Mount Scott Elementary highlights literacy gains, SEL and family engagement in board presentation

Principal Jeff Green and Mount Scott Elementary staff presented the school's improvement goals and progress to the North Clackamas School District board, highlighting growth in early literacy, math instruction, social-emotional learning and family engagement.

The school reported a target to raise second-grade reading proficiency from 48% to 66% by June and said benchmark data show growth: schoolwide second-grade proficiency rose to 56% and the percentage of second-grade students in the highest-risk category fell from 21% to 14% so far this year. Staff said they are prioritizing gains for female students of color, whose proficiency rose from 37% toward an interim 46% figure noted in the presentation.

Mount Scott staff described instructional systems they said are driving gains: frequent FastBridge assessment use to guide interventions, small-group decoding and phonics instruction, additional paraeducator time in early grades and embedded coaching funded through the district's early-literacy success school-district grant. The presentation named the district's early-literacy coaches (Jamie, Carrie and Nadia) and credited grant funding for culturally relevant materials and extra paraeducator positions in kindergarten through second grade.

Teachers described math work tied to the Illustrative Math curriculum, lesson study cycles and manipulatives to develop conceptual understanding. Staff also described work in writing (conferring and student writing time), science and social studies supports for English-language learners through co-planning with ELD teachers.

Mount Scott staff described social-emotional learning (SEL) as a core practice. The school said it uses a morning/afternoon community-circle routine based on district SEL coaching and reported a staffed "Eagle's Nest" space where students can regulate emotions; staff said tiered behavior data guides targeted interventions and referrals to community mental-health providers as needed.

PTO president Tracy Cabetti Berhanu described volunteer-led events that the PTO offers for free to families, and the school said volunteer numbers have increased from about 200 to 400 and volunteer hours exceeded 1,200 so far this year. Board members praised student presentations and asked follow-up questions about the data; several directors noted the sustained focus on early literacy and SEL as drivers of improvement.