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District reports all schools certified Level 1 under Marzano HRS; work shifts to Level 2 teaching indicators
Summary
Iowa City district leaders told the board Feb. 25 that every district building is Level 1 certified under the Marzano High Reliability Schools framework and that this year the system is emphasizing Level 2 indicators focused on effective teaching practices and instructional coaching.
District HRS (High Reliability Schools) leaders reported that every building in the Iowa City Community School District has achieved Level 1 certification under the Marzano HRS framework, and the district is concentrating on Level 2 (effective teaching in every classroom) during the 2024–25 school year.
Lucas and Eliza, district HRS leads, told the board the Level 2 work emphasizes four indicators this year: 2.1 (school instructional vision), 2.2 (teacher growth opportunities), 2.5 (job‑embedded professional development) and 2.6 (instructional rounds). Eliza said each building selected two to three design areas within the Marzano "Art and Science of Teaching" framework to focus on and monitor. "If students are not engaged in learning, they're gonna have a real hard time doing everything else," she said, noting engagement strategies were the most commonly selected design area across buildings.
District staff described steps to scale coaching and principal‑coach professional development across elementary and secondary levels so leaders share a common language about effective instruction. They also described upcoming work on Level 3 — guaranteed and viable curriculum — including proficiency scales. Marzano consultant Dr. Phil Warrick will work with lead teachers and instructional coaches in March to develop districtwide proficiency‑scale implementation guidance.
Board members asked about recertification and sustainability; leaders said Level 1 will be re‑verified as part of Level 2 certification work and that district monitoring, building action plans and leadership training are part of maintaining gains.
No board action was required at this update.
