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30% More Students Meet Standards

National Showcase School 2015-2016

“Prior to Country Meadows beginning the implementation of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process, the school had lost its second principal that year, had a failing label, and was placed in school improvement by the State Department of Education. After training the entire staff we began to see culture results right away. After only two years we had moved out of school improvement and had raised the level of students meeting or exceeding the state standards by more than 30%. Implementing the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process, Process Champions and Teen Leadership classes have been a big part of not only changing the entire culture, but also raising achievement dramatically and making us a school people now want to emulate. Our school has piloted numerous district-wide programs including Capturing Kids’ Hearts that are now being implemented by schools throughout our District and state. One of my proudest moments was being invited to present at the National Model Schools Conference in Washington, D.C. on ‘Changing School Climate and Raising Achievement.’ A significant portion of the presentation was the difference the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process made. In my 40+ years in education, I can honestly say the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process is the most impactful educational process I’ve ever used.”

Val Barrett, Principal
2013 Represented Arizona at 21st Annual Model Sschools Conference in Washington, D.C.

Country Meadows Elementary | Peoria, AZ

45% Decrease in Discipline Referrals

National Showcase School 2015-2016
“Capturing Kids’ Hearts helped to create a positive culture among students and staff. We now have a common language and a system in place that is measurable and is being implemented at an 85% rate by our teachers, with intentionality and purpose. We have seen discipline referrals decrease 45% for verbal altercations, 30% for disruptions, and 33% for misconduct. If you look at our teaching staff, 76% have been with us for 5 years or more. Our families are informed about Capturing Kids’ Hearts at our Open House and parent/teacher conferences along with weekly communications from teachers. The EXCEL Model of communication is foundational across all stakeholders and has impacted the way we speak with everyone.”.”

Karen Smith, Principal/Assistant Superintendent
2016 Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year Finalist

Conner Creek Academy East | Roseville, MI

50% Fewer Discipline Referrals

National Showcase School 2015-2016

“Wasilla High School’s entire staff was trained to use Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes in the fall of 2014. Since then, we have seen some dramatic improvements in our school and how students describe their experience with us. Our school of 1,100 is located in a small Alaskan town where 40% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch. The most significant change we have celebrated is our graduation rate moving from 76.14% in 2013 to 91.5% in 2015. We attribute this to staff taking individual interest in students and empowering them to accomplish their goals. In a recent survey of the student body, 85% of students named an adult in the building whom they trusted and would go to if something was bothering them, up from 59% in 2014. In addition, our discipline rate is half what it was in 2013. Students take pride in treating each other with respect and being a school that supports differences. Two student suicides in consecutive years broke our hearts, but through the empowering processes of Capturing Kids’ Hearts, a proactive prevention response is alive and well. Students started a group called, ‘You Are Not Alone.’ To date, 35 student leaders have been trained by professionals to train other students to question, persuade, and refer anyone who is contemplating suicide. Our student trainers have trained over 500 of our students, and are leading a district initiative to train other students and start ‘You Are Not Alone’ groups in all the secondary schools. Every contact with the Flippen Group helps us feel supported and inspired to continue to reach every student. We are committed to our work and our community and are grateful the Flippen Group taught us the skills to build better relationships and change lives.”

Amy Spargo, Principal

Wasilla High School | Wasilla, AK

#1 TOP RANKED OF 67 COUNTIES

“St. Johns County schools are overall ranked #1 of the 67 counties in Florida in FCAT results. This high achievement is due, in part, to the student successes tied to benefits of Capturing Kids’ Hearts such as excellent attendance rates, a decrease in district discipline referrals, and a decrease in the high school dropout rate. The success of Capturing Kids’ Hearts is based on the great training facilitators, effective teaching pedagogy, and district staff buy-in. Our entire school-based leadership underwent the Flippen Group Leadership training. There is a measurable and positive impact on student learning. St. Johns County walks the walk and talks the talk of character and integrity with the Flippen Group.“.“

Meredith Strickland, Senior Director for Professional Development and Innovation

St. Johns County Schools | St. Augustine, FL

30% fewer suspensions

“Coginchaug already had a positive school climate, but it has improved dramatically since we started training large numbers of teachers in the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process. Thanks in large part to the research and background information provided by the grants and research team, we won a highly competitive grant last year that will allow us to train teachers district-wide in Capturing Kids’ Hearts. As a result of implementing this training across our campus, we have seen a 40% reduction in disciplinary infractions overall, and a 30% reduction in suspensions. We haven’t had a fight on campus in well over a year, and have not had an expulsion in well over two years. Because of our success, we have been invited to share our results with two area school superintendents’ groups and with the Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance.”

