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Truman Middle School highlights student leaders, teacher awards and math-focused initiatives amid construction updates
Summary
Truman Middle School presented student and staff recognitions and a learning report emphasizing student growth, standards-aligned assessments, personalized learning and building-thinking classrooms. Presenters said construction has been "seamless" so far and discussed math performance targets.
Truman Middle School presented student and staff recognitions and a school improvement report to the Lindbergh School District Board of Education on May 15.
Mike Strotman, presenting for Truman, introduced student honorees including Grace Letner and George Bull and recognized Jody Jenkerson as Truman's Teacher of the Year and Jody Avery as Support Staff Person of the Year. The presenter described the staff as "high quality" and said staff well-being and school culture were priorities.
The report emphasized student growth and use of data. Strotman said the school uses norm-referenced assessments (NWEA) alongside classroom proficiency scales to inform targeted small-group instruction and personalize learning. On the district's 80% proficiency goal in NWEA, he said Truman did not reach the target and is "really looking at how do we align curriculum, assessments, and our standardized assessments" to address gaps.
Strotman described classroom innovations under the "building thinking classrooms" framework, including vertical boards and random groupings to promote problem solving and critical thinking; he noted these approaches are being expanded across math classes. Addressing concerns about math specifically, he said: "It's okay to make mistakes. We'll learn from it and move on in a positive manner," describing efforts to foster growth mindset and continuous improvement.
On construction at Truman, Strotman reported that contractor BSI has been communicative and that disruptions have been manageable: "They come with a great education mindset...communication has been great," and teachers have warned students about audible drilling during activities. The presenter said staff are doing walk-throughs to ensure safety and that some parents have been given opportunities to view construction areas.
No formal board direction or policy decisions resulted from the presentation; it was provided for informational purposes and to highlight school-level initiatives and next steps for addressing math performance.
