East Yancey Middle School Schools to Watch 2005   East Yancey Middle School 285 Georges Fork Road Burnsville, NC 28714 (828)682-2281 (828) 682-3513 FAX   Principal: Rick Tipton   Website: http://www.yanceync.net/eyms/   Introduction: East Yancey Middle School is located in Burnsville, in the western mountains of North Carolina not far from the Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia state lines. While the school is small in number, it is BIG on student achievement, social equity, staff development, and organizational structures. With a student population of only 345 and a staff of 22, this academic community has gone far beyond what is expected of a community school. The staff of East Yancey believes that each and every student must succeed to the best of his or her abilities, and the students rise regularly to these high expectations. Here are some of the things that make East Yancey Middle School a School to Watch.   Evidence of Academic Excellence Multiple teaching strategies revolving around higher order thinking skills A wide variety of assessment strategies are constantly in use Teachers utilize creative approaches to learning such as single sex seminars High level of engagement seen in every class Professional development between East Yancey and the village/school in Mexico where the school's Spanish population originates Evidence of Meeting Students' Needs The school environment is exceptionally warm and inviting The faculty genuinely celebrate the cultures represented in the school The staff has generated a number of clever methods to provide access to tutoring Soccer programs, nursing home visitations, fundraisers, and the health center provide the school with an avenue to reach their community Despite their small size, numerous extracurricular activities exist - Beta Club, 4-H, Talent Search, sports, chorus, band, Great Books, and Odyssey of the Mind, to name a few   Evidence of Social Equity Fairness is a BIG concept at East Yancey, & teachers and students govern themselves by it Students voice their concerns to teachers and administration; the open door policy is definitely accepted here Full time Spanish teacher for English speaking students and for Spanish speaking students builds bridges between the school's different communities Students select their own Students of the Month Professional development is part of the culture, and the school works with local universities and serves as a resoure for other schools in the region Evidence of Organizational Structures & Processes Research into subject areas is important to teachers and students Administrators are visionary leaders regarding the future needs of their student population Partnerships have been established between Lees-McRae and Mars Hill Colleges. These colleges provide tutors who provide one-on-one tutoring for students in all areas. Partnerships also exist between the local 4-H club and a therapeutic riding stables. These partners provide socialization for students after school School adheres to a no blame - no excuses policy   Closing Comments East Yancey Middle School is an extraordinary school that meets the needs of all of its students while providing a challenging curriculum. It is a school filled with the vision of excellence and success for each student within its walls. The members of the visitation team remarked on several occasions that this is a school they would want their children to attend and a school where they themselves would enjoy teaching. E-Mail Home | About NCMSA | Conferences | Membership | Schools to Watch | Regions | Publications Last Updated March 3, 2007 © 1999-2007 North Carolina Middle School Association National Forum logo, graphics, and criteria used with permission.