Andre Hauser, Principal
2008 Connecticut High School Assistant Principal of the Year

Coginchaug Regional High School | Durham, CT

35% INCREASE IN GRADUATION RATE

National Showcase School Nominee 2015-2016

“Stall High School has enjoyed working with the Flippen Group since 2010, with positive impact both academically and in staff retention. Capturing Kids’ Hearts provided the appropriate school culture that helped us become an Apple Distinguished School and a model Personalized Learning environment. Our high school moved from At-Risk growth rating in 2011 to an Excellent growth rating in 2012 and Stall is no longer considered an At-Risk school. On-time graduation rate rose from 48% to 65% between 2010 and 2014, enrollment has grown from 830 students in 2010 to 1300 in 2015, and Stall High School (91% poverty rate) reported discipline referrals dropped 50%. As a result of the decrease in suspensions, 800 school days (1600 hours) of school instruction were used more effectively.”

Kim Wilson, Principal
2014 South Carolina High School Principal of the Year

R.B. Stall High School | North Charleston, SC

63% REDUCTION IN SUSPENSIONS

“Data reports from Mountain View Middle School show that suspensions on this campus dropped 63%, from 459 to 170, over a two-year period. The Capturing Kids’ Hearts ideals and concepts have changed the culture at our school, and Organization Blueprint and Leadership Blueprint have made me a strong leader.”

Debbie Fay, Principal
2013 Moreno Valley USD Principal of the Year

Mountain View Middle School | Moreno Valley, CA

67% FEWER DISCIPLINE REFERRALS

“What I am most proud of in regards to the impact Capturing Kids’ Hearts has had on my campus is the relational capacity it has brought about between teachers, students, and families; everyone! Our discipline referrals are down and our attendance is up. We went from 169 referrals in 2014, to 56 in 2015. My campus enrollment is up 50 students from this time last year, a 16% increase from last year. Parents are transferring their students from neighboring districts and telling us it is because they are hearing about the positive way students are treated at Camp Verde Middle School.”

Danny Howe, Principal

Camp Verde Middle School | Camp Verde, AZ

80% FEWER BULLYING REPORTS

National Showcase School Nominee 2015-2016

“Our entire campus has changed after we embraced Flippen processes. Student absence rate was cut in half, even though the district absence rate remained the same. Tardy referrals during the same time frame were reduced by 62% and bullying reports have reduced by 80%.”

Mari Jo Mulligan, Principal
Finalist for 2016 Lake Havasu Superintendent

Thunderbolt Middle School | Lake Havasu City, AZ

97% STUDENT ATTENDANCE RATE

“With the Flippen Group’s ongoing and continual support of Capturing Kids’ Hearts and Teen Leadership, Nicholas County School district has seen dramatic improvements in many areas crucial to student success. Quantitative yearly data over a three-year period (2007-2010) of implementation includes a 40% dropout decrease from 87 to 52 students, a district attendance rate of 97.26%, a decrease in district discipline referrals from 4,671 to 1,997, and a 35% decrease in out-of-school suspensions/expulsions. Academically, more students are passing advanced placement tests, ACT scores have increased, and the district has moved into the top 20 of 55 districts in the state. One school in particular, Cherry River Elementary, listed a few years ago as one of the five worst in West Virginia, was recently chosen as one of nineteen West Virginia Innovation Zone Schools. If a district is serious about student success and follows the program as designed, dramatic results will occur. We cannot give enough praise to the Flippen Group for leading our district through this process of improving our school system.”

Beverly Kingery, Superintendent
2015 appointed to 9-year term with West Virginia Board of Education

Nicholas County Schools | Summersville, WV

ACHIEVEMENT UP AND DROPOUTS DOWN

“I have had the pleasure of working with the Flippen Group for the past seven years. As a result, our school and all of our subgroups have met or exceeded the national standards for Adequate Yearly Progress. Academic achievement rates are higher, dropout rates are lower, student discipline rates are at an all-time low, and the general atmosphere in the building is the best that it has ever been. Our school has won statewide acclaim for the personalized positive climate that exists within the building. We attribute these successes largely to the work we have done with the Flippen Group.”

