Elementary principals outline districtwide push on observations, data and MTSS

Chief Academic Officer Michelle Owen and five elementary principals presented goals centered on three district priorities: building teacher capacity through observation and feedback, data-driven instruction, and multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) to close learning gaps. Owen summarized the district’s observation tools, from 3–5 minute 'power walks' to 45-minute formal observations tied to the district's evaluative rubric: “We have several different types of observations that we do with our teachers,” she said.

Presenters described progress-monitoring cycles tied to curriculum-based assessments, the district’s use of iReady and STAR diagnostics, and a newly standardized MTSS manual. Staff highlighted SameGoal as the district’s new platform to track individual intervention goals so student progress follows them between campuses; principals said teams meet every six weeks to review data and adjust interventions. The board and audience engaged in detailed Q&A about historical vs. current data use, whether students’ progress is tracked across grade transitions, and tools for quicker anomaly detection.