When Principal Beth Polito arrived at the Saratoga school last year, she said it was an isolating experience. Teachers were doing their own work in their own rooms, rather than collaborating with each other. With some administrative changes and a new outlook, she said, the school is becoming a more positive place to teach and for students to learn.

"The change has been about child focus and less about content," reported Polito at Saratoga Union School District's Feb. 24 board meeting.

A Redwood Middle School Task Force was formed in 2001 and charged with providing the most developmentally appropriate academic, social and emotional programs possible for middle school students, according to Louise Levy, assistant superintendent of student services.

"Our work as a middle school task force has been a journey," Levy said. "And it still continues as a journey."

The fruits of the task force are finally starting to unfold. The middle school's staff, "or worker bees," are translating the task force's dreams into actions, Levy said.

Anita Schaul, a sixth-grade core teacher, demonstrated to board members how standards and assessment goals are being met. For instance, teachers are targeting grammar that meets state standards, using a writing rubric, and sticking to a format and language that students across grade levels understand. She added that sixth-graders are also piloting a writing-portfolio system that helps them assess elements and establish goals used in writing.

Mardi Kambish, a math teacher, said professional-development minimum days, as well as two days a month when classes last for an hour instead of 45 minutes, have been beneficial for teachers.

"We've had hours to sit together and talk and have had some really meaningful discussions," she said.

Pamela Dovala, a sixth-grade teacher and team coordinator, described the time as "a book club for educators." She added that teams of teachers at every grade level, composed of representatives from different departments, are making collective decisions. For example, they are picking what a proper heading should look like for all student papers and are setting expectations about the differences between a test and a quiz. Then, Polito said, students at each grade level identify themselves by the team their core teacher represents. This realization creates a sense of belonging, Polito said, rather than isolation.

Shannon Avina, a seventh-grade team coordinator, also appreciates the collaborative time for teachers.

"Theoretically, for every hour of class instruction, teachers spend an hour preparing," Avina said. "But we all know it's much more than that."

SUSD Board President Cindy Ruby said Redwood has always had good teachers, but there was never the amount of energy that has been surfacing. She was pleased to see teachers working together to create a better learning environment centered on students.

Polito added details about the school's Social and Emotional Literacy program. The program is helping students develop self-awareness, listening skills, understanding, getting along and decision-making. Ruby said character development is just as important as academics.

In addition, Welcome Everybody at Redwood is a new mentoring program, Polito said. Eighth-graders are linked with sixth-graders through year-long social activities, again deterring isolation.

The SUSD board's next regular meeting will take place March 9, 6:30 p.m., in the Redwood Middle School library, 13925 Fruitvale Ave., in Saratoga. The board of trustees will prepare for the possibility of sending layoff notices to employees by March 15. The board will also hold a March 16 budget workshop for parents, teachers and community members from 7 to 9 p.m. in the middle school library.