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Farmington board hears progress report on teacher-centered school redesign work
Summary
District leaders and Urban Learning presented updates on a multi-year effort to redesign instruction around a district 'profile of a lifelong learner,' highlighting teacher professional learning, early measures of adoption and a planned school design blueprint.
The Farmington Public School District Board of Education on May 6 received a progress update on a districtwide school-design effort led with Urban Learning that focuses on teacher professional learning and student-centered instruction.
District and Urban Learning leaders told the board the initiative centers on a “profile of a lifelong learner” and a district learning framework (acquisition, meaning making, transfer) and that work has concentrated first on classroom instruction and teacher development before broader structural changes.
Leah McConaughey, chief learning officer with Urban Learning, and Rhonda Henry, assistant superintendent for innovation and strategic initiatives, said the initiative uses monthly teacher cohorts called “investigations,” coaching cycles and teacher-created artifacts to spread practices across schools. “We’re seeing teachers say, ‘I feel inspired and motivated, like I’m becoming a better teacher,’” McConaughey said, quoting teacher feedback gathered during the program.
The presenters said the district has recorded measurable increases in teacher perceptions: a 10% increase in teachers who say Farmington professional learning is collaborative and teacher-driven and a 14% increase in teachers who say the district’s professional learning aligns with the lifelong-learner profile compared with two years ago. Presenters also noted a persistent concern: roughly half of teachers still worry new initiatives will not be sustained over time.
Board members asked about pace and phases of implementation. Urban Learning staff said the work intentionally begins at the instructional core (phase 1) and expands as school teams demonstrate readiness; they declined to give a fixed timeline but said pockets of schools and cohorts may move into later phases within one to two years. “There are several cohorts who are ready for that next step,” Henry said.
Board members and staff emphasized community engagement in earlier district planning that informed the current effort. McConaughey said the presentation materials, examples and some teacher stories are available on the district’s FPS Innovate the Core website and that the district is developing school design blueprints requested by the board.
The board did not take action; presenters said the district will continue professional learning supports and will present design blueprints as they are developed.
