District unveils curriculum hub, modules and teacher ‘one-stop shops’ ahead of school year

Pulaski County Public Schools curriculum staff presented a new digital curriculum hub and associated resources to the school board, saying the county enrolled all teachers in modules designed to teach 20 engagement strategies during the first 20 days of school.

A curriculum team presenter said the hub is designed as a Canvas page with a weekly newsletter called the Curriculum Corner, bite-sized strategy videos and grade-level ‘one-stop shops’ that collect lesson plans, instructional strategies and embedded standards. "We've enrolled every teacher in the county into our modules. We have asked that for the first 20 days of school that teachers strategically teach engagement strategies," a curriculum staff member said.

Staff said the one-stop shops were developed collaboratively with teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels; the district used grant funds to compensate teachers who did summer curriculum writing. Presenters also said team members embedded Computer Science standards and, for English learners, WIDA standards into the grade-level materials.

Board members praised the work as a time-saver that centralizes materials and helps new teachers access proven lessons quickly; one board member called it "excellent." Curriculum staff said the hub will continue to grow as teachers add resources and new instructional strategies are tested in classrooms.

The district said it will use the hub as part of classroom walkthroughs and professional development to monitor instructional strategies and engagement practices during the school year.