Lawton Public Schools highlights Region 9 partnership and expanded Marzano training for teachers

Lawton Public Schools leaders reported to the board that Goal Area 1 of the district strategic plan has been reinforced this year through a new partnership with Region 9, based in Wichita Falls, Texas, and expanded professional development that uses Marzano research and coaching.

"We've partnered with Region 9 out of Texas," said Skeeter Sampler, director of secondary education, introducing the report. Sampler told the board the district has run two separate cohorts this fall—30 elementary teachers and 20 secondary teachers per cohort—and expects to run cohorts again in the spring. "So a total of 60 elementary teachers and 40 secondary teachers," he said when summarizing the fall work.

Sampler and Jennifer Tadlock, director of elementary education, said the subcommittees that reviewed the goal-area objectives found the district "in good shape" but identified areas to enhance as the system prepares for the next strategic-plan cycle. They told the board they would share slides from the presentation with members after the meeting.

Board members and staff briefly discussed the choice of Marzano materials. "Marzano is one of the most respected researchers in the art of teaching in the nation," a board member said during the exchange; staff emphasized that the district is deploying research-based practices and noted that much of the Region 9 coaching has been provided at no cost alongside paid Marzano training.

District leaders framed the work in a statewide context, saying Oklahoma faces pressure to raise education rankings and that a regional center for teacher support could help increase access to sustained professional development beyond what any single district can offer.

The report concluded with presenters thanking the board and promising to circulate the slide deck. No formal action was taken on the Goal Area 1 presentation during the meeting.