Norwich — When statewide Smarter Balanced Achievement test scores were released two weeks ago, state Education Commissioner Dianne Wentzell called the John B. Stanton School “one of the clear bright spots” for performance improvement.

So when school started Wednesday, Wentzell visited the school for a first-hand look at both educational and atmospheric conditions that help students succeed.

Stanton is one of the state's first Commissioner's Network schools receiving additional state grants for improvement efforts for the past four years.

In the second year of the new Smarter Balanced tests, Stanton saw an 8.1 percent increase in English Language Arts test scores and a 9.7 percent increase in math scores.

Wentzell said the test score announcement wasn't the first time she has boasted about Stanton's success, but she said the one-year test improvement at the school was “very rare” in the state.

She cited the school's welcoming attitude toward English language learners, its positive emphasis on attendance and “smart” use of technology.

She also credited Principal Billie Shea and Superintendent Abby Dolliver for their leadership in taking on the Network School reforms.

“A lot of people ask us what's the secret to Stanton's success,” Wentzell said. “It's not one thing.”

As she entered the main hallway, a kindergarten class was making its way to the lunch room. Lead students carried small signs with the names of the three lunch choices for the day. Clothespins were attached to each sign indicating how many students wanted each choice.

Wentzell called it a clever way to introduce real math concepts to the youngest students.

“They count the floor squares, too,” Shea said.

“Math is everywhere,” Wentzell responded.

Wentzell knelt on the floor with fifth-graders Angela Rosekrans, Breanna Martir, Nevaeh Yorke and Marie Rose Louissant as they compiled their ideas for what makes a good teammate.

Teacher George Serra wants his class to be a team this year and asked students to identify what “a great teammate” does, is, says and is not.

“I'd love to be on their team,” Wentzell said, prying herself up from the rug. “They want to be kind, and they're trying to figure out a way to share.”

One member of the group spoke little English, and her classmates tried to make sure she still was able to participate in the exercise.

Part of Stanton's school improvement plan this year will be to focus on attendance and family participation. Chronic absenteeism has been cited as a problem statewide and in Norwich.

A whiteboard at the main entrance gives attendance percentage for the day for both staff and students. On Wednesday, 100 percent of staff came to school, and 99 percent of students. Each classroom has a sign for its attendance percentage for the day.

Wentzell said Stanton's initial success in the Commissioner's Network system was concentrated in the lower grades.

Now, she said, that has spread schoolwide, as those students progress through the grade levels.

“They have all the perfect ingredients that make it successful,” Wentzell said. “We want to show that success to the rest of the state.”

c.bessette@theday.com