Paul K. Newton, Principal
2007 Connecticut High School Principal of the Year

Enrico Fermi High School | Enfield, CT

CAMPUS STAFF MORE EFFECTIVE

“The Flippen Group’s easy to follow step-by-step approach to Capturing Kids’ Hearts has enabled my staff to effectively create positive choices for challenging and disruptive students, and has made a positive impact on our school’s overall climate that is measured not only in the progress seen on our school’s New York City Progress Reports, but also in the very feeling of our building when you enter it. My staff is now able to address disciplinary and academic matters in an emotionally positive manner that is less confrontational and consequently yields more effective outcomes.”

Sheila Richards, Principal

East New York Family Academy | Brooklyn, NY

FLIPPEN SCHOOL REFORM COMPREHENSIVE

“The Flippen Group’s approach to school reform has been comprehensive. On the leadership side it started with organizational principles and a leadership framework. Once the over-arching principles were in place, individual leadership and personnel were addressed. The educational side started with a needs assessment, curriculum work, and a systematic approach to instruction. Principals have been trained in what to look for when visiting classrooms which is tightly aligned to teacher training. After four months we feel like a whirlwind hit us. Amazingly enough, it has been so good and so thorough that everyone feels we are on the right track. Negotiating the initial contract was very smooth even though we requested changes. Their scheduling office is professional and ultra-organized. The people we have worked with are personable, professional, and knowledgeable. The content is tightly aligned from top to bottom. Any district that needs to improve student achievement would be wise to work with Flippen Group. I strongly endorse their work.”

Nancy Aschermann, Superintendent

Rocky Ford School District | Rocky Ford, CO

IMPACT BEYOND THE WORLD OF 8 TO 5

“…what really gets me going each day are fresh opportunities to help leaders realize their true potential while advancing the strategic objectives of their employers at the same time. In my view, the Flippen 360 Profile provides both a tool and a resource that helps make this happen. As I see it, this tool identifies the ‘gaps’, or as they say, personal constraints. Perhaps the best part of it is that this renewed self-awareness, when mobilized, goes way beyond the world of 8 to 5 and favorably impacts life relationships. In summary, it is positive, encouraging, comprehensive, and highly revealing. Its value in my view is unquestioned…”

Robert J. Wacker, Vice President

Media and Entertainment Client |

INCREASED ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMICS

“With a student enrollment of 24,652 students, we take extraordinary measures to ensure that all children in the district have the opportunity to achieve academically and to graduate. We have had the pleasure of working with the Flippen Group for the past six years, offering trainings to all of our teachers and school district administrators. As a direct result, the climate and culture of our schools and our district changed substantially. Quantitative yearly data collected over the past two years (2008-2010) indicate an increase in student attendance rates and academic test scores for ALL subject areas. We attribute the 2009 District HEB Excellence in Education award to the systemic training and ongoing support provided to staff with implementation of several key initiatives, including our alliance with the Flippen Group. We have also celebrated with one of our elementary principals, Diane Parks, as she was designated 2007 National Distinguished Principal of the Year and notes that the Flippen Group training led to a ‘flywheel’ of positive outcomes for her teachers.”

Laura Lyons, Executive Director of Elementary Education
2014 Literacy Advocate Award

Lamar Consolidated ISD | Rosenberg, TX

SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED DISTRICT-WIDE

“Over the past three years, the Flippen Group has worked side by side with our leadership team to provide systemic school reform through leadership development, teacher training, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, and curriculum support activities. Their research team is readily available to assist with evaluations. As a result, our high school went from Academically Unacceptable in 2006-2007 to Recognized. The middle school has been Recognized for the past two years and the elementary school for the past three years. The percentage of meeting standards on the TAKS scores improved in all core areas district wide. The district has also seen improvement in each subgroup. Finally, discipline referrals at the high school have significantly decreased. The Flippen Group has proven effective in our district.”

Dr. Harold D. Ramm, Superintendent

Groesbeck ISD | Groesbeck, TX

SUBSTANTIAL ACADEMIC GAINS

“Through implementation of the Flippen Group’s programs, the district has been able to keep more students engaged in classroom activities and fewer students in the assistant principal’s office. District statistics were collected during the second year of program implementation and demonstrate academic success, including substantial percentage gains through state assessment scores, state accountability ratings, and improvement gains.”

