Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elementary Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Elementary principal highlights improved routines, UFLI instruction and student engagement after K–2 reconfiguration
Summary
West Elementary Principal Sean Martinson presented a student video and described Year 2 of the K–2 configuration, work on pacing and planning (Wit & Wisdom), UFLI foundational instruction, an AmeriCorps SEL rep, and operational changes such as recess before lunch and an earlier drop‑off time.
Sean Martinson, principal of West Elementary, told the board the school has completed its second year operating as a K–2 building and that staff have focused on creating stability and consistent routines for young students.
"Stability is a really big thing for kids," Martinson said, describing how consistent expectations, shared planning and same‑grade groupings helped staff and students this year. He noted the school added an AmeriCorps SEL representative to work with K–2 students on regulation and small‑group supports, and moved recess before lunch to improve mealtime behavior.
Instructional programs: Martinson said the building is in year two of Wit & Wisdom (pacing, scaffolding, shared planning) and year one of UFLI instructional work, and that staff reported increased student engagement and opportunities for grade‑level teams to collaborate. He reported improvements in drop‑off and pick‑up procedures after a 15‑minute shift to a 7:50 a.m. start that eased staffing and staggered arrivals.
Student voices: Martinson showed an 8‑minute video of K–2 students answering prompts about favorite parts of school. Students repeatedly named recess, gym and lunch. One student in the video said simply, "Recess," when asked their favorite part of school.
Discipline and referrals: Martinson acknowledged behavior challenges common to young learners and described targeted, brief interventions (pulling small groups for safety videos, conversations or activities) typically done during non‑instructional portions of the day. He emphasized staff are focused on relationships and early interventions.
What’s next: Martinson said the building will continue refining routines and shared planning to reclaim teacher collaboration time. He invited board members to the student performances and thanked staff for their work.
Attribution: reporting and quotations in this article come from Sean Martinson’s principal report and the student video shown to the board.
