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Meridian High expands grade-level homeroom teams, board recognizes teacher leaders
Summary
Meridian School District trustees heard a presentation on a new grade-level homeroom-team model at Meridian High School and recognized teachers chosen to lead the program, which aims to scale ninth-grade success strategies across grades 9–12 to boost social-emotional learning and on-track rates.
Sean Duh, who runs the homeroom program at Meridian High School, told the school board on Dec. 4 that the district is rolling out grade-level homeroom teams to give teachers ownership of social-emotional and academic lessons and to better track student progress. "We run a class at Meridian High School called the homeroom," Duh said, explaining teams meet monthly during PLC time to combine research-based curriculum with DESSA and other student-survey data.
The program expands a ninth-grade success-team model to tenth through twelfth grades and aims to keep students "on track," Duh said, noting that the ninth-grade on-track rate is a key predictor of graduation. Teachers on the homeroom teams review data—attendance, grade checks and student needs—and design lessons tailored to their grade. The board applauded the approach and the district recognized the grade-level homeroom team leads: Dave Brannon (9th grade), Kayla Turner (10th), Andrea Ames (11th) and Kelsey Morrison (12th).
Multiple classroom teachers and a student speaker described the change as more meaningful than past homeroom approaches, which they said sometimes felt "canned" or like a free period. One teacher said the new structure allows specialists from across disciplines to share expertise: "We get to be a point of contact with families," the teacher said, adding the model helps teachers plan and support students more consistently.
Board members asked for future data updates—particularly on the freshman-to-sophomore transition rates—and encouraged staff to share how the district will track outcomes and scale academic elements in year two. The board did not take formal action on the item; the recognition and presentation were informational.
