Innovation Spotlight: New Year, New Approaches at Carver Elementary

This year, Carver students will be taught by "specialists" starting in the first grade. Educators who have demonstrated excellent results in specific subjects -- reading, writing, math, science, or social studies -- will be teaching the content they know best. This type of departmentalization, which is common at the secondary level, is being piloted at both Carver Elementary and Coker-Wimberly Elementary to ensure students build the basic skills and the critical thinking skills they'll need for success in middle school, high school, and life.

At Carver, this specialization is being extended to a place where you may least expect it -- the playground! Carver Elementary and Bulluck Elementary are partnering with PlayWorks, an organization that provides a "recess coach" to conduct daily activities that promote both physical fitness and social-emotional learning. Playworks also collaborates with schools to train upper-elementary students as "junior coaches" who will lead their younger peers in recess games.

The students at Carver Elementary have also been involved with the Pinetops Community Garden. The garden is a collaboration between several area churches, the Conetoe Family Life Center, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, educators, and numerous residents throughout the community. Volunteers have held cooking classes and donated many pounds of food to local families.

Want to learn more about the exciting efforts underway at Carver and in Pinetops? Contact Carver Elementary School principal Shannon Castillo!