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Board highlights learning walks at Foothills and Dana middle schools; emphasizes MTSS and electives
Summary
Board members reported positive learning-walk visits to Foothills and Dana middle schools, noting a new 7-period day, expanded electives (culinary arts, music, dance), small-group MTSS interventions, and students using AI as a tool. Members repeatedly framed the work with the phrase "connection before content."
Board members praised recent learning-walk visits to Foothills and Dana middle schools, describing what they saw as tangible implementation of the district's MTSS work and an expanded set of elective opportunities for middle school students.
President Chavez and several board members described classroom practices observed during the visits: daily boards that set student expectations, small-group instruction, and electives such as culinary arts, dance and music that produced high student engagement. Several speakers highlighted the district's 7-period day at Foothills as enabling more elective exposure. Board members and principals emphasized Tier 2 interventions that target students needing extra supports and repeatedly used the phrase "connection before content" to describe the district's approach to preparing students to learn.
Speakers noted the intentional use of data at site level, the role of instructional coaches, and the growing practice of having students teach and lead classroom moments. Board members also discussed teachers' careful use of AI as a classroom tool and praised staff for planning and execution of visits.
