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Sunnyslope singled out as ‘bright spot’ as district expands professional learning communities and essential‑standards work
Summary
District leaders highlighted Sunnyslope Elementary’s data work under the multi‑tiered system of supports and Lisa Fundinet outlined districtwide efforts to identify essential standards, build learning progressions and prepare common assessments.
The South Kitsap School District board heard district leaders present early results from a focus on essential standards and professional learning communities (PLCs), with Sunnyslope Elementary described as an early adopter showing measurable gains.
Tom Edwards and Sunnyslope principal Jamie Del Palacio told the board Sunnyslope has changed instruction by making data visible to teachers and chunking the year into short cycles. Del Palacio described a “right‑size pyramid” tool the school uses to set attainable Tier‑1 goals, show current reality and identify intervention caseloads for specialists; she used kindergarten letter‑sound assessments and a fifth‑grade fraction unit as examples of the approach.
District instructional lead Lisa Fundinet gave a broader presentation on PLC work across the district. Fundinet said teams have identified essential standards in reading and math K–12, developed standards road maps and “unpacked” standards into student‑friendly learning targets and learning progressions. She said the district has “unpacked 50% of the essential standards and developed learning progressions,” and that grade‑level teams will design common formative assessments aligned to those standards.
Fundinet and Sunnyslope staff emphasized shorter improvement cycles, teacher collaboration and clearer mutual accountability so teams can intervene quickly. Fundinet described the ultimate goal as a guaranteed, viable curriculum “so if Megan’s kids were at Orchard Heights or at Sunnyslope… if they’re in second grade, we are guaranteeing they’re learning these standards in South Kitsap School District.”
Board members praised the work as a foundation for measurable improvement. Several directors said they want the district to continue publishing data and examples of the “bright spots” so the community can follow progress.
