Inspiring students to become teachers and community leaders is a goal of Douglas Taylor School's leadership team. A feeling of continuity and connection are important to the school, which opened in the 19th century. Housed in a beautiful old school building in Chicago's South Side, Douglas Taylor School contains grades preK-8. To maintain the feeling and benefits of the middle school model, the middle school students take classes in an annex outside the main building. Despite this separation, the students are surrounded by something that feels greater than themselves--an institution that has been part of the community since 1878, when Taylor was built for approximately $2,000. Parents commend the school for its structure and clear rules, and they appreciate its discipline and emphasis on safety. They also commend the teachers for their willingness to work with the students and to listen to parents' concerns. Principal William Truesdale believes that the supportive environment created at the school, coupled with a cooperative home-school-community link, is the surest formula for sustaining interest in lifelong learning. Staff members have established professional learning communities using the School Teams Achieving Results for Students (STARS) program, which has improved the level of collaboration. "The STARS program helped me develop strong bonds with my staff," said Truesdale.