Dede Heidt, Deputy Superintendent

Texas City ISD | Texas City, TX

BRING OUT THE BEST WE CAN BE

When Trinity Industries acquired Transit Mix concrete delivery company, they needed a way to improve Transit’s 72% driver turnover rate, costing over $6MM annually. The Flippen Group worked with executives and mid-level leaders to improve engagement and communication with drivers, and added social programs to benefit the employees and their families. After 14 months, driver turnover was 47%. After 24 months of implementing Flippen Group processes, turnover fell to 14% – the lowest industry-wide – and provided Transit Mix a strong competitive advantage. In the words of General Manager Dick Schilhab, “Your ability to bring out the best we can be is just one of the many positives I can see as we take our team to the next level.”

Dick Schilhab, General Manager

Trinity Industries - Transit Mix |

WITHOUT EXCEPTION - BEST LEADERSHIP TRAINING

“…in thirty years of service, I had spent more than five years in Army schools (three years at graduate schools, including Harvard University), primarily studying the art of leadership. In addition, the Army gave me plenty of opportunities to practice what I had studied by allowing me to command Army organizations from a platoon of thirty to a division of 30,000. What could the Flippen Group possibly teach me in three days? Well, at least I am not too old to admit how absolutely wrong I was. Those three days were, without exception, the best leadership training I ever had. Bar none. I left those three days rejuvenated as a leader, confident of our ITT team and its strengths, knowledgeable of my constraints, and most importantly, with a total buy-in for our Senior Leadership Social Contract to act as a template for our personal interactions and pathway to even greater successes in the future.”

Major General Bruce K. Scott, US Army (Ret), President

International Services Client |

96% OF STUDENTS SUCCEED WITH COLLEGE COURSES

“96% of our students are being successful with their college courses with a 2.0 or better. 82% of those with A’s and B’s. Beyond college ready, college proven! This is all because we focused on taking care of the students’ hearts first. The year we changed our focus from textbooks, programs, supplies, schedules, buildings, grades, test scores, etc. to focus on the heart of the matter at the root level (culture, identity, will, beliefs, thoughts, emotions, empathy, relationships, etc.), we transformed our performance data. Truly very little has changed from a curricular standpoint. We’ve just been faithful to the process with Teen Leadership and Capturing Kids’ Hearts since 2012-2013 and our results have been drastic. I think you would especially find our graduates’ surveys of interest, as we are certain the responses have been a direct result of implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts with fidelity every day at every moment we are given.”

Jonathan Tobar, Principal

Lewanee Intermediate School District | Adrian, MI

30% REDUCTION IN SUSPENSIONS

“Coginchaug has improved dramatically since we started training large numbers of teachers in the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process. As a result of implementing this training across our campus, we have seen a 40% reduction in disciplinary infractions overall, and a 30% reduction in suspensions. We haven’t had a fight on campus in well over a year, and have not had an expulsion in well over two years. Because of our success, we have been invited to share our results with two area school superintendents’ groups and with the Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance.”

Andre Hauser, Principal
2008 Connecticut High School Assistant Principal of the Year

Coginchaug Regional High School | Durham, CT

96% OF STUDENTS FEEL RESPECTED

National Showcase School 2015-2016

“Capturing Kids’ Hearts has greatly impacted the culture and climate of our campus. The results on our district-wide culture and climate survey for 2nd-4th grade students indicate 86% of our students agree that their teacher or teachers listen to their ideas; and 96% of our students believe that teachers treat them with respect. Our students and teachers are enjoying the relationships they are building, which is leading to more productive classroom settings. Parents have even commented on how the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process has carried over into their homes. Several families have social contracts hanging on their refrigerators and parents tell us stories of how the ‘four questions of misbehavior’ help them!”

Gina Rodewald, Principal

Gower West Elementary | Willowbrook, IL

97.5% STUDENT GRADUATION RATE

Embedding the Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes and leading teacher empowerment through our Process Champions has transformed our school culture and has been integral in helping us to improve academically. Students are certainly proud to be from Taft now; that pride shows in the work that they do and the campus-wide accomplishments. In 2011, we were rated Academically Unacceptable by the state’s accountability system and missed Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and math.

