Red Bank Middle: High Expectations, High Support, and Strong Connections for Student Success
Chattanooga, Tenn.- Red Bank Middle School (RBMS) staff and students are dedicated to fostering an educational environment built on high expectations, high support, and meaningful connections. Through its staff's hard work and passion, the school is setting a benchmark for excellence that is transforming student experiences and outcomes.
Kathryn Mara: Cultivating a Culture of Excellence and Connection
Kathryn Mara, a multi-classroom leader and sixth-grade social studies Teacher, embodies the school's standards of high expectations and deep connections. Mara credits Principal Dr. Ginger Frady with modeling the school’s standards: “Dr. Frady spent time resetting the culture of how we do school—the expectations, learning, respect, and care. This year, we are focusing on how we can enhance each of those aspects. We've built a culture where students are excited to learn and respect each other on that journey."
Mara focuses on building relationships with teachers and students. As a multi-classroom lead, she works with all social studies teachers across grade bands to align the content for students as they grow through their time in Red Bank.
Additionally, Mara works to grow connections within their building. She credits their cross-grade student advisory and homeroom to her connection to all students. "Our students are not just numbers; they are our kids," Mara emphasizes. We take care of them like our own, ensuring they excel in all aspects of their lives, not just academically."
Red Bank breaks down barriers and creates a sense of connection and care by creating a homeroom that includes students from every grade. Homeroom allows for student mentoring, shared learning, and shared language. Creating a shared learning outcome throughout the building starts every student and staff member off with a common ground.
Madeline Krafka: Bridging Real-World Applications with Classroom Learning
Madeline Krafka, a sixth-grade science teacher, integrates real-world applications and project-based learning to set students up for success in understanding the world around them.
"At Red Bank, we maintain high expectations and provide the necessary support to meet them," Krafka explains. "We are a community that holds each other accountable for the best interests of our students."
Krafka's favorite moments at RBMS involve witnessing staff camaraderie and students' excitement as they complete hands-on projects.
Krafka loves teaching science because she can use science to teach across all content areas. She uses her science lessons to collaborate across subjects and embed skills that strengthen reading, writing, and math. Red Bank Middle sets high expectations for student learning, but educators like Krafka are dedicated to providing high support and education to ensure students reach their goals. "It is our job to identify a student's passion and find out what they need or want. It is also our job to ensure they reach their goals and full potential," said Krafka.
Matt Murphy: Nurturing a Safe and Supportive School Culture
As the student support coach and athletic director, Matt Murphy ensures students and staff experience a culture of support and understanding. Murphy works to be present during the school day by providing students with a space to reset or providing teachers with classroom coverage so that they can take a rest break.
"My job is to increase student confidence and decrease teacher frustrations," Murphy states. "By being available and responsive to teachers' needs, we build trust and capacity, significantly improving student outcomes. Sometimes, the small support is what people need. We have a lot of support for major needs, but sometimes people need a space to decompress for fifteen minutes to show up and be their best."
Additionally, Murphy is the school's athletic director. Through this role, he works to build connections with Red Bank High School for students. Middle school student-athletes are encouraged to attend their high school peers' games to see their future expectations and commitment. In contrast, high school athletes are encouraged to participate in middle school games to provide mentorship and support for their younger peers.
"Creating foundational relationships across our school's staff members has allowed for student collaboration and mentorship," said Murphy. Through this work, Red Bank Middle has seen increased participation in sports, reflecting the school's emphasis on holistic student development.
Dedication to Student Academics and Relationships
Red Bank Middle School's commitment to high expectations, high support, and strong connections is evident in its operations. The dedication of staff and leadership sets the tone for students and families to feel connected and develop a commitment to their student's academic journey. The incredible results at Red Bank Middle are a credit to forward-focused educators and excellent support staff and administration. Dr. Frady has worked intentionally to create excellence at Red Bank Middle, and she invites the community to support Red Bank at their annual community events. "We are hosting our Family Literacy Festival next Monday. We love to showcase our school pride to our families and community. We hope to see everyone show up to support our students."
Family Literacy Festival
Monday, September 30, 2024
Red Bank Middle Cafeteria
5:30 PM- 7:00 PM