It is with great excitement that I step into the role of principal at Independence Elementary. Having proudly served as assistant principal here for the past 16 years, I am honored to continue working with our staff, students, and families. At Independence, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to reach their highest potential. We focus on high achievement, supporting the whole child, and family engagement so that we can learn and grow together. It is a priority for us to create a safe and caring environment so our students can reach their highest potential. This year, we are proud to embrace our new core values: Kindness, Responsibility, Cooperation, and Perseverance. These principles will guide our school community in building positive relationships, fostering accountability, encouraging teamwork, and inspiring resilience. Together, these values support our mission to ‘Learn and Grow Together’.
I look forward to partnering with families and staff as we continue to build a positive and inclusive community where every student can thrive. My door is always open for your questions and collaboration. Thank you for your trust and support.
Here’s to a wonderful year ahead at Independence!
Independence Elementary is a child-centered school of distinction in academics and character. The partnership among the community will ensure that all individuals will achieve academically, grow emotionally, and succeed socially for a lifetime of learning.
The 11 Principles of Character Education and the Core Values have been an integral part of Independence since 2003. Our values are ever evolving to match the needs and interests of our culture. When assessing our values we gather input from students, staff, families, and community members. Throughout the year, the core values are taught and reinforced during classroom circles, teacher newsletters, school newsletters, and celebrated during whole grade level meetings we call Town Halls.
Independence current Core Values: Friendship, Empathy, Responsibility and Honesty
11 Principles of Character Education
The 11 Principles are guidepost to plan, implement, assess, and sustain our commitment to growing our character.
Principle 1: Core Values are defined, implemented, and embedded into school culture.
Principle 2: The school defines “character” comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and doing.
Principle 3: The school uses a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach to character development.
Principle 4: The school creates a caring community.
Principle 5: The school provides students with opportunities for moral actions.
Principle 6: The school offers a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed.
Principle 7: The school fosters students’ self-motivation.
Principle 8: All staff share the responsibility for developing, implementing, and modeling ethical character.
Principle 9: The school’s character initiative has shared leadership and long-range support for continuous improvement.
Principle 10: The school engages families and community as partners in the character initiative.
Principle 11: The school assess its implementation of character education, its culture and climate, and the character growth of students on a regular basis
In March 18, 1999 at 9:02 PM the Francis Howell Board of Education approved the name Independence for its ninth elementary school. Here is the history behind our name:
In 1885 a one-room schoolhouse called Independent School
opened its doors and ran continuously until May 1941. After
that time, Independent School voted to join the Consolidated
School District No. 2 of St. Charles County. Through the years
the name changed to Independence School. Many former students
are still members of the Francis Howell community. The original brick
schoolhouse remains on Independence Road today.
Independence Elementary opened in July 1999.
Independence Elementary is the home of the Eagles; our colors are red, white, and blue.
For the second time in five years, Independence Elementary was been named a National School of Character (NSOC) by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) for its commitment to character education and for fostering a positive environment for social and academic learning. Independence Elementary was recognized in 2013 as well as 2018 and will hold the distinction for five years.
As a District focused on continuous improvement, each of our 23 schools develops a site-based school improvement plan every year. The plan outlines the goals and actions the building plans to take throughout the year to improve various areas of performance.
A pyramid of intervention is a tiered approach to prevention and intervention strategies to support students both academically and behaviorally. The pyramid uses a variety of strategies and techniques to help all students stay on the right track. The foundation of the pyramid offers Tier 1 supports for all students. Tier 2 interventions provide additional support for smaller groups of students who need more targeted help. Tier 3 provides the most intensive supports for individual students when Tier 1 and 2 interventions have been unsuccessful. Our schools review and update their pyramid on a regular basis to ensure new strategies are incorporated and all are aligned with best practice.
Independence Elementary
Where we learn and grow together
School Handbook
The student handbook summarizes District policy and contains general guidelines and information. Translated copies of this Handbook are available. Contact the school office.
