Dallas' Pleasant Grove neighborhood may seem an unlikely place to find an "A" rated campus. But students and staff at Rufus C. Burleson Elementary are proving that zip codes don't have to limit potential—not when the right people are in place.

"I am so proud of them, because I know the work that it took for them to get here," said Shontee Branton, a fourth-grade English language arts teacher. "It doesn't matter your background or where you come from, you're capable of learning."

Teachers lead with heart and hope

Branton has a way with words — and moving about the room, she's generous with those who encourage and uplift.

"These kids have outside struggles that a lot of children do not have," Branton said. "So for them to do it, it just made my heart happy."

There's nothing special about the textbooks used at Burleson. The curriculum isn't unique. But campus leaders say the turnaround came bit by bit, year after year, through a shift in culture and climate.

Leadership built on trust and belief

"Making them believe in themselves," said Principal Mechele Hammonds, "that they can do it. That's why it was important to put the right people in front of them."

Hammonds has been part of Burleson's turnaround team since day one. She served as assistant principal under Principal Lonnie Russell, and said the two shared a vision: transformation couldn't happen without trust. With the right staff in place, the next step wasn't homework — it was heart work: building relationships with students and their families.

Parents play a key role

"Oh, it's very important to have them involved," Hammonds said of the school's parents. "They are the ones that are going to rally behind you. When you say, 'Hey, Mom, I need you to get them to school on time,' they're going to respect you, right?"

Although Russell has moved on to support another struggling campus, he left Burleson in good hands to complete the "F" to "A" turnaround he started.

"That's why it was important to put the right people in front of them," Hammonds said. "You have to tell them, 'You're smarter than what they're saying. You're not an F, and we're going to prove them wrong,' just building that in them every day."

Advice for other struggling schools

Hammonds has a message for other campuses facing similar challenges.

"Don't give up," she said. "That's number one. Do not give up. It can be done over time. Start with your climate and culture. You have to build up your staff. You have to build up your students."

Teacher's journey mirrors her students'

Branton is proud to share Burleson's turnaround story—because she's lived a similar one.

"My mom was a young parent," Branton said. "So I didn't finish kindergarten." She added, "I was once these students." But Branton had a teacher who believed in her, and "it didn't matter what side of the tracks I lived on."

Now, she says she's honored to coach a classroom full of children into believing in themselves—beyond academics.

"They want to be great now," Branton said. "And they feel like they CAN be great because they've seen what success looks like, and they like what it feels like, too."