Truman Elementary demonstrates daily student-led proficiency checks; board approves funding, contracts and multiple policy updates

Truman Elementary teachers told the Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees on April 1 that they have adopted proficiency scales and daily student self-ratings, and that model was the centerpiece of this year’s student-led conferences.

The shift aims to make learning targets explicit and to let students track and articulate progress. “We take the state standards, and we break them apart into the skills and content that need to be mastered by the students in the system,” said Mr. Fekinzer, a district staff member who introduced the presentation. “Everything that is on the teacher form is then converted into student friendly language, so the kids actually know this is exactly what I'm doing.”

The district presenters said Truman uses proficiency scales (labeled from level 1 to level 4) to guide instruction, interventions and parent conversations. Teachers convert the teacher-facing scale into “I can” statements for students; students mark their progress in binders and use the scales in daily one-on-one check-ins. “3 means you fully mastered it, and you don't need any help,” said Benjie, a Truman student who demonstrated how children talk through the rubric. Teachers said daily checking lets staff quickly group students for targeted interventions and keeps higher-performing students challenged.

Why it matters: Truman staff said the approach supports mastery-based learning, improves the specificity of interventions, and aligns to district and state guidance they cited, including work by the Wyoming Department of Education and educator frameworks such as Marzano and Bloom. Presenters said the model gives clearer evidence of student learning and a structure for conversations at student-led conferences, where students explained goals and next steps directly to parents.

Details from the presentation - Teachers at Truman described converting state standards into teachable skills and student-friendly scales; teachers use pre-assessments so groups are differentiated rather than teaching the same lesson to every student. - Second-grade teachers Brittany Ryder and Stacia Terrell said students keep the scales in binders and routinely “check off” mastered items; Ryder said the model has visibly increased students’ ownership of learning. - Fourth-grade teacher Annie Stice said conferences produced unusually candid self-assessments: children explained they were “a 2” on a skill but could name how to reach a 3. - Staff said the district now has proficiency scales across grade levels and aims to extend them into specials (music, art, PE) next year.

Votes at a glance (board action taken at the same meeting) - Amended agenda: Motion to approve the amended agenda carried after a motion by Tom and a second by Mandy. - Consent agenda: Approved on a motion by Mandy; motion carries. - Certified resignations: Approved (Eureka Hill, Mikaela Smart) on a motion by Tom; motion carries. - New certified contracts: Approved (Alex Bailey, Cammy Langley, Amy Williams, Aubrey Miller, Dacia Tucker) on a motion by Tommy and second by Mandy; motion carries. - 2025–26 certified contracts and 2025–26 administrator contracts: Approved; motions carried. - GREA negotiation signature sheets: Approved; motion carried (moved by Tom, second by Michelle); presenters said GRE gathered 399 signatures (about 80% of members). - GRHS theater monetary request: Board approved $3,025 to support 11 students attending the International Thespian Festival (motion moved by Tom; second by Mandy). Board discussion noted the district had exhausted discretionary travel funds and those funds were used to pay this request. - GRHS speech and debate monetary request: Board approved $3,300 to support 12 national qualifiers attending a June national tournament in Des Moines (motion moved by Tom; second by Michelle). Trustees noted the district’s board discretionary funds are now depleted for the year. - Multiple policy revisions and readings: The board approved third readings or approvals for policy CB (school superintendent), CBA, CBG (evaluation of superintendent), CCB (line and staff relations), CF (school building administration), CHCA (handbooks and directives), CA (administration goals and priority objectives), CBD (superintendent's contract), CBJ (superintendent termination of employment), and CFB (evaluation of administrators other than the superintendent). Motions carried on individual votes as presented during the meeting. - Calendar change: Approved moving June 3 to a half student day (with Expedition Academy excepted); motion carried.

What the board said and next steps Board members and administrators praised student leadership and extracurricular achievements throughout the meeting. Chair Castilian and Superintendent Behringer were present for the presentation and subsequent votes. Trustees said they will discuss board discretionary-fund criteria at a future workshop after noting this year’s travel/discretionary funds had been tapped to cover student travel requests. Presenters from Truman said they will continue to expand proficiency scales across grades and specials and to use daily student self-ratings to target interventions.

The board adjourned after closing remarks and thanked staff and students for the presentations.