Bywood Elementary showcases student-centered goal setting and staff house system to boost engagement

Bywood Elementary Principal Kristen Meehan and Assistant Principal Janet Newby presented a video and remarks to the board demonstrating the school's approach to student-centered goal setting and efforts to "make learning fun."

Meehan described classroom data binders used by every student to track growth in skills such as letter sounds and reading words per minute. "Each student has a goal," Meehan said, and teachers use monthly graphs so students can see incremental growth. She and staff described deliberate fluency practice—ten minutes daily—where students read with expression and teachers award stickers for progress.

The presentation outlined multiple motivators and programs: an Amira reading challenge, IXL skill competitions for some grades, student-of-the-month celebrations, and a Phanatic About Reading partnership that produced an assembly. Staff also described a staff "house" system with four houses (Obsidian, Citrine, Aventurine, Amethyst) to foster cross-grade collaboration among adults; houses compete on points for participation in school events, and staff said attendance at a recent home-and-school meeting increased.

Students and staff said the initiatives have increased excitement for learning and strengthened faculty relationships. The presenters invited board members in the audience to experience the Bywood culture firsthand and noted that some house activities (competitions, class dojo) offer incentives that include small treats or prizes.

The presentation was informational; no board action was requested.