State reviewer Ron Cantman praises Summers County Schools' student supports, urges focus on safety and assessment

Ron Cantman, introduced by the board to present Item 4 on student achievement, told the Summers County Board he found broad, intentional efforts across district classrooms and urged leaders to keep focusing on three priorities: safety and supervision, cognitive instruction and affective (social‑emotional) supports.

"The first is safety and supervision," Cantman said, adding that staff were "almost exclusively being in the right place at the right time every time." He said formative and summative assessment practices are in place and commended educators for aligning instruction with assessment.

Cantman described seeing classroom routines such as posted learning targets, student engagement in small‑group tasks and teacher practices that emphasize scaffolded questioning. He also recommended that the district quantify and document administrative responses to isolated instances of marginal performance so principals can follow up with targeted coaching.

He said affective supports — counselors, community school specialists and on‑site resource officers — are present and that the district demonstrates "deep intentionality" in relationships that help students feel safe and ready to learn. "Do not ever doubt what's happening in the schools I have visited," he told the board.

Board members responded with broad agreement, noting that the goal should be professional conversations and support rather than naming and blaming staff for individual lapses. One member said the purpose of review is to help teachers improve rather than to single them out.

The presentation concluded with Cantman offering written technical suggestions and an open offer to answer follow‑up questions; board members thanked him and moved on to other agenda items.