Northwestern Lehigh middle school pilots student‑led conferences; board hears plan to shift conferences to January

Northwestern Lehigh School District staff described a year‑long pilot of student‑led conferences at the middle school and told the board the district plans to expand the approach to all grade levels and shift the annual winter conferences from November to January.

Catherine Krager, a seventh‑grade social studies teacher who led the pilot team, said the model hands students primary responsibility for presenting work and tracking progress. “It is a conference where the student takes the lead, presenting their work, guiding discussion about progress and grades with their parents and teachers, and the teacher serves as the facilitators,” Krager said. Team Roar, the seventh‑grade pilot team, conducted roughly “70‑ish” student‑led conferences this year, the presenters said, and reported positive parent feedback.

District administrators said the change responds to research on middle school practice and a faculty survey that identified student‑led conferences and advisory as areas for development. The pilot began with goal‑setting in September, required students to set an…