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Incoming Sloan Elementary principal details staffing, baseline student data ahead of opening
Summary
Susan Prady, introduced as principal of Sloan Elementary, told the Williston Basin 7 board the school is nearly fully staffed (22 of 24 general-education positions) and shared baseline reading and math data she plans to use to guide instruction when students arrive this fall.
Susan Prady, introduced to the Williston Basin 7 school board, outlined hiring progress and early baseline academic data for Sloan Elementary as the district prepares to take operational control of the new building this summer. Prady said the school has hired 22 of 24 general-education teachers, nearly all specials and support staff, and intends to focus on a culture summarized by the slogan, "We fly high" and "Lead with kindness."
Prady told the board she has built teams and committees to guide certificated and classified transfers, participated in job fairs that produced two recent hires, and appointed Susan Labar as assistant principal. She said 3 of 4 special-education positions and 3 of 5 custodial positions are filled, and that one kindergarten and one fifth-grade opening remained under verification for certification. "I have 22 of the 24 general education teachers," Prady said. "I'm very, very excited for the team."
Prady presented baseline summative assessment results for incoming students, saying the current incoming fourth-grade cohort shows no students at the "advanced" level while a small percentage of the incoming fifth graders are "advanced." She characterized a group of students as "approaching proficient" and identified the "novice" band as the primary area for targeted growth in both reading and math next year. "What that tells me is we have a great opportunity to make growth for next year," she said.
Board members praised the hiring work and baseline data. The chair said having an initial baseline will give the principal "a really strong starting point to know your students and really what you need to do to hit the ground running." Prady said she will return with year-end data next school year to show progress.
The presentation was part of the board's "showcasing schools" agenda item; the district expects to take operational control of Sloan later in the summer and begin instruction in the new building in the coming school year.
