East Stroudsburg staff report progress on "North Star" curriculum plan; students and teachers shape ELA, math portraits

District curriculum staff told the East Stroudsburg Area School District Educational Program Review (EPR) committee on Nov. 6 that the North Star comprehensive plan has advanced into the final "ready and set" stage after a new round of steering‑committee meetings and work with student representatives.

Staff said they have populated the Future Ready index data and are completing supplemental reports and chapter drafts, with an at‑large steering meeting scheduled for Nov. 11 to review and finalize the ready and set sections. Staff expect the plan to be completed in January, presented to EPR in February and to the full board for consideration in February or March.

Curriculum leaders described a series of meetings with ELA and math department chairs and with a student steering committee. Department chairs worked on a districtwide "portrait" — a grade‑by‑grade description of the knowledge and habits the district expects of graduates — so teachers can align course plans and assessments to a common K–12 progression. Staff said teachers across grade levels consistently identified foundational skills, problem solving, communication and a growth mindset as priorities.

Staff also reviewed recent professional development activities. The committee heard that an Oct. 14 PD day included work with vendors (including an Activate/STEAM provider), building‑level trainers, extended sessions on using AI in instruction, and follow‑up sessions for tech coaches. Staff highlighted instances of teacher‑led design work and said the PD format and schedule had positive feedback from participants.

Dr. Vitale described instructional rounds in which principals and central administrators visit multiple classrooms at a chosen grade level to observe student engagement, small‑group instruction, formative assessment and differentiation. The stated purpose is to build a shared definition of student engagement across K–12 and to strengthen instructional feedback to teachers.

Committee members praised the collaborative approach and the district's attempts to pair a clear vision with practical teacher supports and timelines for implementation. No formal actions were taken on the North Star items during the meeting.