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Ada Elementary showcases PLCs and daily 30‑minute "win time" to boost reading
Summary
Ada Elementary principal Melanie Postmas told the Forest Hills board that grade-level professional learning communities and a daily 30‑minute "win time" of targeted instruction are producing measurable reading gains and letting teachers personalize learning for about 360 students.
Ada Elementary Principal Melanie Postmas presented the board with the school's approach to improving reading and differentiated instruction, saying the school combines grade‑level professional learning communities (PLCs) with a daily 30‑minute "win time" block for targeted support and enrichment. She described PLCs as the place "where grade level teams get together, they meet, and they discuss all of the things that surround their instructional practice," and said teams focus on five essential questions that drive instruction.
"By combining our PLC teamwork and win time, we create opportunities for all students to learn and grow every day," Postmas told trustees, noting Ada serves about 360 students and includes multiple preschool classrooms. The principal highlighted that PLCs guide teachers to analyze standards, set success criteria, reflect on evidence and plan next steps; the win time is used to deliver individualized instruction informed by those PLC discussions.
Postmas also said the school's fourth‑grade team was featured in the presentation and that staff monitor progress closely; she described PLCs as the "foundation for monitoring student growth and measuring the true impact of our instruction." Instructional coach Shantel Vandergeland joined the presentation to outline scheduling and how the 30‑minute block is placed to minimize disruption to specials and core instruction.
The board offered brief praise for the model and the coordination required to provide differentiated supports; trustees asked no substantive follow‑up during the presentation. The item served as an instructional highlight rather than an action item; staff said they will continue to report implementation data to the board.
