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Oxford district highlights national teacher recognition, Project Lead The Way expansion and assessment gains
Summary
District leaders recognized two teachers for national Project Lead The Way honors and two students as National Merit commended scholars, reviewed state and predictive assessment (PBAS) results showing cohort growth in lower grades, detailed MTSS intervention scheduling and raised concerns about the state's move to all-digital testing.
Superintendent Dr. Woods and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Billings Jones used the Oct. 21 meeting to recognize teachers and students and to summarize the district's assessment findings and intervention strategies.
Dr. Billings Jones highlighted national recognition for several teachers in the district's Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programs, saying the awards reflect sustained teacher commitment and coursework expansion. He named Scott Liddell for computer science recognition and Trevor Haines for engineering pathway honors. "Our students are very lucky to have this opportunity in this district and to have such a wonderful educator," Billings Jones said of Liddell.
The board also acknowledged two seniors at Oxford Area High School, Megan Overbeck and David Ham, as commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program for high PSAT performance. "Megan and David are among the highest 50,000 students who took the exam last year," said principal Mister Canaday.
On assessments, Billings Jones presented Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) achievement levels and PBAS predictive-growth metrics. He reported that, relative to the state, Oxford shows growth in early grades and above-predictive growth in multiple elementary grades: "By the time we get into fourth grade, we see ... our MAP is really moving well above the state." The presentation included cohort- and grade-level trend lines and Keystone exam results showing growth in biology, literature and algebra at the high school.
Trustees asked for cohort longitudinal data. One member said they would value a per-cohort progression (e.g., third grade to fourth grade) to assess growth year-by-year; Dr. Billings Jones confirmed the district can provide longitudinal data and said PBAS is a predictive measure tied to prior scores.
The board discussed MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) interventions at Penns Grove and other schools. Billings Jones described two schedule periods built into this year's calendar for intervention and said tier 2 and 3 supports are provided by special education and ESL staff. "It's a fluid course...if the students with the progress monitoring are able to move forward, then they move out of that particular homogeneous group," he said.
Trustees also raised the state's plan to require all-digital testing this year and recalled earlier declines in scores when testing moved to digital platforms. Billings Jones said the district is training students on digital test administration to ensure assessments measure student knowledge rather than navigation of testing software.
Board members asked for more cohort-level longitudinal reporting to be provided to the board and to the education committee for further review.
