Superintendent outlines "rowing together" plan to boost instruction and PLC work

Superintendent Dr. Wenzel outlined a draft district improvement plan that centers on three priorities: shifting central-office roles to directly support principals as instructional leaders, growing principal leadership capacity, and strengthening teacher collaboration through professional learning communities.

"Rowing together" is the district metaphor Dr. Wenzel used to describe alignment across central office, principals and teachers. He said the plan will be brought back to the board in October for approval alongside school improvement plans. The superintendent described a three-year partnership with PLCs at Work focused first on leadership, then teacher teams, and emphasized alignment of school goals to district priorities in math, English language arts, attendance and graduation rates.

Board members asked about whether principals would have time in their schedules for classroom visits; Dr. Wenzel said that carving out that time and embedding it in principals' goals is the intention. He acknowledged a tension between a holistic approach to student development and a renewed emphasis on state assessment outcomes and said the district will attempt to bridge those priorities.