary showcases improvements in school culture and student success

Central Elementary School brought an impressive story of transformation to the School District of Rhinelander Board of Education on Monday, Jan. 19, sharing data that shows significant improvements in school climate, student behavior, and academic achievement.
Principal Amanda Olson led a presentation team that included Dean of Students Tyler Johnson, fifth-grade teacher Lindsay Casper, instructional coach Jenny Prom, and students Harper Marten, Jace White and Grace Raduechel.
“We’ve been very intentional this year about finding our growth areas and aligning it with our purpose,” Olson told the board during what she noted was School Board Appreciation Month.
The school of 266 students—spanning early childhood through fifth grade—adopted a new vision this year: “to be an uplifting school community where we belong, feel empowered and continually grow.” This vision translates into a daily motto students and staff recite: “We belong, we believe, we grow.”
The results have been striking, the staff members reported. Behavioral referrals have plummeted compared to the previous year. From the start of school through Christmas break, defiance incidents dropped from 820 to 82, disrespect cases fell from 89 to 18, and classroom disruptions decreased from 493 to 216.

“That’s pretty incredible data,” Johnson said, crediting strong teachers who have embraced Responsive Classroom practices and focused on building community while meeting students where they are.
The cultural shift is evident in student voices. “I used to not want to come to school, but my teachers check in on me and make it more enjoyable to work,” one student shared. Another noted, “These teachers have patience, which is one thing that I really appreciate about the school.”
The improvements extend beyond behavior, the faculty members reported. All grade levels exceeded the national average for growth in both literacy and math assessments. Meanwhile, staff perception surveys also showed marked improvement: staff feeling their input is valued increased 21%, those feeling supported by supervisors when making decisions rose 17%, and confidence in student discipline practices jumped 22%.
Staff members were effusive in their praise for Olson’s leadership approach. One of the teachers who spoke to the board described her as “a caring leader who truly values both her teachers and students,” while another staff member appreciated her “calm demeanor and her ability to have hard conversations with grace.”
Students echoed the positive atmosphere. “I’ve grown so much I feel like I could read a whole entire dictionary if I wanted,” he told the board.
The presentation team invited board members to visit Central Elementary classrooms to see the transformation firsthand, concluding with gratitude for the board’s support in making the changes possible.