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New assistant superintendent outlines entry findings, previews Panorama data dashboards
Summary
Kristen Anderson, the district’s new assistant superintendent, presented entry findings highlighting Danvers’ average MCAS results, MTSS and SEL initiatives and plans to use Panorama as a data warehouse for multi-measure reporting to the committee.
Kristen Anderson, assistant superintendent, presented her entry findings to the school committee on Aug. 11 after six weeks on the job.
Anderson summarized academic performance as roughly in line with state averages—about 43% of students at the “meets/advanced” levels on MCAS in 2024 compared with a state average cited at about 41%—and said growth measures place the district near state averages across multiple indicators, including attendance and graduation. She described curriculum alignment work at all levels and credited past grants for supporting curriculum investments.
Anderson highlighted persistent achievement gaps for subgroups such as students who are low income or who receive special education services and said the district will continue Multi‑Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) work.
Anderson said social‑emotional learning (SEL) will be measured by student self‑report and teacher assessments using the CASEL framework (self‑awareness, self‑management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision‑making) and that the district will report those measures to the committee.
On data systems, Anderson said the district will house performance and growth metrics—including MCAS, AP, DIBELS, universal screeners and grades—in a new data warehouse, Panorama. Anderson said Panorama has passed the student data privacy checks the district reviewed and that it complies with relevant federal privacy standards; she told a committee member that Panorama "has passed the student data privacy act" and is FERPA‑ and HIPAA‑safe in the district’s review.
Anderson said she plans to report to the committee three times per year on a mix of achievement and growth measures and will present comparative analyses with a set of about 20 districts that are socioeconomically similar to Danvers.
Committee members asked about public access to Panorama; Anderson said the tool will initially be for administrators and teachers, with teacher-level access limited to their classes, and that parent/community access is not yet planned.
The committee did not take a standalone vote on Anderson’s presentation; she said the district will report routinely and that the new data dashboards will support transparency and progress monitoring.
