DERRY — Although no final decision has been made yet, it looks like the teachers at the Derry Village Elementary School will be able to bring back their popular team teaching approach to fourth- and fifth-graders next year.

The school is winding up its first year going with a team-teaching approach, which allows teachers to work together on devising hands-on classroom activities. It also gives teachers the opportunity to teach subjects they are more comfortable with.

According to Principal Steve Miller, he and several teachers first considered taking the team-teaching approach at the school after attending a conference in Boston.

Over the past year, the approach has led to improved test scores for students and greater engagement for students and teachers, according to Miller. In addition, the team-teaching approach better prepares students for the middle school schedule of switching classes throughout the day.

Miller said team teaching has helped many students go from below average in reading and math to above average.

“We also firmly believe that being able to team teach has increased vertical planning and collaboration between grade-level colleagues,” said Miller.

Superintendent Mary Ellen Hannon said Miller was excited about the opportunity to bring team teaching to the Derry Village Elementary School.

“Steve was lighting up the phone,” she said. “I have done team teaching before and understand the benefits.”

Hannon said one of the benefits of the Derry Village approach is that the teachers are looking for solutions and working together to improve education for the students.

“This is coming from the teachers working there,” she said, adding that the curriculum is the same is at the other elementary schools in the district.

“We trust that the teachers know the best way to provide it,” Hannon said.

With new superintendent Laura Nelson replacing Hannon in July, Hannon said she couldn't guarantee that the team teaching approach would get the go-ahead for next year.

“But I do assume Laura will be happy with this kind of progress and success at Derry Village next year,” she said.

School Board Chairman Brenda Willis said the feedback from parents about the program has been overwhelmingly positive.

“How can you dispute with the results?” she asked.