Concord, Idea Center present student recognitions and winter assessment growth at Lindbergh board meeting

Concord Elementary and the Idea Center presented student recognitions, staff awards and winter assessment results to the Lindbergh Schools Board of Education on Thursday, highlighting academic growth, classroom practices and new professional learning structures.

Both schools emphasized growth strategies aimed at meeting the district’s Compass goals and fostering student agency and belonging.

Why the reports matter

Administrators from two district elementary programs outlined assessment trends and classroom practices the district says are supporting student growth. The presentations covered NWEA and district assessment data, tiered instructional strategies, and supports for gifted students, and included multiple student and staff recognitions.

Concord Elementary: data and school culture

Principal Mr. Mechler presented Concord’s winter NWEA results and school initiatives. He reported Concord is on track to meet this year’s Compass achievement goal of 80% in grades 3–5, and cited ELA performance of 88% (third grade), 75% (fourth grade) and 80% (fifth grade) in the combined “average, high average or high quintiles.” For math he reported 85% (third), 80% (fourth) and 81% (fifth) in those categories.

Mechler described longitudinal growth over three school years and said the school has reduced the number of students in lower quintiles while increasing those in average or higher growth bands. He highlighted flexible grouping during intervention time, staff coaching labs (a half-day collaborative professional-learning model launched in December), and restorative practices introduced through partnership professional learning sessions.

Concord also recognized student leaders and staff: Pierce Aslam and Lily Scheck were presented as student honorees; Jean Madrid was named Concord teacher of the year; and support staff recognition was given to Becky Rothe.

Idea Center: gifted programs, assessment and acceleration

Dr. Tracy Benary (Idea Center presenter) described the Idea Center’s LEAP and PEGS gifted programs and districtwide gifted metrics. She reported the district’s gifted cohort of “over 800 students” and said winter NWEA results for gifted students showed 98.6% in the high-average or high quintile target for math and 99.7% for reading. Dr. Benary said the Compass growth target is 70% and that gifted-program growth is “harder when students are already in that very high level of achievement”; she reported winter growth of 75.2% in math and 60.11% in reading for the Idea Center at the time of the presentation.

The Idea Center presenter described differentiated grouping, an acceleration policy used when students demonstrate readiness, and coordination between LEAP/PEGS teachers and students’ home schools. She noted full-grade accelerations starting around fourth grade typically involve “between 6 and 12 students” depending on the grade, while in-class flexible grouping produces additional, untracked differentiation.

Other program notes

Concord staff reported 98% of staff feel their voices are heard and described wellness initiatives, staff coaching labs, and student-led leadership opportunities. The Idea Center noted expanded supports at the high school level, including a gifted resource teacher and power-lunch events focused on college readiness, test prep and social-emotional topics. Both presentations included multiple examples of student-led activities and parent-teacher group support for facility improvements.

Ending

Board members asked clarifying questions about assessment comparability (iReady vs. NWEA), how the district tracks in-class flexible grouping, and plans to sustain growth for students already performing at high levels. Administrators directed follow-up questions about monitoring acceleration numbers and implementation to building staff and district instructional teams.