Andrews School - Whittier, CA

At the core of our work at Andrews is the belief that we make a difference with each and every child. Andrews teachers recognize that children have to become productive, caring, thinking citizens. Believing that our students are tomorrow’s leaders in the community, country, and world, we have adopted the school motto of, "Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow" which captures what we envision for our students futures. Moreover, our staff is committed to providing each student with the strong academic foundation necessary to propel them in any endeavor. Our students are exceptional writers. Andrews has remained committed to daily, explicit teaching of writing in Writer’s Workshop. Long before the Common Core State Standards, teachers at Andrews planned units of study within the Narrative, Informational, and Argumentative/Opinion writing genres. Our classrooms are filled with students who take great care in their work as writers. Through writing, our students have learned how to communicate effectively about what they believe is most important: An essential skill for future leaders. Every educator at Andrews is valued; however, we respect that the collective work of a team of people is far more thoughtful and effective than that of what one can produce independently. The educators at Andrews value collaborative planning and shared analysis of data, including student work, to create high quality, rigorous, standards-based lessons based on student needs. Our work in Professional Learning Communities has created a culture that expects excellence. All students and staff take ownership and responsibility for learning and success at Andrews.