Fort Gibson School Named A "Great Expectations Model School"

A school in Fort Gibson has achieved a big honor after nearly three years of hard work. They've been named a "Great Expectations Model School." That means their kids, teachers, and staff all had to go through training. It's all designed to make everyone at the school well-rounded and kind people.

Outside of a Fort Gibson Intermediate Elementary classroom, Principal Andrea Sifers is greeted by a student who tells the class she's arrived. It's one small part of the model school program - teaching public speaking.

"They had a great grasp academically, but what does it look like to be a decent human being?" Sifers said.

A "Great Expectations Model School" is a program with extensive training, which is implemented every day in class. It teaches students to learn better and builds character, with a new lesson each week.

"This week it's optimism, last week empathy," she said.

Students like fourth grader, Brookie Bracken, said it's helped her get ready for the next big year at school.

"They know we know fifth grade will be hard, because you're going to middle school, and we learn preparing for that," said Bracken. 

Parents have caught on too. Lindsey White said her fourth grader is learning how to respect others and how to speak to adults.

"She addresses adults especially and is able to articulate herself," White said.

Erica Shaw agrees. She has a third grader who has learned a lot this year from the program.

"They expect kids to be kind and treat each other with respect and teachers," said Erica.

Everyone who works with students must go through training for the program. It finally paid off last week when they passed their surprise observation and were named a model school.

"In Oklahoma, out of the 1,700 plus schools, there are only 70 that get to call themselves model schools," she said.

A huge honor, for some really smart kids.

The school plans on holding a big celebration in a couple of weeks, in honor of being a model school and hopes to hold this title for years to come.