SMU'led Active Playful Learning coaches worked with Lancaster ISD teachers; district to emphasize STEAM next year

Representatives of Southern Methodist University's Active Playful Learning (APL) project briefed the Lancaster ISD board Wednesday on a year-long classroom coaching partnership that worked with teachers in the district's elementary schools.

"This project is just what it sounds like. Works to, promote more active and playful learning in a way that deepens learning for students and promotes a joy for teachers," Dr. Annie Wright, who leads SMU's Center on Research and Evaluation and the APL project, told the board. The team said APL is a coaching collaboration that paired coaches with teachers for multiple visits; coaches and teachers co-designed SMART goals and focused on active, social, iterative classroom practices.

The APL team reported school-year observations showing steady gains on the project's classroom "pillars," teacher self-reports of increased classroom practices and teacher-reported benefits for students. "A 100% of the teachers are saying that our coaches are are doing a good job, are responsive to them, and that APL is beneficial," the presenters told the board.

During 2024'1925 the program worked across the district's six elementary campuses and with 18 teachers; the APL team said it provided three professional-development workshops and participated in several family- and community-engagement events. The presenters said they will shift focus in 2025'1926 to STEAM instruction with third- and fourth-grade science teachers and plan to continue collecting classroom and student outcome data, including new national assessments of the project's "6 C's" (collaboration, creativity and similar skills).

Board members asked procedural and implementation questions; presenters said they would continue working with district curriculum staff to connect coaching to existing curriculum and to report back on student achievement measures tied to APL coaching.