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Bibb County details instructional rounds program used to monitor school improvement
Summary
The district's Office of School Leadership and Supports updated the board on monthly instructional rounds designed to monitor continuous improvement plan goals — attendance, discipline and academics — and highlighted state recognitions and supports for low-performing schools.
Dr. Tamara Candace, associate superintendent of schools, told the Bibb County Board of Education’s Instructional Services Committee that the Office of School Leadership and Supports uses monthly instructional rounds to monitor schools’ continuous improvement plans and provide immediate feedback to principals and teachers. “Our office's mission is to cultivate a vibrant educational ecosystem within Bibb County School District by providing effective leadership and comprehensive support to foster student achievement, empower staff effectiveness, and promote robust stakeholder engagement,” Candace said.
The district has organized executive officers to oversee zones: Candace described three executive officers and named the zones they support. Executive officers and district coaches conduct classroom observations and compile findings in a standardized template that principals use to produce next steps and feedback. Candace said schools receive follow-up feedback the same day or the next day, and principals and instructional coaches are expected to deliver that feedback to teachers rapidly.
The presentation listed goals monitored through rounds — attendance, discipline and academic targets — and said priority is given to state-identified schools. Candace reported that Howard High School and John R. Lewis Elementary were newly identified for improvement for performance of students with disabilities and discussed the timeline for removal from state lists: CSI and Tier 4 schools will not be eligible to be removed until December 2026, though the Georgia Department of Education can recognize yearly progress.
Board members pressed staff for clarity about titles on the presentation slides, how quickly teachers receive feedback and what “tier” labels mean. Candace and Chief Rogers explained that the tier designations identify the lowest-performing schools (lowest 10% every three years) and that tiered schools receive daily on-site support from Georgia Department of Education school effectiveness specialists. Rogers added that the term “probation” is no longer used by the DOE and described the differing supports tied to each designation.
Candace highlighted leadership development supports — monthly induction meetings for new principals, assistant principal meetings, and collaboration with the Georgia State Principal Center — and celebrated several schools that met the state’s criteria for recognition. She said schools recognized as CSI progress schools had to show at least a 5% increase in the CCRPI content-mastered component from 2023 to 2024 and an 80% score on one other CCRPI component (progress, closing gaps or readiness).
Board members thanked staff for the walkthrough opportunities and encouraged board participation in instructional rounds. The committee did not take action items on the instructional rounds presentation; it was an update to the board.
