By David Perlmutt
dperlmutt@charlotteobserver.com

Dignitaries rarely come to Sterling Elementary School.

It's at the end of the Lynx light rail line off South Boulevard, a 7-year-old building near Pineville sprawled among a smattering of small houses. All but five students are African-American or Latino; 91 percent receive free or reduced-price lunches.

Yet it is the transformation inside that brought U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Gov. Bev Perdue to Sterling Elementary on Wednesday.

Three years ago, only 34.6 percent of Sterling's students passed end-of-grade reading tests. A year later, after a plan to improve poorly performing schools took effect, 58.9 percent passed. Math scores were more dramatic: 52.4 percent passed three years ago; 83.7 percent a year later.

Across Mecklenburg County, black, Latino and poor kids seriously lag their white, Asian and higher-income peers.

But Sterling, Duncan said, shows what's possible when troubled schools are bolstered by the best principals and teachers.

"Every district needs to figure systematically how to get the hardest-working, most-committed teachers and principals into schools that need the most help," he said, first at the convention center during a national conference of community foundations, then at Sterling.

"...When we see perpetual, chronically under-performing schools, we have to step in and do something to change the status quo."

One way is the "strategic staffing" initiative Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman started in 2008.

Duncan says the initiative puts CMS in the "national conversation" on school reforms.

The idea is to recruit good principals and help them build a top-notch team - then give them three years to work miracles.

For their commitment, principals get a 10 percent pay hike, and teachers get a $20,000 bonus package over the three years.

"Charlotte is on the cutting edge of what is going on nationally," Duncan said. "We've seen around the country that if you put great teachers into high-risk, low-performing schools, you will see great results."

Tough times for schools

Duncan warned of continued tough times for U.S. school districts.

At both Charlotte appearances, he said private-public partnerships are important to school reforms during a sour economy.

He urged foundations to show "a moral leadership" to help repair schools. At Sterling, he urged school officials to cultivate partnerships with businesses and philanthropic foundations - and to build a "culture of camaraderie" so teachers don't get burned out.

Last month, North Carolina was one of nine states awarded a federal "Race to the Top" grant - up to $400 million - to improve teacher quality, student performance and career preparation. The money will be used to implement Perdue's goals of preparing every student for a career or college after high school.

Money, Duncan said, is sure to run out.

"The vast majority of districts in this country are going to have to do more with less," he said. "...They are going to have to be more productive and efficient."

Students share thoughts

Sterling Principal Nancy Guzman's school sparkled for the visit. A hall sign read: "It Takes a Team To Educate a Child."

After arriving, Perdue asked fifth-grader Narayah Lopes for her assessment of Guzman's performance.

"She's doing a good job," Narayah said.

"Is she tough?" Perdue asked.

"Oh, yes, she's tough, but in a good way," she said. "She makes sure we learn what we're supposed to know. I love this school."

After Duncan arrived, the greeting party escorted him into the school's media center, already filled with teachers, principals, state and CMS school board members and students.

After a 45-minute discussion, Duncan visited Jean Konzelmann's fourth-grade class before flying back to Washington.

"Hi, I'm Arne," he told the students. "Is this a smart class?"

"Yes!" came the unanimous response.

The students asked Duncan what he wanted to be when he was their age. A basketball player and educator, he said.

He asked them what they hoped to be: a fashion designer. An architect.

Jevo'N Dixon raised his hand: "A brain surgeon."

Duncan smiled and looked Jevo'N in the eye:

"I think you have the ability to be a brain surgeon," he said. "But you can't be one without a great education. This school and these teachers are here to help you get that."

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