Anthony Wayne Local outlines strategic plan progress, K–4 ELA adoption and new course offerings

District leaders reviewed the curriculum and instruction portion of the strategic plan during the March board meeting, highlighting recent work on instructional frameworks, professional development and new course offerings.

The presentation said the district developed an instructional framework over about 18 months to describe planning, teaching, assessment and reflection cycles for classroom instruction. The district has organized K–4 and 5–12 professional development committees made up largely of classroom teachers and leaders to shape professional development days and give teachers voice and choice in topics.

The board was told the district completed a K–4 English language arts adoption this year to comply with the state’s science-of-reading legislation. The process included a steering committee, publisher presentations, sample materials for teacher review and subsequent professional development tied to the new series; the district said the previous series had been in place about 12 years.

Administrators noted additions to the course catalog meant to make students “future ready,” including biotechnology and introductory computer science at the high school, an engineering and architecture pathway in partnership with the Penta Career Center (described as a new pathway at the junior high level), and classes in automation, robotics and career connections. The district also reported converting a general STEM class for all students to enrich elective rotations.

The presenters emphasized competency descriptors developed from the district’s “Portrait of a General” framework to define observable student, teacher and leader actions tied to competencies such as a learner’s mindset.

Ending: District leaders said additional professional development and staff presentations will follow and that some curriculum changes were driven by state timelines for compliance with new legislation.