We began implementing the Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes in our 2012-2013 school year; that year, the majority of our staff received Capturing Kids’ Hearts training at the beginning of the year. Positive results and cultural shifts began immediately. We have “Met Standard” since 2012 and we attribute a big part of our success to the positive relationships and the Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes that help define our positive culture and climate at Taft High School. Other indicators of positive systemic change are: 29% enrollment increase compared to five years ago; increase in graduation rate from 84.1% (2012 accountability report) to 97.5% (2015 accountability report); increase in attendance rate from 93.3% (2012 accountability report) to 95.0% (2015 accountability report); and a 22% decrease in discipline referrals from 2011-2012 to 2014-2015.   

Our Taft community has supported our Capturing Kids’ Hearts implementation. Many parents were informed of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes through a parent training in the fall of 2013. Capturing Kids’ Hearts implementation has been district-wide. With the Capturing Kids’ Hearts “tools,” our efforts, both academically and culturally, have triggered a change from a negative to a positive mindset about Taft and the perception of our Taft school system. We are excited about introducing the Teen Leadership class this year. In addition, we presented a session at the No Excuses University conference in October of 2015 and we emphasized the power of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes and the positive impact it has had on our school-wide systems, culture, and success. Capturing Kids’ Hearts was an integral component of our No Excuses implementation and will continue to be modeled and incorporated into our systems as we continue to move forward in doing what is best for our students.  

Angel Lopez, Principal

Taft High School | Taft, TX

0% STAFF TURNOVER RATE

“Wessendorff Middle School has been working with the Flippen Group for six consecutive years, and together we have created a successful school environment. Our student accomplishments include: TEA Exemplary rating 2008, 2010; TBEC Honor Roll School 2008, 2009; and met AYP 2009, 2010. This past year, we had zero staff turnover. The Flippen Group has helped us to build effective relationships.”

Diana Freudensprung Tydlacka, Principal

J.J. Wessendorff Middle School | Rosenberg, TX

97% STUDENT GRADUATION RATE

“The impact of the Flippen Group’s leadership and Capturing Kids’ Hearts trainings on Jenison Public Schools has been amazing. It has fundamentally changed the culture of our entire school district. Parents report that one of the primary reasons for choosing our school district to partner with them in educating their children is because of the culture that exists in our schools. In addition to changing our culture, the training that we received assisted us in continuing to maintain a school district of excellence in spite of the changing demographics in our community. Our test scores remain some of the highest in West Michigan. Our building principals report that office disciplinary referrals have been reduced significantly. We graduate 97% of our students, with 93% going on to pursue a college education. 83% of Jenison Public School graduates earn a college diploma.”

Tom TenBrink, Superintendent

Jenison Public Schools | Jenison, MI

HIGH SCHOOL TOP 12%

“Our district has implemented Flippen Group processes on a K-12 basis. We have had significant results in student behavioral and learning outcomes, including a Recognized district rating and a Recognized high school rating (only 12% of high schools achieved that rating for 2008). We value the ongoing site visits and leadership support from the Flippen Group, as well as the assistance of the research team that helps us meet stringent governmental guidelines. I feel that the work that the Flippen Group is doing in school reform is phenomenal.”

Dwaine K. Augustine, Assistant Superintendent

Hamshire-Fannett ISD | Hamshire, TX

95% Fewer Discipline Referrals

National Showcase School 2015-2016

“Over the last four years of working with the Flippen Group, we’ve experienced outstanding academic and behavioral results. Ash Fork is a high poverty area…and a large amount of broken homes. We qualify for 100% free and reduced lunch and are a school-wide Title I district. After implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts, Ash Fork School District went from underperforming to the highest performing school district in the state based on standardized testing. After only five weeks using the processes, discipline referrals were reduced 95% as compared with the prior year. The elementary schools reached 87% passing math and 85% passing reading on standardized tests in the third year of Flippen implementation. Ash Fork has recently had a host of teachers win awards for their performance in the classroom, and I was even awarded Superintendent of the Year for small schools in Arizona. There is no way that we could have accomplished such great growth if it weren’t for the Flippen Group and their amazing staff and life-changing principles.”

Seth Staples, Superintendent
2014 All-Arizona Superintendent of the Year

Ash Fork Schools | Ash Fork, AZ