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District partners with TNTP for K–3 literacy coaching to strengthen classroom instruction
Summary
Huntsville School District trustees heard a presentation from TNTP outlining a year-long K–3 literacy coaching program that will place an on-site coach in two elementary schools, run monthly learning walks and provide three progress reports to the board each year.
HUNTSVILLE, Ark. — The Huntsville School District on Oct. 7 detailed a new literacy coaching partnership with national nonprofit TNTP that will place a TNTP literacy coach on-site at two elementary schools and provide monthly classroom learning walks, progress reports to the board at least three times a year and professional learning for teachers.
District officials told the board the work is funded through state resources tied to what presenters called the Learns Act and is intended to support K–3 teachers with coaching that is aligned to state standards and the district’s instructional materials.
Meredith, TNTP director, told the board the partnership will center work on a content coaching framework and use a “key levers” tool to analyze instruction. “We identify what’s happening in instruction that’s going really well, and then where are there opportunities,” Meredith said. She described cycles of classroom observation, goal setting and targeted coaching to improve teacher delivery and student practice.
Lori DeWill, a TNTP partner, said TNTP will provide “content coaching to all K–3 teachers” and be on-site four to five days per month. “We’ll be providing monthly reports on what work has been done and what we’re seeing coming out of that,” DeWill said. TNTP staff also said they will use state-provided literacy coaches where available and add capacity where the district lacked coaches.
Assistant Superintendent Matt Ferguson introduced the TNTP team and said the district has already begun learning walks in partnership with TNTP staff. Board members and the superintendent discussed teacher involvement in setting priorities; TNTP presenters described teacher engagement in professional learning communities as a key part of setting goals and sustaining change.
District leaders said the work will focus on aligning instruction to Arkansas standards, increasing student practice that meets grade-level demands and developing enabling conditions — such as schedules and collaboration time — so coaching effects persist beyond a single year.
Board members voiced support for the partnership and said the district’s existing staff and TNTP’s perspective should be used together. “Once you build a relationship with the teacher and get a fresh set of eyes in there…having those fresh eyes makes a difference,” a board member said during discussion.
The board did not record a formal vote on the partnership in the portions of the transcript provided; presenters said reporting and monitoring will return to the board at least three times a year.
