MEXICO — Department of Education Commissioner Steve Bowen toured Mountain Valley Middle School on Thursday afternoon to see how its mass customized learning initiative is progressing.

He also met with many teachers and administrators to learn what the department can do to help improve education for the school’s nearly 330 students.

The decision to visit the school was made several weeks before the department issued letter grades to each public school.

Superintendent Tom Ward said the middle school was chosen for the visit because of its innovative methods inside and outside the classroom, including its recent emphasis on mass customized learning, an initiative that operates on the assumption that students do their best when they work at their own pace.

“We’re doing great things,” he said.

When the school was given an F grade by the state Wednesday, some in the school questioned the reasoning, because just prior to the assessment it was selected as an innovative school.

Besides being one of the schools using mass customized learning, students also spend several days at University of Maine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond, develop local projects on the history and nature of the River Valley, and take part in experiential learning.

Asked why letter grades were issued to schools when the trend is to provide students with assessment based on meeting required standards, which carry a 1-4 rating, Bowen said the letter grade was a quick way for parents and communities to look at their schools.

Principal Ryan Casey said the F grade would not defeat the school.

“We’re well aware of our challenges,” he said. “My natural reaction was embarrassment and disappointment, and the sorrow I felt for our hardworking students and teachers.”

He said he called a staff meeting soon after the letter grades were announced.

“I told them this will not define us. We will work through it. We will use that data the same way we use other data to drive our school to improve,” he said.

He also said that when someone sees a school judged poorly it’s detrimental to the culture.

“And the students don’t agree. They want people to see their school,” he said.

Bowen visited math, language arts, science and social studies classes before meeting with some of the staff from the middle school and several other schools in RSU 10.

Assistant Superintendent and Curriculum Coordinator Gloria Jenkins provided a myriad of information for Bowen as he visited the classes.

One of the issues, she said, was an attendance problem.

“We’re getting parents more involved in the importance of attendance,” she said.

She also said that each of the building’s teams was working on pacing the introduction of mass customized learning, as well as on a developing a teacher evaluation tool.

Bowen said school officials from all over the country visit Maine schools because of their innovation, particularly now with mass customized learning beginning to be put in place.

Jenkins added that the district is working to find a better tool to track student progress.

Bowen also asked about the community reaction to the new teaching initiative.

“We’re always emphasizing that we have to stay out in front of the board and the parents,” Ward said.

Jenkins said so far, the most effective communication is through the students who talk about their school work with their parents.

Casey added that parents have been part of the school’s conversation about improving the school, as well.

The school has a very high rate for special education needs and number of participants eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Bowen said the department should install a so-called data wall to keep track of progress for each of the state’s schools.

Casey said, following the tour, that he was pleased that Bowen had a chance to see the learning taking place in the classrooms.

Bowen visited schools in Oxford Hills before coming to Mexico. He said he plans to visit every school in the state as time allows.